Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Cross Country Wraps Up Bluegrass Invitational
September 13, 2014 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
LEXINGTON, Ky. -
Luis Martinez and Caileigh Glenn each recorded top-ten finishes in their respective races to lead the Oklahoma State men's and women's cross country teams at the Bluegrass Invitational in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday.
Martinez's sixth-place time of 24:15.73 marked the fastest of three top-ten times for the Cowboys, as David Osborn (24:21.59) and Anthoney Armstrong (24:30.94) finished the 8K competition in seventh and 10th, respectively. Noah Gade's 12th-place mark of 24:34.01 rounded out a trio of redshirt freshmen in the top 15, helping the men's side to a narrow second-place finish as a team.
“For a bunch of redshirt freshmen who are going to be the future of our program, they did a great job, especially in their first major test against a top-25 team,” OSU coach Dave Smith said. “That's some good running by the entire team, but Luis is starting to establish himself as a guy that looks like he can run in our top seven. He's had two good races in a row, and his workouts have been great. Overall, I think the men ran really well.”
On the women's side, the Cowgirls registered a third-place team finish behind top-20 runs from Gintare Zenkeviciute, Emily Helms and Glenn, whose fifth-place time of 17:02.50 shattered her previous personal best by over a minute.
Natalie Baker (17:31.70) and Savannah Camacho (18:15.30) also recorded invidividual bests, with Camacho's performance coming in her first cross country appearance since the 2013 Cowboy Jamboree. Baker and Camacho made their 2014 cross country debuts in Saturday's race, while freshman Abbie Hetherington recorded a 27th-place time of 17:43.40 in her first appearance in collegiate competition.
“I think it was a good first race for Abbie, especially with her coming to a new a country and having to become involved with a new culture,” Smith said. “With her being in her first collegiate race, I think it could have been a little overwhelming, but I thought she ran really well once she got going.”
Both OSU squads will be back in action on Sept. 27, when Oklahoma State hosts the 77th annual Cowboy Jamboree. As the teams near postseason competition, both the Cowboys and Cowgirls will send some of their top runners to the event, giving each squad a shot to win the Jamboree for the fifth-consecutive year.
“Heading into the Jamboree, we'll run much more complete teams,” Smith said. “We'll be putting our best athletes out there, and we'll get a chance to see how our best athletes stack up on our home course.”
Kentucky Bluegrass Cross Country Festival
Sept. 13, 2014 – Lexington, Ky. – Masterson Station Park
Men's Team Results
1. Eastern Kentucky - 45
2. Oklahoma State - 48
3. Ohio State – 92
4. Southern Indiana – 107
5. Kentucky – 127
6. Akron -179
7. Tennessee – 192
8. Morehead State – 193
9. Northern Kentucky – 215
10. Bellarmine - 296
Men's Individual Results (8,000 meters)
6. Luis Martinez – 24:15.73
7. David Osborne – 24:21.59
10. Anthoney Armstrong – 24:30.94
12. Noah Gade – 24:34.01
13. Justin Vilhauer – 24:36.68
21. Brigham Hedges – 24:53.12
68. Alexander Johansson – 26:04.24
Women's Team Results
1. Ohio State – 50
2. Eastern Kentucky – 75
3. Oklahoma State – 76
4. Kentucky – 80
5. Southern Indiana – 148
6. Tennessee – 162
7. Morehead State – 200
8. Akron – 218
9. Northern Kentucky – 253
10. Bellarmine – 320
Women's Individual Results (5,000 meters)
5. Caileigh Glenn – 17:02.50
13. Gintare Zenkeviciute – 17:17.20
17. Emily Helms – 17:20.90
23. Natalie Baker – 17:31.70
27. Abbie Hetherington – 17:43.40
37. Savannah Camacho – 18:15.30
47. Clara Nichols – 18:35.90
