Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Takes Third In Lubbock Behind Powerful 1,500m
May 18, 2014 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
May 18, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas -
Oklahoma State men's track and field, behind an incredible showing in the 1,500 meters, finished third at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, in Lubbock, Texas, on Sunday.
The third-place finish was the Cowboys' best outdoor finish since the inception of the Big 12, and the 96 team points were also an OSU record in the Big 12 era. In the 2013-14 academic year, the OSU men won the Big 12 cross country title, the Big 12 indoor title and took third at the Big 12 outdoor meet.
“I'm very proud of where we are as a program,” OSU coach Dave Smith said. “Putting those three seasons together we definitely come out as one of the best in the Big 12. We wanted an outdoor title, but that's something we have to keep working toward. I really think we're on the right track and we will be in contention for an outdoor team title soon.”
Chad Noelle (3:55.00), Kirubel Erassa (3:55.01), Justin Vilhauer (3:55.70), Matthew Fayers (3:57.75) and Luis Martinez (3:58.89) took first, second, third, fifth and sixth, respectively, dominating the 1,500 meters to the tune of 31 team points.
“We had some really good athletes in that race,” Smith said. “They aren't just great athletes—they know how to race. It was a very tactical race with a lot of pace changing. It came down to the fact that we have a lot of guys who can close. Kirubel, Chad, Justin and Matthew all did a great job of finishing, and Luis went from eighth to sixth in the last 40 meters. We have great race finishers, and it showed.”
In the men's 100 meter dash, John Teeters took third place with a personal-best wind-aided 9.91. His time is the new school record in all conditions, wind-legal and wind-aided. His performance picked up a valuable six team points for the Cowboys.
“John Teeters was simply amazing today,” Smith said. “He has asserted himself as one best sprinters in the NCAA and in the US. He and his coach, Diego Flaquer, have done an unbelievable job so far this season, but I know they both want more.”
In the men's 5,000 meters, OSU picked up 17 more team points. Shadrack Kipchirchir (14:44.21), Erassa (14:46.51) and Brian Gohlke (14:50.26) finished second, third and sixth, respectively. That performance vaulted OSU from fifth to third in team scoring with only one event remaining at the time.
“I'm so proud of everyone who ran in the 5,000 meters,” Smith said. “It's hard on distance runners in these conditions. It was a bunch of guys who had already run other distance races this weekend and even today. They went out and ran on very tired legs because they don't want to settle for mediocrity. They want to be one of the best teams in the conference and they are willing to sacrifice for the team. If we are going to win an outdoor title, it will begin with that attitude.”
OSU picked up more team points in the 800 meters. Tyler Payton (1:51.24) finished third and Noelle (1:55.31) took eighth.
In the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase, Anthoney Armstrong (9:44.66) and Nick Thorp (9:49.49) took sixth and seventh, respectively, snagging another five team points for the Cowboys.
On the women's side, Viktoriia Sadokhina completed the indoor-outdoor conference sweep in the triple jump, taking the Big 12 title with a massive personal-best and school-record jump of 13.35m/43-9.75.
“I was indoor champion too, so this is my second time being champion,” Sadokhina said. “These are only my first months in the U.S., so right now feels great of course but I'm tired; I'm exhausted because it's very hot weather for me— I'm from Russia.”
In the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase, Kate Kujawa (10:58.25), behind an amazing close in the final 100 meters, took second, and Anna Boyert (11:10.44) finished sixth. The women combined for 11 team points in the event.
In the women's discus, Ieva Zarankaite threw a personal best mark of 54.44m/178-07, which was good enough for third place and six team points for the Cowgirls.
Monika Juodeskaite took fifth in the women's 1,500 meters, with a time of 4:33.13.
In the women's 800 meters, Clara Nichols finished sixth, with a time of 2:11.62, and Mihaela Bobos (2:16.31) took seventh. Bailey Johnson rounded out the Cowgirl scoring, taking eighth in the 400 meter hurdles, with a time of 1:01.05. The Cowgirls' seventh-place finish tied an OSU record for the best performance at the outdoor Big 12 meet on the women's side.
OSU track & field will return to action May 29-31, at the NCAA West Preliminary Round, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships
May 16-18, 2014/ Terry & Linda Fuller Track & Field Complex/ Lubbock, Texas
Sunday, May 18
Men's Individual Results
100 Meter Dash
3. John Teeters – 9.91+*!
800 Meters
3. Tyler Payton – 1:51.24+
8. Chad Noelle – 1:55.31+
1,500 Meters
1. Chad Noelle – 3:55.00+
2. Kirubel Erassa – 3:55.01+
3. Justin Vilhauer – 3:55.70+
5. Matthew Fayers – 3:57.75+
6. Luis Martinez – 3:58.89+
3,000 Meter Steeplechase
6. Anthoney Armstrong – 9:44.66+
7. Nick Thorp – 9:49.49+
10. Brigham Hedges – 10:20.65
5,000 Meters
2. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 14:44.21+
3. Kirubel Erassa – 14:46.51+
6. Brian Gohlke – 14:50.26+
10. Charles Mathenge – 15:01.73
11. Neal Smith – 15:04.16
15. David Osborn – 15:11.47
16. Shane Moskowitz – 15:15.20
19. Craig Nowak – 15:33.20
21. Noah Gade – 15:41.64
Triple Jump
9. Ryan Finnie – 14.46m/47-05.25*
Discus
12. Itamar Levi – 49.88m/163-08
Men's Team Standings
1. Texas Tech – 160.5
2. Texas – 125
3. Oklahoma State – 96
4. Baylor – 93
5. Oklahoma – 90
6. Kansas State – 83
7. Kansas – 67
8. TCU – 51
9. Iowa State – 50.5
Women's Individual Results
800 Meters
6. Clara Nichols – 2:11.62+
7. Mihaela Bobos – 2:16.31+
1,500 Meters
5. Monika Juodeskaite – 4:33.13+
3,000 Meter Steeplechase
2. Kate Kujawa – 10:58.25+
6. Anna Boyert – 11:10.44+
5,000 Meters
18. Gintare Zenkeviciute – 17:59.73
23. Janelle Martinez – 18:34.71
-- Caileigh Glenn - DNF
400 Meter Hurdles
8. Bailey Johnson – 1:01.05+
Triple Jump
1. Viktoriia Sadokhina – 13.35m/43-9.75+*!
Discus
3. Ieva Zarankaite – 54.44m/178-07+*
14. Katelynn Kehl – 41.86m/137-04
Women's Team Standings
1. Texas – 149
2. Baylor– 113.5
3. Texas Tech – 109.5
4. Kansas – 100.5
5. Kansas State – 93
6. Iowa State – 83
7. Oklahoma State – 54
8. TCU – 45
9. West Virginia – 40.5
10. Oklahoma – 30
+ - Denotes All-Big 12 Performance
* - Denotes Personal Best
! – Denotes School Record
Players Mentioned
