Oklahoma State University Athletics
Abdi Takes 10K Title at Big 12 Championships
May 12, 2017 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Cowboys extend 10K win-streak to three years
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Hassan Abdi set a Rock Chalk Park facility record and won the 10,000-meter run in 29:21.39 for his first conference title at the first day of the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Cowboys came into the championship with a history of dominance in the 10,000-meter run having won the last two event titles and four since 2009.
OSU had another strong showing in the 10K with all-conference performances from Abdi and Sylvester Barus.
The top-nine that included Barus broke away in the first lap and Abdi ran alone for the first 10 laps before picking off the lead group runner-by-runner.
Abdi took the lead with eight laps to go and won the race for his first conference title as a Cowboy, while Barus came in sixth to give the Pokes 13 points from the event.
"Hassan is a super hard-worker, a great kid and a really great team guy," coach Dave Smith said. "I'm happy for him. He got the title he deserved."
The Cowboy newcomer has now scored 26 points at Big 12 Championships in his first year with OSU, and has taken all-conference honors in all three collegiate athletics seasons after being named Big 12 Runner of the Year for the cross country season.
Senior record-holder Megan Honas earned her first all-conference honor with an eighth-place finish in the javelin.
Honas' second throw of the day of 43.41m/142-5.25 was enough to get her into the final and kept the Cowgirl senior in scoring position for the rest of the series.
After one day of action, the Cowboys have 13 points and the Cowgirls have one.
The last event of the day featured Cowgirl junior Gintare Zenkeviciute. She thrived in her first ever 10,000-meter run for OSU and finished ninth, setting a personal-best time of 35:31.87.
Zenkeviciute returns to the track Sunday for the 5,000-meter run.
The bulk of the competition kicks off Saturday afternoon as 60 OSU athletes compete in 18 individual events.
"This time of the year, I always tell the team that everything you've done gets wiped clean," Smith said. "It's not about how well you've done or how bad you've done – it's about who you can beat, now."
The Cowgirls open day two of the championships at 4 p.m. with the 1,500-meter run and shot put featuring Kaela Edwards and Ieva Zarankaite, respectively.
The first men's event for the Cowboys will be the 1,500 at 4:20 p.m.
Big 12 Outdoor Championships | May 12, 2017 | Lawrence, Kan.
Women's Results
10,000 Meters
9. Gintare Zenkeviciute – 35:31.87
Hammer Throw
11. Jocelen Ruth – 49.63m/162-10.0
12. Baylor Nelson – 49.26m/161-7.5
13. Ieva Zarankaite – 47.47m/155-9.0
Javelin Throw
8. Megan Honas – 43.41/142-5.25
9. Ieva Zarankaite – 42.52m/139-6.0
13. Jocelen Ruth – 32.75m/107-5.5
Men's Results
10,000 Meters
1. Hassan Abdi – 29:21.39
6. Sylvester Barus – 30:00.18
12. Noah Gade – 30:59.05
Javelin Throw
11. Wesley Hallof – 50.32m/165-1.25
12. Sean Casey – 44.27m/145-3.0
The Cowboys came into the championship with a history of dominance in the 10,000-meter run having won the last two event titles and four since 2009.
OSU had another strong showing in the 10K with all-conference performances from Abdi and Sylvester Barus.
The top-nine that included Barus broke away in the first lap and Abdi ran alone for the first 10 laps before picking off the lead group runner-by-runner.
Abdi took the lead with eight laps to go and won the race for his first conference title as a Cowboy, while Barus came in sixth to give the Pokes 13 points from the event.
"Hassan is a super hard-worker, a great kid and a really great team guy," coach Dave Smith said. "I'm happy for him. He got the title he deserved."
The Cowboy newcomer has now scored 26 points at Big 12 Championships in his first year with OSU, and has taken all-conference honors in all three collegiate athletics seasons after being named Big 12 Runner of the Year for the cross country season.
Senior record-holder Megan Honas earned her first all-conference honor with an eighth-place finish in the javelin.
Honas' second throw of the day of 43.41m/142-5.25 was enough to get her into the final and kept the Cowgirl senior in scoring position for the rest of the series.
After one day of action, the Cowboys have 13 points and the Cowgirls have one.
The last event of the day featured Cowgirl junior Gintare Zenkeviciute. She thrived in her first ever 10,000-meter run for OSU and finished ninth, setting a personal-best time of 35:31.87.
Zenkeviciute returns to the track Sunday for the 5,000-meter run.
The bulk of the competition kicks off Saturday afternoon as 60 OSU athletes compete in 18 individual events.
"This time of the year, I always tell the team that everything you've done gets wiped clean," Smith said. "It's not about how well you've done or how bad you've done – it's about who you can beat, now."
The Cowgirls open day two of the championships at 4 p.m. with the 1,500-meter run and shot put featuring Kaela Edwards and Ieva Zarankaite, respectively.
The first men's event for the Cowboys will be the 1,500 at 4:20 p.m.
Big 12 Outdoor Championships | May 12, 2017 | Lawrence, Kan.
Women's Results
10,000 Meters
9. Gintare Zenkeviciute – 35:31.87
Hammer Throw
11. Jocelen Ruth – 49.63m/162-10.0
12. Baylor Nelson – 49.26m/161-7.5
13. Ieva Zarankaite – 47.47m/155-9.0
Javelin Throw
8. Megan Honas – 43.41/142-5.25
9. Ieva Zarankaite – 42.52m/139-6.0
13. Jocelen Ruth – 32.75m/107-5.5
Men's Results
10,000 Meters
1. Hassan Abdi – 29:21.39
6. Sylvester Barus – 30:00.18
12. Noah Gade – 30:59.05
Javelin Throw
11. Wesley Hallof – 50.32m/165-1.25
12. Sean Casey – 44.27m/145-3.0
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Middle Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Throws
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & TrackTuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
