Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Track and Field Wraps Up Indoor Regular Season
February 21, 2015 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
SOUTH BEND, Ind.– The Oklahoma State women's track and field team wrapped up its indoor regular season Saturday at the Alex Wilson Invitational, highlighted by the second fastest distance medley relay time in school history.
Jennifer Celis, Stephanie Ferrante Clara Nichols and Kaela Edwards combined to finish the event in just 11:08.13, which is also the second fastest time in the Big 12 this season.
“We ran really well and the effort was there," coach Dave Smith said. "We started strong, but we didn't qualify for nationals like we wanted. They want to try it again at Big 12's.”
Edwards was knocked down during her leg of the race causing the cowgirl team to come up just .30 seconds of qualifying nationally.
An earlier Cowgirl DMR group of Aurora Dybedokken, Ferrante, Nichols and Edwards that ran at the Razorback Invitational in January previously held the second fastest time in the conference until today's time.
“We subbed in Jenny Celis because she ran really well in Seattle,” Smith said. “We felt like she was ready to go, and we were right.”
Aurora Dybedokken and NCAA champion Natalja Piliusina also competed Saturday in the one mile run.
Piliusina, a seven-time All-American and eight-time Big 12 champion, made her indoor season debut, running a 4:53.74. This race marks the first time that Piliusina has competed in any event since 2013.
“She had some injuries, just one after another,” Smith said. “Every time she started to get better, something else would happen. It was just a string of bad luck for her.”
The native Lithuanian has one NCAA outdoor title in the 1,500-meter run and holds seven school records.
“It was Natalja's first race in 19 months,” coach Smith said. “It wasn't her best race, but we're hoping she can get back to form by the outdoor season.”
Dybedokken finished ninth in the event and put up a time of 4:49.86. She already holds the eighth fastest mile in the Big 12 this year with a 4:45.92 that she recorded last weekend at the Husky Invitational in Seattle.
Today's meet was the last scheduled regular season indoor meet for the OSU track and field program. The next competition will be Feb. 27-28 at the Big 12 Indoor Championships in Ames, Iowa. At last year's conference championships, the OSU men's team was crowned champion and the women's team finished seventh.
Women's
Distance Medley Relay
7. Oklahoma Atate Team A – 11:08.13
(Jennifer Celis, Stephanie Ferrante,
Clara Nichols, Kaela Edwards)
One Mile Run
9. Aurora Dybedokken – 4:49.86
13. Natalja Piliusina – 4:53.74
