Edwards Takes Indoor Mile National Title

Edwards breaks 14-year winless drought at NCAA Indoor Championships for Cowgirls

March 12, 2016 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kaela Edwards became the fourth Cowgirl in school history to win an NCAA Indoor title Saturday by topping the women's mile field and helping the Cowgirls to a top-10 finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama.

Edwards, wearing her signature bow, set a new facility record of 4:35.62, picked up her fourth All-America honor and third consecutive indoor All-America honor with the win.

"I'm just thrilled for Kaela," coach Dave Smith said. "She ran a technically perfect race. She ran with a lot of heart, a lot of emotion and did a great job."

She held fourth for a majority of the race, moving up to third during the final two laps and kicking into the lead on the backstretch of the bell lap, passing Villanova's Angel Piccirillo to take the crown.

"It played out kind of how I expected it to," Edwards said. "I actually got out a little faster than I anticipated, but it all ended up working out and I was ready for whatever race was to come."

With the result, Edwards joins decorated Cowgirl Natalja Piliusina as the only Cowgirls in school history to earn three indoor All-America honors in individual events. Both women took honors in the 800-meter run twice and the mile once.

The Cowgirls' 18 points scored as a team is a new school record and their 10th place finish is highest finish in school history.

Edwards snaps a 14-year title drought for the Cowgirls at indoor championships, bringing a title back to Stillwater for the first time since Siri Alfheim's 5,000-meter title in 2002.

After missing out on the 2015 indoor championships, Savannah Camacho made a comeback worthy of praise in the 800-meter final.

"It's her third time as an All-American and her second-highest finish indoors ever in a very difficult 800-meter field, so I'm really excited for her," Smith said.

She finished fourth, crossing the finish line in 2:06.47 to secure her third first-team All-America honor.

Camacho's finish puts her in elite company at OSU as the achievement marks her third first-team honor in as many years in the 800. She finished runner-up indoors in 2014 and eighth at the outdoor meet a season ago. Only Piliusina has matched that mark from 2011 to 2013.

"Our women's team is picking up steam," Smith said. "I think now people are starting to recognize that Oklahoma State is a great place to go and a solid program."

The fastest race of the meet turned into the fastest race in NCAA history at the sound of the gun.

John Teeters represented the Pokes in the final for the ages and finished fourth to land on the podium with a second-straight first-team All-America honor.

"I think John did an incredible job," Smith said. "When two guys run 6.47 and 6.48 and you run your second-best time ever, which is a time that would win almost every year, you kind of just have to tip your hat and say, 'I'll see you in the outdoor season', which is exactly what John said."

Teeters ran a season's best 6.53, a hundredth of a second off of his personal best, but defending champion Ronnie Baker led the stacked field, winning in a world-leading 6.47.

"Those guys keep raising the bar on each other," Smith said. "John kind of kicked it off last year by running a 6.52, Ronnie did a good job last year and now he and Cameron Burrell are kind of raising the bar on John."

The Cowboys scored nine points as a team with Teeters' fourth-place finish and the DMR's fifth-place finish from Friday night. They took 24th place in their fifth consecutive NCAA Indoor Championships appearance.

Chase Ealey launched a 17.35m/56-11.25 with her second throw to make the shot put final. After the competition was skimmed down to nine throwers, Ealey's mark kept her in the top-eight where she finished sixth and earned her second straight indoor All-America honor and first trip to the podium.

"It was her biggest performance and she kind of saved the best for last," Smith said. "It's her senior year and she's going out with a first-team All-America honor and I'm happy for her."

With the indoor season wrapped up, the Pokes turn their attention to outdoor competition, with the first meet of the season just around the corner.

"We had a great end to a fantastic season," Smith said. "For both programs it was one of our best seasons ever. The women finished with their highest finish ever in the Big 12 and had their highest finish ever here at Nationals and the men won the Big 12, so I'm really proud of all of them."

Oregon took the team title on the men's side for the third consecutive season and the Ducks also claimed the women's title for the sixth time in seven years after finishing runner-up to hosts Arkansas back in 2015.

2016 NCAA Indoor Championships | March 12, 2016 | Birmingham, Ala.

Women's Results

Mile Final
1. Kaela Edwards – 4:35.62

800 Meter Final
4. Savannah Camacho - 2:06.47

Shot Put Final
6. Chase Ealey – 17.35m/56-11.25

Men's Results

60 Meter Final
4. John Teeters – 6.53

Women's Team Results
1. Oregon – 53 pts
2. Arkansas – 50
3. Georgia – 45
4. Texas – 44
5. Notre Dame – 35
6. Michigan – 31
7. Tennessee – 30
8. Kansas State – 26
9. Georgetown – 21
10. Southern California – 18
10. Oklahoma State – 18

Men's Team Results
1. Oregon – 62
2. Arkansas – 39
3. Tennessee – 34
4. LSU – 28
5. Texas – 25
6. Washington – 24
7. Florida – 21
8. Virginia – 18
8. Stanford – 18
10. Texas A&M – 17
…
24. Oklahoma State - 9