Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Freshmen Travel to Uganda for World Championships
March 24, 2017 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
By: Madysson Morris, OSU Athletic Communications
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The road to Uganda began Saturday Feb. 4 for two Oklahoma State freshmen athletes, Michelle Magnani and Alec Haines.
The two competed at the United States Track and Field's Cross Country Championships in Bend, Oregon, where both placed in the top-10 to punch their tickets to the eastern African nation for a chance to compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in March.
Runners from all over the nation were present, and Magnani took first in the Junior Women's 6K, while Haines competed in the Junior Men 8k, placing seventh.
The win was just another addition to the long list of accomplishments the Cowgirl freshman has built during her first year with OSU.
Back in the fall, Magnani received recognition from the Big 12 for her outstanding debut cross country season when she took home Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors, as well as a top-10 finish at the Big 12 Championship race to become the first Cowgirl freshman to do so since Mary Davies finished fifth in 2004.
She was a key member of the Cowgirl lineup, but suffered an injury before the NCAA Championships that hindered her performance.
She bounced back in Oregon, taking the win and claiming a place on Team USA.
The top-six received an automatic spot on the U.S. Junior team. Magnani made it easily, but Haines was on the bubble after he finished seventh.
Although Haines finished seventh, he earned his spot on the team as one of the six best eligible athletes.
"I came in seventh, so I was a little bummed I didn't make the top-six," Haines said. "There was a guy from Michigan who placed before me, but the rules said the top-six had to have their passports immediately and be ready to go, so when the guy who came in sixth place didn't have his, I was next in line to go."
On Feb. 1, Magnani and Haines, along with assistant coach Cody Halsey flew to Seattle, Washington, then to Bend, Oregon, to prepare for the meet that coming Saturday.
"It was my first time in Oregon," Haines said. "The experience was really cool, and it was snowing when we got there. I had to get my mind right and focused on the race, and I didn't know how it would be with so much snow."
There was nearly a foot of snow on the ground, and volunteers worked day and night to clear the Rivers Edge Golf Course for the race.
The snow didn't slow down the OSU freshmen, though.
Magnani finished her 6,000-meter race with a time of 22:37 at a pace of 6:04 minutes per mile, and Haines finished his 8,000-meter race with a time of 26:36 at a pace of 5:21.
"It will be me and my five other girls and the six boys traveling to Uganda," Magnani said. "The professionals will be running as well, and racing in Uganda should be much different than the qualifiers in Oregon."
Magnani said she plans to continue her training as she has all year to prepare for Uganda.
"My coach is just going to keep me on my normal track training," Magnani said. "That should be completely fine for the cross country race as well. I'll do tempo runs, long runs and interval training. Probably a lot of cross training too."
Haines said his indoor track training will benefit him in preparing for Uganda.
"We finished conference for indoor track the last weekend of February," Haines said. "I'll keep to what I do during the season to train for the end of March because that's what my coaches have us do when we're here, and it will really prepare me for Uganda also."
Haines said he hopes to accomplish as much as he can while he's overseas, but also wants to enjoy the experience with his new teammates.
"The talent there is going to be really good," Haines said. "I just want to go and have a great experience and race my absolute best. I don't know what to expect, but I just want to do my best and contribute to Team USA."
Magnani also has big goals for herself as she continues to prepare for her opportunity to run with Team USA.
"I want to keep doing what I'm doing and eventually become a NCAA Champion at the collegiate level," Magnani said. "My goal is to become a professional runner and one day an Olympian."
Haines and Magnani left for Uganda on March 20, and will compete with Team USA at the IAAF World Cross Country Championship on March 26 at 6:30 a.m. CT.
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The road to Uganda began Saturday Feb. 4 for two Oklahoma State freshmen athletes, Michelle Magnani and Alec Haines.
The two competed at the United States Track and Field's Cross Country Championships in Bend, Oregon, where both placed in the top-10 to punch their tickets to the eastern African nation for a chance to compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in March.
Runners from all over the nation were present, and Magnani took first in the Junior Women's 6K, while Haines competed in the Junior Men 8k, placing seventh.
The win was just another addition to the long list of accomplishments the Cowgirl freshman has built during her first year with OSU.
Back in the fall, Magnani received recognition from the Big 12 for her outstanding debut cross country season when she took home Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors, as well as a top-10 finish at the Big 12 Championship race to become the first Cowgirl freshman to do so since Mary Davies finished fifth in 2004.
She was a key member of the Cowgirl lineup, but suffered an injury before the NCAA Championships that hindered her performance.
She bounced back in Oregon, taking the win and claiming a place on Team USA.
The top-six received an automatic spot on the U.S. Junior team. Magnani made it easily, but Haines was on the bubble after he finished seventh.
Although Haines finished seventh, he earned his spot on the team as one of the six best eligible athletes.
"I came in seventh, so I was a little bummed I didn't make the top-six," Haines said. "There was a guy from Michigan who placed before me, but the rules said the top-six had to have their passports immediately and be ready to go, so when the guy who came in sixth place didn't have his, I was next in line to go."
On Feb. 1, Magnani and Haines, along with assistant coach Cody Halsey flew to Seattle, Washington, then to Bend, Oregon, to prepare for the meet that coming Saturday.
"It was my first time in Oregon," Haines said. "The experience was really cool, and it was snowing when we got there. I had to get my mind right and focused on the race, and I didn't know how it would be with so much snow."
There was nearly a foot of snow on the ground, and volunteers worked day and night to clear the Rivers Edge Golf Course for the race.
The snow didn't slow down the OSU freshmen, though.
Magnani finished her 6,000-meter race with a time of 22:37 at a pace of 6:04 minutes per mile, and Haines finished his 8,000-meter race with a time of 26:36 at a pace of 5:21.
"It will be me and my five other girls and the six boys traveling to Uganda," Magnani said. "The professionals will be running as well, and racing in Uganda should be much different than the qualifiers in Oregon."
Magnani said she plans to continue her training as she has all year to prepare for Uganda.
"My coach is just going to keep me on my normal track training," Magnani said. "That should be completely fine for the cross country race as well. I'll do tempo runs, long runs and interval training. Probably a lot of cross training too."
Haines said his indoor track training will benefit him in preparing for Uganda.
"We finished conference for indoor track the last weekend of February," Haines said. "I'll keep to what I do during the season to train for the end of March because that's what my coaches have us do when we're here, and it will really prepare me for Uganda also."
Haines said he hopes to accomplish as much as he can while he's overseas, but also wants to enjoy the experience with his new teammates.
"The talent there is going to be really good," Haines said. "I just want to go and have a great experience and race my absolute best. I don't know what to expect, but I just want to do my best and contribute to Team USA."
Magnani also has big goals for herself as she continues to prepare for her opportunity to run with Team USA.
"I want to keep doing what I'm doing and eventually become a NCAA Champion at the collegiate level," Magnani said. "My goal is to become a professional runner and one day an Olympian."
Haines and Magnani left for Uganda on March 20, and will compete with Team USA at the IAAF World Cross Country Championship on March 26 at 6:30 a.m. CT.
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Players Mentioned
Middle Distance
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Middle Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & TrackFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
