Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Crash Outdoor Top 5 For First Time
May 13, 2014 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
May 13, 2014
STILLWATER -
The Oklahoma State men's track and field team once again achieved its highest outdoor ranking in school history today, jumping two spots to No. 5 in this week's edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) outdoor rankings.
This is the highest outdoor position for OSU since the creation of the rankings, and the third-straight week in which the Cowboys have earned their highest outdoor ranking in history.
OSU is the highest-ranked team in the Big 12, and is ranked ahead of Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Texas, UCLA, USC and Florida State, among others.
“We're in some pretty good company being in the top five,” OSU coach Dave Smith said. “If you look at it, our team isn't concentrated on one or two guys scoring well in multiple events. We have a diverse array of athletes who can score well in different events; from the sprints, to middle distance, long distance and the hammer. It's like a stock portfolio -- The more diverse you are, the safer you are. When you have that balance, your performance is less likely to be impacted by one guy having an off weekend.”
Individually, Oklahoma State has 12 athletes ranked in the NCAA's top 50 in their respective events.
On the men's side, there are five Cowboys claiming top-10 NCAA rankings. Shadrack Kipchirchir (27:36.79) holds the No. 1 spot in the 10,000 meters, Kirubel Erassa (13:27.55) ranks No. 2 in the 5,000 meters, Chad Noelle (3:40.06) sits at No. 4 in the 1,500 meters, Nick Miller (74.37m/244-0) claims the No. 1 spot in the hammer throw and John Teeters (10.14) is No. 7 in the 100 meter dash.
Kipchirchir, Erassa and Noelle are all ranked in two events. Kipchirchir (13:37.68) also has the No. 9 spot in the 5,000 meters, Erassa (29:02.77) is No. 25 in the 10,000 meters and Noelle (1:48.62) sits at No. 26 in the 800 meters.
Rounding out the ranked Cowboys are Tyler Payton (1:49.17) at No. 44 in the 800 meters, Brian Gohlke (29:17.41) at No. 41 in the 10,000 meters and Itamar Levi at No. 45 in the shot put, with a mark of 18.21m/59-9.
For the Cowgirls, Savannah Camacho leads the way at No. 4 in the 800 meters. Her mark of 2:02.84 ranks second in OSU history.
In the discus, Ieva Zarankaite (54.34m/178-3) continues her impressive debut season, checking in at No. 20, and Monika Juodeskaite (16:00.32) ranks No. 32 in the 5,000 meters and No. 34 in the 1,500 meters, with a mark of 4:19.58.
Viktoriia Sadokhina (12.78m/41-11.25) holds the No. 36 spot in the triple jump.
OSU track & field returns to action this weekend, May 16-18, at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, in Lubbock, Texas.
2014 USTFCCCA Men's National Outdoor Track & Field Rankings (Week Six)
1 Florida
2 Texas A&M
3 Oregon
4 Arkansas
5 Oklahoma State
6 Texas Tech
7 Georgia
8 BYU
9 LSU
10 Texas
11 Alabama
12 UCLA
13 Baylor
14 Wisconsin
15 USC
16 Nebraska
17 Penn State
18 Mississippi
19 Kentucky
20 Illinois
21 Tennessee
22 Stanford
23 New Mexico
24 Pittsburgh
25 Florida State
NCAA Division 1 Individual Event Rankings
Men
100 Meters
7. John Teeters – 10.14
800 Meters
26. Chad Noelle – 1:48.62
44. Tyler Payton – 1:49.17
1,500 Meters
4. Chad Noelle – 3:40.06
5,000 Meters
2. Kirubel Erassa – 13:27.55
9. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 13:37.68
10,000 Meters
1. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 27:36.79
25. Kirubel Erassa – 29:02.77
41. Brian Gohlke – 29:17.41
Shot Put
45. Itamar Levi – 18.21m/59-9
Hammer Throw
1. Nick Miller – 74.37m/244-0
Women
800 Meters
4. Savannah Camacho – 2:02.84
1,500 Meters
34. Monika Juodeskaite – 4:19.58
5,000 Meters
32. Monika Juodeskaite - 16:00.32
Triple Jump
36. Viktoriia Sadokhina - 12.78m/41-11.25
Discus
20. Ieva Zarankaite – 54.34m/178-3
