Cross Country Sweeps Midwest Regional

Friday, November 13

Lawrence, KS

11 a.m.

Oklahoma State University

NCAA Regional Championships

November 13, 2015 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

Baker takes fourth in 6K, Geberkidane third in 10K

LAWRENCE, Kan. – It was more of the same for the Oklahoma State cross country teams as both squads kept their unbeaten streak alive, Friday, by sweeping the Midwest Regional titles at the Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas.

With the win, the Cowboys extended their regional win streak to five and gave the program its 10th win in 11 years. For the Cowgirls, the title gives them three overall and their first regional win since 2005.

Both of OSU's squads won handily. The Cowgirls finished the day with 51 points, beating second-place Iowa State by 47, and the Cowboys' 59 points were 36 more than second-place Minnesota.

More than 200 women competed in the women's 6K race to open the day. After one mile, OSU sat in third place with Ingeborg Loevnes and Natalie Baker heading the Cowgirl charge in 24th and 25th place. It didn't take long for the Cowgirls to jump into the lead, though. After two miles, OSU had four women in the top 25, more than any other team at that point. The Cowgirls turned it on with a mile to go as six women made their way into the top-25, and Baker, Loevnes and Kaela Edwards each claimed top-10 finishes.

Baker was the highest finisher for the Cowgirls, putting up a time of 20:21.4 and taking fourth place. Coming into the season, Baker was the Cowgirls' highest returning finisher from last year's regional where she took 36th.

Big 12 Women's Newcomer of the Year, Loevnes, crossed the finish line in seventh place in 20:28.0. Edwards' 20:35.2 was good enough for ninth, and Molly Sughroue's 20:43.8 got her a 15th place finish. The final Cowgirl tallied into the final score was sophomore Aurora Dybedokken who finished just behind Sughroue in 16th.

"I'm thrilled with how both teams ran today," coach Dave Smith said. "The women were in control for most of the race and the men came on strong at the end to come away with the win, so we're going into Nationals undefeated."

The men's 10K race followed and the OSU domination continued. While it was the longest race OSU had run in all season, the extra 2,000 meters didn't seem to faze the Cowboys.

Much like the Cowgirls, the Cowboys had to fight their way back to the top-spot after falling behind for the first quarter of the race. Even though sophomore Cerake Geberkidane had run his way into second place after two miles, the Cowboys as a team sat in third, nearly 30 points behind the leader. After mile three, while Geberkidane had slipped into third, senior Craig Nowak and Big 12 Men's Newcomer of the Year Josh Thompson had made their way into the top-15 and there was no looking back from there.

"Josh has been a huge pickup for the team," Smith said. "He was kind of heralded coming out of junior college and we're very lucky to have him here. He's been one of our top-five finishers all year, and he's been running really well as of late."

The final result saw the Cowboys at the top, with Geberkidane leading the way once again by taking third place in 29:50.4. Big 12 Individual Champion Vegard Oelstad worked his way into 10th by running a 30:17.5, and Thompson was the third Cowboy to land in the top-15 with a 30:20.6. Nowak (30:23.0) and Brian Gohlke (30:23.9) rounded out the top-five finishers for the Pokes taking 16th and 17th.

"This wasn't the most comfortable race," Smith said. "Through most of it we were in a battle with Minnesota, Tulsa and Oklahoma, but in the last 2,000 or so meters we pulled away."

With the dominating performances at the Midwest Regional, OSU has locked up spots in next week's NCAA Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. The last time Louisville hosted the NCAA Championships was 2012 when the Cowboys won the title with 72 points.

Midwest Regional Championships | Rim Rock Farm, Lawrence, Kan. | Nov. 13, 2015

Women's 6K

4. Natalie Baker – 20:21.2
7. Ingeborg Loevnes – 20:28.0
9. Kaela Edwards – 20:35.2
15. Molly Sughroue – 20:43.8
16. Aurora Dybedokken – 20:50.4
22. Anna Boyert – 20:55.5
55. Katie Spencer – 21:33.7

Men's 10K

3. Cerake Geberkidane – 29:50.4
10. Vegard Oelstad – 30:17.5
13. Joshua Thompson – 30:20.6
16. Craig Nowak – 30:23.0
17. Brian Gohlke – 30:23.9
27. Chad Noelle – 30:48.2
133. Christian Liddell – 32:44.6

Team Results

Women's

1. Oklahoma State – 51 pts.
2. Iowa State – 98
3. Minnesota – 125
4. Tulsa – 151
5. Kansas – 151
6. Bradley – 263
7. Oklahoma – 282
8. Wichita State – 284
9. Loyola (Ill.) – 292
10. Illinois – 310

Men's

1. Oklahoma State – 59 pts.
2. Minnesota – 95
3. Oklahoma – 104
4. Tulsa – 127
5. Iowa State – 157
6. South Dakota State – 163
7. Kansas – 168
8. Illinois – 177
9. Bradley – 287
10. Wichita State – 319