Oklahoma State University Athletics

Michelle Magnani
OSU Men and Women Among Top Three in Regional Cross Country Rankings
August 28, 2017 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State men's and women's cross country teams debuted in the top-three in the Midwest Region in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association preseason ranking announced Monday, with Cowboys taking the No. 1 spot and the Cowgirls coming in at No. 3.
The Cowboys are in the regional top spot for the 52nd-straight week, the longest streak in the nation.
Although the Cowboys lost All-American Josh Thompson, Big 12 Runner of the Year Hassan Abdi will look to lead OSU to its 10th straight Big 12 title.
Three-time Cowboy Jamboree champion Sylvester Barus and Sukhi Khosla return for their second seasons in Stillwater looking to make more waves at the Big 12 Championship. Barus rounded out last year with four top-20 finishes an appearance at the NCAA Championships.
Senior Matthew Fayers looks to bring experience to the Cowboys, where he's made two Big 12 Championship appearances and competed at the NCAA Championships.
The Cowboys lead an impressive quartet of teams including No. 2 Iowa State, which placed 16th at the NCAA Championships a year ago. The three spot belongs to Illinois, which also made an appearance at the NCAAs last season. Tulsa takes the No. 4 ranking, followed by Minnesota rounding out the top five.
On the women's side, an impressive second place finish at regionals last year was followed by a 17th-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Heading into 2017, the Cowgirls find themselves at No. 3 in the region under coach Dave Smith.
Despite losing All-American Kaela Edwards, the Cowgirls return four of its five scoring athletes from the Big 12 Championships a year ago, starting with Michelle Magnani. Magnani was the top Cowgirl at last year's Big 12 Championships with a seventh-place finish, and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Magnani went on to win the U.S. Women's Junior Cross Country title in the U-20 section of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
The Pokes hope to fill Edwards' departure with the likes of Molly Sughroue and Abbie Hetherington, both of whom made an appearance at the NCAA Championships with Edwards.
The Cowgirls are ranked behind the Missouri Tigers at the No. 1 spot and Minnesota at No. 2. They are ranked just above Big 12 rivals Iowa State and Kansas, rounding out the top five in the Midwest Region.
The Cowboys and Cowgirls kick off their season at home for the third straight season with the Cowboy Preview on Sept. 1.
The Cowboys are in the regional top spot for the 52nd-straight week, the longest streak in the nation.
Although the Cowboys lost All-American Josh Thompson, Big 12 Runner of the Year Hassan Abdi will look to lead OSU to its 10th straight Big 12 title.
Three-time Cowboy Jamboree champion Sylvester Barus and Sukhi Khosla return for their second seasons in Stillwater looking to make more waves at the Big 12 Championship. Barus rounded out last year with four top-20 finishes an appearance at the NCAA Championships.
Senior Matthew Fayers looks to bring experience to the Cowboys, where he's made two Big 12 Championship appearances and competed at the NCAA Championships.
The Cowboys lead an impressive quartet of teams including No. 2 Iowa State, which placed 16th at the NCAA Championships a year ago. The three spot belongs to Illinois, which also made an appearance at the NCAAs last season. Tulsa takes the No. 4 ranking, followed by Minnesota rounding out the top five.
On the women's side, an impressive second place finish at regionals last year was followed by a 17th-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Heading into 2017, the Cowgirls find themselves at No. 3 in the region under coach Dave Smith.
Despite losing All-American Kaela Edwards, the Cowgirls return four of its five scoring athletes from the Big 12 Championships a year ago, starting with Michelle Magnani. Magnani was the top Cowgirl at last year's Big 12 Championships with a seventh-place finish, and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Magnani went on to win the U.S. Women's Junior Cross Country title in the U-20 section of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
The Pokes hope to fill Edwards' departure with the likes of Molly Sughroue and Abbie Hetherington, both of whom made an appearance at the NCAA Championships with Edwards.
The Cowgirls are ranked behind the Missouri Tigers at the No. 1 spot and Minnesota at No. 2. They are ranked just above Big 12 rivals Iowa State and Kansas, rounding out the top five in the Midwest Region.
The Cowboys and Cowgirls kick off their season at home for the third straight season with the Cowboy Preview on Sept. 1.
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