Five More Pokes Punch Tickets to Eugene

Thursday, May 26

Lawrence, Kan.

All Day

Oklahoma State University

NCAA West Preliminary Round

May 28, 2016 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The field in Eugene, Oregon, has officially been set and five more Cowgirls and Cowboys earned spots in the NCAA Championships at the final day of the West Preliminary Rounds to bring OSU's weekend total to nine.

The Cowgirls sent Kaela Edwards, Aurora Dybedokken and Chase Ealey through, and the Cowboys put Cerake Geberkidane and Vegard Oelstad into the NCAA 5,000-meter final.

"The funny thing is, we didn't get many people through, today, but the ones we got through have real national championship potential," coach Dave Smith said.

In the women's 1,500-meter quarterfinal, NCAA indoor mile champion Edwards cruised to the national semifinal finishing second in heat three in 4:18.40.

"It was a good race, just as I expected," Edwards said. "It was nice being out on the outside lane because I could smoothly cut in. I didn't want to take the lead and I just sat on whoever was in the lead and reacted whenever they wanted to make a move."

Typically a staple in the 800, owning two first-team All-America honors in the event indoors, Edwards made the jump to the mile indoor and 1,500 outdoor this season with equal success.

"Kaela is coming off some down time after an injury and hopefully she can bounce back and get ready to go," Smith said. "She looked pretty good today, and she just has to build off that."

Edwards did not compete at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships because of injury, but won the 1,000, and mile at the Big 12 Indoor Championships.

"I had to take a little bit of time off at Big 12's, so I knew I wasn't 100 percent and I just wanted to take it slow," Edwards said. "My kick isn't great right now, but it'll get there and I'm still pretty happy with the result. It's all about surviving and advancing and I did what I needed to do, so I'm just happy to be here and looking forward to Eugene."

Even with the drastic change in format because of bad weather that plagued the Great Plains over the past few days, Edwards felt prepared for the challenge of only running a final.

"It actually helped a lot," Edwards said. "I felt relieved when I heard the update because your body stresses when you get ready for a race, and having to deal with only one race is a lot less taxing."

It will be Edwards' fifth NCAA Track and Field Championships appearance and sixth overall as she ran with the seventh-place Cowgirl cross country team at the NCAA Championships this past fall.

For the first time in her young Cowgirl career, Dybedokken advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 5,000 after winning her heat and running the top women's time of the day in 16:08.16.

"My season's been a little up and down," Dybedokken said. "It started out a little lousy, but this is what I have been working for all year. If I wouldn't have made it, I would have said my season was horrible, but I did and I'm excited about Eugene."

Dybedokken ran a steady race, never taking the lead, but always in the mix until the final 200 when she kicked past the lead group to snag the top-qualifying spot.

"The 5K's were great for us," Smith said. "I think Aurora surprised some people with her time, but she has the ability to score points at Nationals."

She'll continue her breakout sophomore season that includes a Big 12 title in Eugene on June 11.

Ealey's throw of 16.89m/55-5 was enough to get her through to her first outdoor final in the shot put.

"It feels good to make it," Ealey said. "It feels like a huge weight is off my shoulders. It's been my best season, but I can feel more in there, so there's definitely more to come."

Following the precedent set by Nick Miller two days ago, it only took Ealey one throw to advance to the final.

"It's kind of a pressure-cooker meet," throws coach Lucais Mackay said. "She only got three throws, so we wanted her to get a qualifying throw on the first attempt, which she did. We wanted to improve on it, but this meet is all about qualifying, so we're happy with the result."

The 12-time All-Big 12 thrower earned first-team All-America honors for the first time during the indoor season, and looks to do the same in Oregon as she comes into the meet with the fourth-best throw in the NCAA this season.

"I'm really excited for Eugene," Ealey said. "It's been a long time coming."

Two Cowboys closed out the day and the West Prelims with championship spots for OSU in the men's 5,000-meter run.

Geberkidane took a commanding lead with a little under a mile to go in the 12-lap race, but was caught by the field, including fellow Cowboy Oelstad on the final lap. His plan worked, however, as he finished fourth in his heat with and automatic qualifying bid and Oelstad crossed the line just behind him in fifth.

"With about three or four laps to go, I took it and I didn't ease up until about 150 to go," Geberkidane said. "With about 350 meters to go, they started their kicks and I had been kicking for a while, so they started to catch me, and I settled for fourth, but I made it and that was my goal."

Geberkidane took Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors for his impressive sweep of the 10,000-and 5,000-meter runs two weeks ago at the Big 12 Championships, and Oelstad took the Big 12 track and field individual title last fall.

"Vegard surprised everybody, today," Smith said. "He's kind of struggled all year, but he showed up when it counted and got into nationals."

The Cowboy 4X100-meter relay team was inches away from their second-straight Championships appearance, but a handoff violation kept the quartet from qualifying with a season-best time of 39.90.

"It's really heartbreaking for those guys," Smith said. "They went through the emotional rollercoaster of hearing that they're in, then, they'd been disqualified by a couple of inches. It's tough for John as senior, leading the team into a qualifying spot and then missing out on a technicality."

Malik Givens led off the race, then Anthony Grogan Jr., took the baton on the backstretch before handing it to All-American Arlando Brewer-Johnson on the final turn. Two-time NCAA runner-up John Teeters anchored, jetting past most of the field before settling for fourth in a loaded heat.

"They're young, though," Smith said. "They'll take this experience to get better, and hopefully be back here again next year."

With the five qualifications Saturday and the four from the first full day of competition, OSU sends five women and four men to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which begin June 8 at Hayward Field.

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds | May 28, 2016 | Lawrence, Kansas

Women's Results

1,500 Meter Quarterfinal
5. Kaela Edwards – 4:18.40Q
26. Jennifer Celis – 4:28.00
31. Anna Boyert – 4:29.38

5,000 Meter Semifinal
1. Aurora Dybedokken – 16:08.16Q

Shot Put Qualifying
7. Chase Ealey – 16.89m/55-5q

Men's Results

4X100 Meter Relay Quarterfinal
--. Oklahoma State Team A – DQ
(M. Givens, A. Grogan Jr.,
A. Brewer-Johnson, J. Teeters)

1,500 Meter Quarterfinal
42. Josh Thompson – 3:53.90
46. Matthew Fayers – 3:57.76

5,000 Meter Semifinal
7. Cerake Geberkidane – 14:13.03Q
9. Vegard Oelstad – 14:14.15Q
40. Craig Nowak – 15:04.96