Oklahoma State University Athletics
Abdi, Larson Crush Personal Bests at Cardinal Classic
April 21, 2017 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER – Hassan Abdi and Kaytlyn Larson ran personal bests in the 5,000-and 800-meter runs, respectively, at the Cardinal Classic Friday to punch tickets to the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds.
Larson opened the day for Oklahoma State out west in the second section of the women's 800 with her teammate, newcomer Ariane Ballner. While both Cowgirls broke 2:10 in the race, Larson surged to a heat win, moving up three places on the homestretch on her way to clocking a 2:06.60 to jump into the top-20 in the region, and eighth on the school-record list.
Last season, Larson advanced to the regional on the final weekend of qualifying as she ran a then personal-best 2:08.49 at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.
"Kaytlyn won her race and that's all we can ask for," coach Dave Smith said. "She was probably a little too conservative in the beginning and I think she doesn't quite trust her ability yet. I think she can run a 2:03 or 2:04 this year, but it was still a fantastic two-second PR."
The last race of the day in Palo Alto, California, featured a pair of Cowboys in Abdi and Sylvester Barus.
Both newcomers own two of the best times in the 10,000-meter run in the region, but toed the line for the 5,000 Friday seeking another automatic place in the preliminary meet in late-May.
"Hassan had a gigantic PR and he was up against some of the best competition in the country in Grant Fisher on his home track," Smith said.
Abdi's solid outing produced a personal-best of 13:43.27 and put him into the top-10 in the West. Abdi is now the second OSU athlete with top-10 marks in two events in the region, as Savannah Camacho on the women's side owns top-10 times in the 800 and 1,500 in 2017.
"I think his 5K time is better than his 10K time," Smith said. "But I think he's a better 10K runner, so we'll play it by ear when it comes to conference and regionals."
The time in the 5K was the fastest by a Cowboy since 2014. OSU has sent an athlete to the NCAA Championships in the 5,000-meter run in five of the last six seasons, and has won the Big 12 title in the event in three of the last four years.
Barus' time of 14:05.11 puts him on the peripheral of the qualifying list and lands him in the top-50, but Barus already had the No. 13 10,000-meter time in the region coming into the weekend.
"Sylvester fought, but he went out a little too hard and blew up at the end there," Smith said. "But, we still have a couple weeks to figure things out."
Back east in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Baylor Nelson set a personal best in the hammer throw of 49.29m/161-8 after a rain delay at the John McDonnell Invitational.
Competition resumes Saturday for OSU in Fayetteville and Palo Alto. Fans can watch the John McDonnell Invitational on SECNetwork+ and the Cardinal Classic on FloTrack with a valid subscription.
Several athletes take to the track tomorrow in the Bay Area, including Larson and Ballner, while a posse of Cowboys and Cowgirls continue competition at the University of Arkansas after Friday's inclement weather delay.
John McDonnell Invitational | April 21, 2017 | Fayetteville, Ark.
Women's Results
Hammer Throw
2. Baylor Nelson – 49.29m/161-8
4. Jocelen Ruth – 45.86m/50-5
Cardinal Classic | April 21, 2017 | Palo Alto, Calif.
Women's Results
800 Meters
6. Kaytlyn Larson – 2:06.60
12. Ariane Ballner – 2:09.67
Men's Results
5,000 Meters
3. Hassan Abdi – 13:43.27
13. Sylvester Barus – 14:05.11
Larson opened the day for Oklahoma State out west in the second section of the women's 800 with her teammate, newcomer Ariane Ballner. While both Cowgirls broke 2:10 in the race, Larson surged to a heat win, moving up three places on the homestretch on her way to clocking a 2:06.60 to jump into the top-20 in the region, and eighth on the school-record list.
Last season, Larson advanced to the regional on the final weekend of qualifying as she ran a then personal-best 2:08.49 at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.
"Kaytlyn won her race and that's all we can ask for," coach Dave Smith said. "She was probably a little too conservative in the beginning and I think she doesn't quite trust her ability yet. I think she can run a 2:03 or 2:04 this year, but it was still a fantastic two-second PR."
The last race of the day in Palo Alto, California, featured a pair of Cowboys in Abdi and Sylvester Barus.
Both newcomers own two of the best times in the 10,000-meter run in the region, but toed the line for the 5,000 Friday seeking another automatic place in the preliminary meet in late-May.
"Hassan had a gigantic PR and he was up against some of the best competition in the country in Grant Fisher on his home track," Smith said.
Abdi's solid outing produced a personal-best of 13:43.27 and put him into the top-10 in the West. Abdi is now the second OSU athlete with top-10 marks in two events in the region, as Savannah Camacho on the women's side owns top-10 times in the 800 and 1,500 in 2017.
"I think his 5K time is better than his 10K time," Smith said. "But I think he's a better 10K runner, so we'll play it by ear when it comes to conference and regionals."
The time in the 5K was the fastest by a Cowboy since 2014. OSU has sent an athlete to the NCAA Championships in the 5,000-meter run in five of the last six seasons, and has won the Big 12 title in the event in three of the last four years.
Barus' time of 14:05.11 puts him on the peripheral of the qualifying list and lands him in the top-50, but Barus already had the No. 13 10,000-meter time in the region coming into the weekend.
"Sylvester fought, but he went out a little too hard and blew up at the end there," Smith said. "But, we still have a couple weeks to figure things out."
Back east in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Baylor Nelson set a personal best in the hammer throw of 49.29m/161-8 after a rain delay at the John McDonnell Invitational.
Competition resumes Saturday for OSU in Fayetteville and Palo Alto. Fans can watch the John McDonnell Invitational on SECNetwork+ and the Cardinal Classic on FloTrack with a valid subscription.
Several athletes take to the track tomorrow in the Bay Area, including Larson and Ballner, while a posse of Cowboys and Cowgirls continue competition at the University of Arkansas after Friday's inclement weather delay.
John McDonnell Invitational | April 21, 2017 | Fayetteville, Ark.
Women's Results
Hammer Throw
2. Baylor Nelson – 49.29m/161-8
4. Jocelen Ruth – 45.86m/50-5
Cardinal Classic | April 21, 2017 | Palo Alto, Calif.
Women's Results
800 Meters
6. Kaytlyn Larson – 2:06.60
12. Ariane Ballner – 2:09.67
Men's Results
5,000 Meters
3. Hassan Abdi – 13:43.27
13. Sylvester Barus – 14:05.11
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Middle Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Middle Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & TrackFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
