OSU Sets Huge Marks at Payton Jordan Invitational

May 03, 2015 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

Noelle runs top 1,500 in NCAA

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Chad Noelle cruised to a top time in the NCAA and Ingeborg Loevnes set another school record in Oklahoma State's last
meet of the 2015 outdoor regular season Saturday at the Payton Jordan Invitational.

"It was an absolutely unbelievable day," coach Dave Smith said. "The energy was really great and we just ran some fantastic races today."

The Cowboys were led by Chad Noelle who won section two of the 1,500-meter run by setting a personal best and the top time in the NCAA this
season. Noelle ran a 3:38.35, a full second better than the previous No. 1 time in 2015 and the third best time in OSU school history.

Kirubel Erassa joined Noelle in the second heat and finished third in 3:39.05, just three-hundredths of a second out of second place.

"Chad ran a phenomenal race," middle-distance coach Bobby Lockhart said. "We knew that he and Kirubel could run a sub-3:40, but it was just a
matter of execution and they pulled it off today."

The Cowgirls had stellar day at Stanford as well, as Ingeborg Loevnes broke her own school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by eight
seconds and the other middle-distance runners dominated. Loevnes ran a 9:48.89, which is the fifth fastest time in the NCAA this season.

"Ingeborg had a gigantic PR in the steeplechase and is closing in on the Olympic standard of 9:45," Smith said. "At this point, she has a very
legitimate chance of running in the Olympics in 2016."

In the 800-meter run, All-Americans Natalja Piliusina, Kaela Edwards and Savannah Camacho each had fantastic times and improved in the
NCAA qualifying standings.

Piliusina ran her second fastest 800 ever and her fastest since 2013. She finished third with a time of 2:01.93, just three-tenths of a second behind
the No. 1 time in the heat. Her mark is the fourth best in the NCAA.

"Natalja is finally back to being where she was in 2013," Smith said. "She's a real threat in 800 and 1,500. She's got that pop back and it's going
to be exciting to watch her race at Nationals."

In the second section of the 800, Edwards and Camacho finished first and second, respectively, and Edwards set a personal best for the second
meet in a row. Edwards' 2:02.63 is the sixth best time in the NCAA and the No. 2 time in OSU history. Camacho jumped from 12th in the NCAA to
10th with a time of 2:03.70, giving the Cowgirls three of the top-10 times in the NCAA this season, more than any other school.

"We had three great races in the 800," Smith said. "We were curious as to what it would be like to have them in the same race and we got Kaela's
best time and Savannah's second fastest time. The women were just on fire out here today. They were rooting for each other and I believe that
success is contagious. If we keep rolling we'll be a tough team come the conference meet."

Caileigh Glenn also set a personal best when she finished second in the fifth section of the 1,500-meter run. Her 4:19.34 broke her previous best
by three seconds and is now the fourth fastest time in OSU history and the third fastest time in the Big 12 this season, which gives OSU two of the
top-five times in the conference.

"We looked fantastic today and I couldn't be more proud," Lockhart said. "It's the last meet of the regular season, so we're starting to decrease the
mileage on some of the runners, but with the way we're running, we have the potential to be a top-15 or top-10 team at nationals."

OSU's regular season is over, but there are still six weeks until the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. The next big meet will be the Big 12
Outdoor Championships in Ames, Iowa, May 15-18.

NOTE: Nick Miller (Great Britain) won the hammer throw competition by throwing a personal best 76.97m/252-06, a whole 28 feet better than the
second place finisher and the fourth best throw in the world this year. The throw would have smashed the OSU record, but Miller is redshirting for
the Cowboys this season.

Payton Jordan Invitational :: May 2, 2015 :: Palo Alto, Calif.

Men's

3000 Meter Steeplechase (Sec. 3)
11. Anthoney Armstrong -- 8:59.69

1500 Meter Run (Sec. 4)
6. Matthew Fayers -- 3:43.71
9. Vegard Oelstad -- 3:47.09
10. Justin Vilhauer -- 3:50.26

1500 Meter Run (Sec. 2)
1. Chad Noelle -- 3:38.35
2. Kirubel Erassa -- 3:39.05

Women's

3000 Meter Steeplechase (Sec. 1)
7. Ingeborg Loevnes -- 9:48.89

800 Meter Run (Sec. 2)
1. Kaela Edwards -- 2:02.63
2. Savannah Camacho -- 2:03.70

800 Meter Run (Sec. 1)
3. Natalja Piliusina -- 2:01.93

1500 Meter Run (Sec. 5)
2. Caileigh Glenn -- 4:19.34