Oklahoma State University Athletics
Miller Cruises To Third Big 12 Hammer Title
May 16, 2014 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
May 16, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas -
Oklahoma State's Nick Miller won his third consecutive Big 12 hammer throw title, pushing the OSU men to the lead in team scoring at the Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships, in Lubbock, Texas, on Friday.
As is usual with Miller, some records fell as a result of his performance. His best throw was a mark of 74.38m/244-0, which was not only a personal best for Miller, but was also an OSU record, a Big 12 meet and overall conference record, a Fuller Track stadium record and the new No. 1 throw in the NCAA this season.
"Today Nick once again proved why he is a top-15 hammer thrower in the world," OSU throws coach John Baumann said. "He was Mr. Consistent today. He went out there and did his job for the team, Oklahoma State and himself. He is only about 50 centimeters from being on the world's top 10 list. We're taking it one meet at a time. This created some nice momentum going in to the regional meet."
All five of Miller's marks would have won the title. Four of his throws were meet records, and he won the title by more than 15 meters. No other thrower broke 60 meters during the competition, and four of Miller's throws broke at least 71 meters.
Miller is the second athlete in Big 12 history to win the hammer throw in three straight years. He joins Egor Agafonov, who won the title in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for Kansas. Miller has a combined five Big 12 titles, with three in the hammer and two in the indoor weight throw.
Oklahoma State flexed its distance muscles in the 10,000 meters, taking an incredible four of the eight scoring positions. Shadrack Kipchirchir (30:27.34) took second, Shane Moskowitz (30:32.88) placed fourth, David Osborn (30:34.15) finished sixth and Noah Gade (30:42.27) placed eighth. It was the first All-Big 12 performance for both Osborn and Gade.
"Shadrack and I talked about whether he would go for the win or sit back, kind of play it safe and settle for eight team points," OSU head coach Dave Smith said. "He did a great job of keeping the chase pack together and keeping our guys in it. He kept a couple of our guys, who ended up scoring well, in the race. He gave up a shot at an individual title, but that's the kind of teammate he is."
OSU scored 17 team points in the 10,000 meters, which coupled with Miller's 10 points, has the Cowboys leading the team scoring after day one.
"Shane Moskowitz also had a great race," Smith said. "He has had a difficult spring and fought through adversity, but really put it together tonight. I'm also happy for David Osborn, a four-year guy for us who has never scored at a conference meet but took sixth tonight, and Noah Gade, our true freshman from Stillwater, who earned his stripes tonight. I'm proud of the guys. They ran really well."
On the women's side, Kristine Helle delivered a giant performance in the 10,000 meters, running a personal best time of 35:36.45, which was good enough for fourth place and five team points for the Cowgirls.
In the women's javelin, Chase Ealey (46.80m/153-06) and Ieva Zarankaite (44.76m/146-10), who had not thrown the javelin all season, took fifth and seventh, respectively. Zarankaite threw a school-record mark in the prelims, and then on Ealey's final throw of the day, she topped Zarankaite's record to take fifth. Ealey and Zarankaite combined for six team points.
In the women's hammer, Caitlin Way took sixth, with a season-best throw of 58.62m/192-04. It was the third-straight All-Big 12 performance in the hammer for Way. The Cowgirls sit in fourth place in the team standings, with 14 points.
OSU track & field returns to action tomorrow at the Big 12 Championships, with events starting at 3 p.m.
Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships
May 16-18, 2014/ Terry & Linda Fuller Track & Field Complex/ Lubbock, Texas
Thursday, May 16
Men's Individual Results
10,000 Meters
2. Shadrack Kipchirchir - 30:27.34+
4. Shane Moskowitz - 30:32.88+*
6. David Osborn - 30:34.15+
8. Noah Gade - 30:42.27+*
9. Brian Gohlke - 30:48.91
10. Charles Mathenge - 30:53.36*
13. Neal Smith - 31:13.67
Hammer Throw
1. Nick Miller - 74.38m/244-0*^!~+#
Men's Team Standings
1. Oklahoma State - 27
2. Oklahoma - 26
3. Texas Tech - 18
4. Texas - 16
5. Kansas State - 9
6. Kansas - 8
7. Iowa State - 7
8. Baylor - 4
9. TCU - 2
Women's Individual Results
10,000 Meters
4. Kristine Helle - 35:36.45*+
Hammer Throw
6. Caitlin Way - 58.62m/192-04+
Javelin
5. Chase Ealey - 46.80m/153-06*^+
7. Ieva Zarankaite - 44.76m/146-10*+
Women's Team Standings
1. Iowa State - 25
2. Oklahoma - 24
3. Kansas State - 18
4. Oklahoma State - 14
T-5. Kansas - 9
T-5. Baylor - 9
7. West Virginia - 8
8. Texas Tech - 6
9. Texas - 4
+ - Denotes All-Big 12 Performance
# - Denotes Big 12 Record
^ - Denotes School Record
! - Denotes Meet Record
~ - Denotes Stadium Record
* - Denotes Personal Best
