Cowgirls Capture Second Big 12 Cross Country Title in Program History

Saturday, November 2

Waco, TX

10 A.M. CT

Oklahoma State University

Big 12 Championships

Photo by: OSU Athletics

Cowgirls Capture Second Big 12 Cross Country Title in Program History

November 02, 2019 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State cross country teams traveled to Waco, Texas, for the Big 12 Championships, where the Cowgirls captured the second team Big 12 title in program history and the Cowboys turned in a runner-up finish for the second year in a row.

The 29^th-ranked Cowgirls ran their best race of the season to claim the program's second ever Big 12 team title. Junior Taylor Somers was the runner-up, as her time of 20:08.5 was the fourth-fastest 6K in school history. Molly Born followed Somers, finishing third, as the duo logged their third-consecutive top-10 finishes to lead the Cowgirls.

Kaytlyn Larson finished 12^th and joined Somers and Born on the women's All-Big 12 team. For Somers, it was the second All-Big 12 cross country honor of her career, while Born and Larson each earned all-conference status for the first time as Cowgirls.

"The women really gritted it out. At the halfway point of the race, we were way back, and we came all the way back to win it," Smith said. "I was really proud of the way they rallied the last half of the race."

Freshman Taylor Roe finished 16^th, one spot shy of joining her three teammates on the All-Big 12 team. Ariane Ballner rounded out the Cowgirls' top-five with a 19^th-place finish.

"Taylor Somers taking Cailie Logue to the line was very impressive," Smith said. "Kaytlyn Larson had a good day and Taylor Roe had a real big day for us and was probably the one who cinched it for us. She did a great job."

In the men's 8K race Isai Rodriguez battled Iowa State's Edwin Kurgat for an individual title, but came up just short in a runner-up finish to lead the No. 27 Cowboys. Rodriguez, a sophomore, was also the conference runner-up in 2018.

Ryan Smeeton made his season debut for the Cowboys. Head coach Dave Smith called it the best cross country performance Smeeton has had in a Cowboy uniform, finishing in third place right behind Rodriguez.

"I'm proud of the way the guys rallied and kept fighting even though we lost Ashe [Hatte], we held on for second place," Smith said. "Isai looked fantastic. He's missed a lot of training time recently but it just doesn't seem to bother him. He gets out there and competes and goes for the win, he had a great day."

Bryce Quigley also ran a strong race, finishing 14^th to join Rodriguez and Smeeton on the All-Big 12 team. Alec Haines and Alex Maier rounded out the Cowboys' top-five, crossing the line in 19^th and 20^th places, respectively.

"Bryce Quigley did a really good job," Smith said. "He went out and beat some guys that he had lost to early in the season, and he looked good doing it, keeping us in it for a runner-up finish."

Next up, the Pokes will host the NCAA Midwest Regional in Stillwater on November 15 for the debut meet on the newly-renovated OSU Cross Country Course, where both teams will look to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championships.

Men's Race – Individual (8K)

2. Isai Rodriguez – 23:39.5
3. Ryan Smeeton – 23:49.8
14. Bryce Quigley – 24:06.8
19. Alec Haines – 24:14.8
20. Alex Maier – 24:15.8
24. Adam Dayani – 24:27.6
43. Isaiah Priddey – 25:13.8
48. Ayrton Ledesma Fuentes – 25:29.7
DNF. – Ashenafi Hatte
DNF. – Sukhi Khosla

Women's Race – Individual (6K)

2. Taylor Somers – 20:08.5
3. Molly Born – 20:34.4
12. Kaytlyn Larson – 21:01.6
16. Taylor Roe – 21:13.2
19. Ariane Ballner – 21:21.5
23. Montanna McAvoy – 21:33.4
34. Amanda Mayoral – 21:52.5
41. Gabby Hentemann – 22:04.1
45. Katherine Ruck – 22:12.8
53. Michelle Magnani – 22:31.8

Men's Race – Team

1. Iowa State – (34)
2. Oklahoma State – (58)
3. Texas – (72)
4. Kansas – (92)
5. Texas Tech – (147)

Women's Race – Team

1. Oklahoma State – (52)
2. Texas – (54)
3. West Virginia – (56)
4. Iowa State – (77)
5. Texas Tech – (155)