Oklahoma State University Athletics
Geberkidane, Vail Impress at USA Cross Country Championships
February 07, 2015 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
BOULDER, Colo. – Oklahoma State standout Cerake Geberkidane and former Cowboy Ryan Vail both turned in impressive outings at the 2015 USA Cross Country Championships Saturday, with Geberkidane finishing as runner-up in the junior men's division and Vail crossing the line fourth in the open men's race.
Each of the their finishes qualify them to represent the United States at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in China March 28.
Geberkidane, a freshman in his first season of collegiate competition, completed the 8K course in 25:37, besting several of the nation's elite junior athletes.
“I think Cerake ran a tough race,” coach Dave Smith said. “He made a mistake and was too aggressive when he took the lead at the halfway point, but he hung tough and took second. He was the only top guy who hasn't been training at altitude, so this is probably his best finish ever. It's a great start to his career.”
In January, Geberkidane finished second in the men's junior race at the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Meet and helped Team USA win its first overall team title at the event.
The Denver, Colo., native suited up three times for the Cowboys last fall, making appearances at the Big 12 Championships, NCAA Midwest Regional and the NCAA Championships. He took 11th at the conference meet, earning the first All-Big 12 honor of his career. Geberkidane also competed at last season's Cowboy Jamboree as an unattached runner.
Vail finished the 12K men's open course with a time of 36:55 to secure his spot on the U.S. team.
Vail was a five-time All-American at OSU who led the Cowboys to the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championship and has had a successful career running at the international level since his time as a Cowboy.
The Gresham, Ore., native served as team captain of Oklahoma State's NCAA and Big 12-champion cross country team in 2009. Additionally, he was crowned Big 12 individual cross country champion that season, marking the third time in his career that he earned the title of Big 12 champion.
