Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Track and Field Ranked in Top 10
February 17, 2015 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Feb. 17, 2015
STILLWATER, Okla. – After an outstanding performance at three different meets last weekend, the Oklahoma State men's track and field team has landed in the top 10 of this week's USTFCCCA rankings, reaching the No. 9 spot for its highest ranking of the season.
“The ranking is nice recognition for our program, but we want to back it up or even surpass it with performance,” coach Dave Smith said. “I am excited by the way the men have been steadily climbing the rankings all winter. We have contributors in every event area and each athlete is feeding off the improvements of the others. We are really starting to gain momentum heading into the championship portion of the season where we will need to be at our absolute best as we pursue a third straight top 10 finish at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.”
The Cowboys jumped eight spots after impressive outings at the Iowa State Invitational, Husky Classic and Tyson Invitational. OSU is now the second highest ranked team in the Big 12, trailing only No. 5 Texas.
It marks the squad's highest ranking since they were No. 6 in the final rankings last season.
Led by John Teeters and his NCAA-best 6.52 60-meter dash, the Cowboys have five top 10 NCAA qualifying times, including the mile (Chad Nolle), 3,000 meter run (Fabian Clarkson), distance medley relay (Clarkson, Singleton, Fayers, Noelle) and weight throw (Nick Miller).
Despite career bests from Kaela Edwards in the 800 meters, Jennifer Celis in the mile and other members of the Cowgirls track and field team, the women's team fell out of the top 25 for the first time this season after being ranked No. 15 last week.
Edwards ranks third on the NCAA indoor qualifying list in the 800, and the distance medley relay team of Edwards, Aurora Dybedokken, Stephanie Ferrante and Clara Nichols has the ninth fastest time in the NCAA this season.
Both squads own 38 top-10 marks within the Big 12, including six No. 1 marks and 15 top-three marks.
With only one more opportunity for competition remaining until the Big 12 Championships in Ames, Iowa, the men's and women's teams travel to South Bend, Ind., this weekend to compete at the Alex Wilson Invitational.
