OSU Track and Field Has Big Day at Three Meets

February 14, 2015 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track

Feb. 14, 2015

STILLWATER, Okla. - The Oklahoma State track and field program finished its biggest day of the season to date Saturday, with several athletes recording personal best marks and claiming spots on OSU's all-time top 10 lists while competing at the Husky Classic, Iowa State Classic and Tyson Invitational.

Chad Noelle started the day with a career-best mile time of 3:57.78, finishing first among collegiate competitors at the Iowa State Classic. That time ranks as the third-best in school history, the fifth-best in the NCAA this year and the best in the Big 12 this season. His previous career best (3:59.12) came at last year's ISU Classic and was fifth on OSU's all-time list.

Noelle was the first of three Cowboys to run sub-four minute miles at the ISU Classic, as Vegard Oelstad and Matthew Fayers also set new career bests in the same event. Oelstad finished in 3:58.79 and Fayers finished in 3:59.55, ranking No. 5 and No. 9, respectively, on OSU's all-time best list. With their performances, the Cowboys now have the top three mile times in the Big 12 this year.

The running success didn't stop there for the Cowboys. At the Husky Classic in Seattle, Fabian Clarkson and Craig Nowak finished sixth and 10th, respectively, in the men's 3,000 meter run. Clarkson finished the race in 7:50.49, ranking as the third fastest 3K in school history, the fastest time in the Big 12 this season and the seventh-fastest time in the NCAA this year. Nowak's 7:56.36 was the second best time in the conference this year and the ninth best in school history.

Brian Gohlke and Luis Martinez also had solid outings in the men's 3,000 meter run. Gohlke's time of 8:11.21 ranks as the ninth fastest in the Big 12 this year, and Martinez set a new career best with a time of 8:13.03 mark.

“Today was another magical day,” coach Dave Smith said. “Everybody performed right at their PR or better. Couple that with John Teeters and Nick Miller yesterday and this has easily been one of the biggest weekends we've had in a while. Today was our best day this season.”

The women's team was just as impressive, highlighted by outstanding performances from Jennifer Celis, Kaela Edwards, Kaylee Dodd and Ingeborg Loevnes.

Shattering her previous personal best with a time of 4:40.69 in the women's mile in Seattle, Celis now ranks No. 4 all-time in the mile at OSU and has the third-fastest time in the Big 12.

“Celis' run was just incredible,” Smith said. “I think it was 18 seconds better than her high school time, which is just amazing.”

At the ISU Classic in Ames, Edwards continued her impressive season with a time of 2:03.70 and a third place finish in the 800 meters. That marks a new career best for her, is third on the NCAA qualifying list and improves on her second best all-time mark in school history, trailing only teammate Natalja Piliusina.

Dodd also recorded a top 10 school mark in the 800 at the Husky Classic, putting up a time of 2:06.30 for sixth on the list. Clara Nichols finished right behind her at 2:06.47, but already ranks fourth all-time at OSU with her personal best of 2:06.25.

Loevnes added to the day at the Husky Classic with a top-10 Big 12 mark of 9:30.29 in the 3,000 meters. Janelle Martinez reached a new career best in the 3,000, finishing in 9:52.20 and beating her previous time by three seconds.

The next events on OSU's track and field schedule are the Alex Wilson Invitational and Kansas State Invitational next weekend. That marks the last weekend of competition before the Big 12 Indoor Championships Feb. 27-28.

Iowa State Classic :: Feb. 14, 2015 :: Lied Recreation Center

Men's Results
400 Meter Dash
10. Tyler Jackson - 48.50

One Mile Run
2. Chad Noelle - 3:57.78
5. Vegard Oelstad - 3:58.79
6. Matthew Fayers - 3:59.55

Women's Results
60 Meter Final
8. Britney Presley - 7.94

400 Meter Dash
16. Ambra Wesley - 57.22
21. Stephanie Ferrante - 58.16
23. Summor Fields - 58.43
24. Danielle Coleman - 58.84

800 Meter Run
3. Kaela Edwards - 2:03.70

4X400 Meter Relay
9. OK State Team A - 3:51.25
(Ferrante, Robinson, Coleman, Fields)

Husky Classic :: Feb. 14, 2015 :: Dempsey Indoor

Men's Results
800 Meter Run
46. Lance Gray - 1:52.94
48. Timauntay Jones - 1:53.20

One Mile Run
34. Brigham Hedges - 4:06.55
48. Cerake Geberkidane - 4:08.31

3,000 Meter Run
6. Fabian Clarkson - 7:50.49
10. Craig Nowak - 7:56.36
26. Brian Gohlke - 8:11.21
30. Luis Martinez - 8:13.03

Women's Results
800 Meter Run
10. Kaylee Dodd - 2:06.30
12. Clara Nichols - 2:06.47
30. Savannah Camacho - 2:10.05
33. Abbie Hetherington - 2:10.43