OSU Cross Country Hosts Cowboy Preview to Open 2017

Friday, September 1

STILLWATER, OK

8:00 AM

Oklahoma State University

Cowboy Preview

Cowboy Cross Country 2016 Big 12 Champions

August 30, 2017 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State cross country program kicks off its 2017 campaign Friday morning with the third-annual running of the Cowboy Preview at the OSU Cross Country Course.

Previously called the Cowboy Duals, the meet will showcase the No. 10 Cowboys, coming off of a ninth-straight Big 12 Championship a year ago, and the No. 21 Cowgirls in a field of four teams to open the year. The Cowboys send seven athletes out to the OSU Cross Country Course, including Sukhi Khosla, who finished fourth in the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in the 1,500 meters a season ago and Ryan Smeeton, who had three top-five finishes in the outdoor steeplechase last year.

In the women's 3k race, Sinclaire Johnson, freshman Cheyenne Walden and senior Gintare Zenkeviciute will make their debuts among a large group of more than 20 Cowgirls competing. Zenkeviciute has experience running for the Cowgirls after two top-10 finishes in the indoor 3,000 meters last year.

Johnson is a redshirt-freshman and had ran during the indoor season last year, finishing 11th in 800 meters at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. Walden is a true freshman and will make her Cowgirl debut after being named the Gatorade Oklahoma Cross Country Runner of the Year four times.

The teams welcome a tremendous trio of programs to Stillwater in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tulsa. The Arkansas men's and women's teams earned top-15 rankings in the preliminary poll (men's fourth, women's 12th), while Tulsa's men secured a No. 20 spot.

The Cowboy Preview begins at 8 a.m. with the women's 3k, and the men's 5k race will follow immediately after.

A complete set of results from both races will be available on okstate.com following the conclusion of the event.

Cowboys open the season at No. 10, Cowgirls at 21 in USTFCCCA Preseason Poll
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its national men's and women's cross country preseason rankings, and both Oklahoma State teams claimed top-25 places to begin the season.

The Cowgirls come in at No. 21 in the national preseason rankings and third in the Midwest Region, behind Missouri and Minnesota.

Conference powerhouse Iowa State ranked in at No. 26 and West Virginia, Baylor and Texas women's teams all received votes.

The Cowboys crack the top-10 at No. 10 and lead the Midwest Region for the longest streak in the nation – 52 straight weeks. This is the Cowboys 12th-straight season started in the preseason top-25.

Iowa State comes in right behind the Pokes at No. 12 in the poll, and Tulsa ranks at No. 20. Texas rounds out the rankings at No. 30.

Quotes from Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Dave Smith

On his expectations of the opening meet
"It's kind of a rust-buster meet to get our season kicked off. We'll run a lot of younger athletes and give them a chance to get the uniform on. We're running against some other great teams in Arkansas, Tulsa and Oklahoma. All three are top-20 type programs and we're glad to have them here. They're probably doing the same thing. They're probably going to run more of their younger group, because we all kind of do the same thing. We take kids who are really trying to break through and give them a chance to show what they can do and cut their teeth and get a race in."

On what he expects of the younger athletes who are running
"I really just expect good effort. We really focus on doing the best you possibly can on race day and understanding some days are better than others. Whether you're having a good day or bad day, you give your best effort. This is important for you because this is a chance to show what you can do. Every time we put the uniform on, we want to run hard and run to win."

On some Cowboy newcomers running Friday
"I'd say Ryan Smeeton — a guy who has run really well and who I think will have a good shot to be in our top seven. Sukhi Khosla is another one who I think will be in our top seven. He flirted with our top seven last year, but never quite made it. But he had a really good track season, so I want to see where he is."

On some Cowgirl newcomers running Friday
"I want to focus on some of our middle-distance runners who haven't run cross country before. Like Ariane Ballner, who was a good 800-meter runner, and Sinclaire Johnson. They were both freshmen last year and redshirted cross country, and had pretty good track seasons. Both of them looked like they had really good summers. So I'm excited to see where they are."

Cowboy Entries:
Bryce Balenseifen, Elliot Bowker, Benjamin Butler, Brigham Hedges, Sukhi Khosla, Luis Martinez, Ryan Smeeton

Cowgirl Entries:
Grace Baker, Ariane Ballner, Jennifer Celis, Danielle Coleman, Darby Crynes, Stephanie Ferrante, Kambri Gabel, Haley Geissler, Anna Gunter, Kami Hankins, Anna Hurlbut, Sarah Johnson, Sinclaire Johnson, Hadassah Marquart, Kaci McCary, Moriah Moody, Gianna Moulis, Elaina Noll, Rachel Nowak, Rachel Norman, Kaylee Oyler, Bailey Sutherlin, Cheyenne Walden, Ambra Wesley, Gintare Zenkeviciute