Cowgirl DMR Team Shatters School Record

Edwards at 2015 Big 12 Indoor Championships

January 29, 2016 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

Edwards and Co. earn NCAA bid with win at Razorback Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kaela Edwards and the Cowgirl distance medley relay team made history at the Razorback Invitational, Friday, with a comeback that punched the Cowgirls a ticket to the NCAA Indoor Championships.

The Cowgirl team of Molly Sughroue, Clara Nichols, Savannah Camacho and Kaela Edwards made its debut and came up big, winning the DMR in an NCAA-leading 11:01.15. The Cowgirls won decisively over second-place Oregon by more than two seconds and out-ran third-place and host Arkansas by seven seconds.

"It was awesome to watch," coach Dave Smith said. "They went out there and qualified for nationals, which was our goal for the meet, and broke the school record in the process. Kaela looked great and I think she's now solidified as one of the best middle-distance runners in the NCAA."

After a fast start from both Oregon and Arkansas that saw the Cowgirls in third place heading into the mile leg, Edwards ran a 4:31.37 to overtake the lead and grab OSU the crown and the 10 points. Had Edwards' mile been during an open event, she would have overtaken the top-spot in school history and grabbed the 2016 NCAA lead by three seconds.

"I think everyone did what we needed to do," Edwards said. "I went out pretty hard, which I wasn't expecting to do, but I was feeling good and I didn't want to let the team down. Oregon and Arkansas were in front of me and I knew all I had to do was catch them."

Edwards is expected to run in the mile invitational Saturday at the Randal Tyson Track.

"I kind of want to go for the school record," Edwards said. "I don't know how the race is going to go, though, so it might also be best for me to just go out conservative and aim for a qualifying time."

Two Cowboy teams ran in the men's DMR with one finishing second and the other grabbing eighth.

Matthew Fayers, Brandon Singleton, Bradley Johnson and Chad Noelle made up the first team for the Pokes that finished in 9:35.35. It was the fourth fastest time in school history and the fastest time in the Big 12 this year. The second team, made up of Joshua Thompson, Tyler Jackson, Tre'Tez Kinnaird and Vegard Oelstad ran the sixth-fastest time in the conference this season with a 9:56.43.

"They're still a few seconds off from qualifying," Smith said. "We had four good legs, but nothing super, so they'll probably run again for that qualifying time at Notre Dame, a week before Big 12's."

Freshman standout Jacob Fincham-Dukes continued his climb up the OSU top-10 list with a 9th place finish in the long jump. He jumped a 7.36m/24-1.75 to move up into a tie with teammate Jerel Morrow for fourth all-time in OSU history and claim the fourth-best jump in the Big 12 this season.

Chase Ealey competed in just her fourth career weight throw competition, but the inexperience didn't show as the two-time All-American made history for the second consecutive week. Ealey's 18.73m/61-5.50 mark in the weight throw set a personal best and gave her the second-best throw in Cowgirl history, trumping her mark from a week ago by more than a foot. She finished sixth in the competition overall, scoring three points for the Cowgirls in the team competition, and moved up to sixth on the Big 12 list.

Katie Kehl surpassed her season's best in the weight throw, recording a 14.93m/48-11.75 mark on her way to finishing 17th in the competition. Both Ealey and Kehl's weekend continues Saturday at noon with the shot put.

Freshman Megan Harris made her 200-meter debut and made an instant statement, running the fastest Cowgirl time of the season so far with a 24.96. She finished second in her heat and 29th overall in a competitive final. Her time is No. 7 in Cowgirl history and a personal best on an indoor track.

"I was really impressed with Megan, today," Smith said. "Also, Chase had another big day in the weight throw by climbing to No. 2, and Jacob is getting closer and closer to his personal best that he set back in high school."

At the end of day one, the Cowboys sit in ninth with eight points, and the Cowgirls are also in ninth with 13.

The big weekend for OSU continues Saturday in Arkansas with the remaining events including school record-holder John Teeters in the 60-meter dash, NCAA Champion Noelle in the 3,000-meter run and All-American Jennifer Celis joining Edwards in the mile.

Razorback Invitational | Randal Tyson Track | Jan. 29, 2016

Women

Weight Throw
6. Chase Ealey – 18.73m/61-5.50
17. Katie Kehl – 14.93m/48-11.75
18. Ieva Zarankaite – 14.57m/47-9.75

200 Meters
29. Megan Harris – 24.96
36. Brittany Stallings – 26.52

Distance Medley Relay
1. Oklahoma State Team A – 11:01.15
    (M. Sughroue, C. Nichols,
     S. Camacho, K. Edwards)

Men

200 Meters
27. Anthony Grogan – 22.32
--. Sharod Selph – DQ

Distance Medley Relay
2. Oklahoma State Team A – 9:35.35
    (M. Fayers, B. Singleton,
     B. Johnson, C. Noelle)
8. Oklahoma State Team B – 9:56.43
    (J. Thompson, T. Jackson,
      T. Kinnaird, V. Oelstad)

Long Jump
9. Jacob Fincham-Dukes – 7.36m/24-1.75
21. Simon Imagbe – 6.79m/22-3.50
22. Arlando Brewer-Johnson – 6.78m/22-3.00
23. Jerel Morrow – 6.77m/22-2.50

High Jump
--. Reid Joyner - NH