Oklahoma State University Athletics
Three Cowboys, One Cowgirl Highlight USATF World Cross Country Rosters
March 25, 2019 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER—Oklahoma State's Shadrack Kipchirchir, Kirubel Erassa, coach Dave Smith and Rilee Rigdon were all announced as members of the USA Track and Field's roster heading to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, on Saturday, the USATF announced.
Smith will coach the junior men's team. Smith is in his 17th year at Oklahoma State and has been the head coach of the men's cross country team for 13 years. Smith led the Cowboys to national titles in 2009, 2010 and 2012.
"I am incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to work with the best cross country runners in the US at the IAAF World Championships in Aarhus," Smith said. "It's truly humbling to represent one's country and I look forward to doing all I can to assist our athletes as they go up against the best in the world."
Rigdon is in her first year at OSU. The true freshman placed third at the USATF Junior Cross Country Championships. After redshirting the cross country season, Rigdon took home two wins in the indoor season and competed in the 800 meters and 3,000 meters at the Big 12 Championships.
Kipchirchir is leading the way for the United States' senior men's team. He heads to the race as the reigning United States cross country champion. He won the 2019 USATF Cross Country Championships on Feb. 2, setting the 10K event record with a time of 28:52.5. Kipchirchir is no stranger to international competition. He competed in the 2016 Olympic games in the 10,000 meters.
Kipchirchir was a Cowboy from 2011-13. He took home four All-America honors and helped the Oklahoma State men's cross country team win a national title in 2012. Kipchirchir owns the indoor 5,000 meters' record with a time of 13:38.57.
Erassa was selected to run as a member of the mixed relay team. The mixed relay is a race where each team selects two men and two women to run about two kilometers each.
In his time at Oklahoma State, Erassa helped OSU win a national title during the 2012 cross country season. He won four Big 12 titles as an individual and owns top-five times for OSU in the indoor 3,000 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters.
Smith will coach the junior men's team. Smith is in his 17th year at Oklahoma State and has been the head coach of the men's cross country team for 13 years. Smith led the Cowboys to national titles in 2009, 2010 and 2012.
"I am incredibly excited and honored to have the opportunity to work with the best cross country runners in the US at the IAAF World Championships in Aarhus," Smith said. "It's truly humbling to represent one's country and I look forward to doing all I can to assist our athletes as they go up against the best in the world."
Rigdon is in her first year at OSU. The true freshman placed third at the USATF Junior Cross Country Championships. After redshirting the cross country season, Rigdon took home two wins in the indoor season and competed in the 800 meters and 3,000 meters at the Big 12 Championships.
Kipchirchir is leading the way for the United States' senior men's team. He heads to the race as the reigning United States cross country champion. He won the 2019 USATF Cross Country Championships on Feb. 2, setting the 10K event record with a time of 28:52.5. Kipchirchir is no stranger to international competition. He competed in the 2016 Olympic games in the 10,000 meters.
Kipchirchir was a Cowboy from 2011-13. He took home four All-America honors and helped the Oklahoma State men's cross country team win a national title in 2012. Kipchirchir owns the indoor 5,000 meters' record with a time of 13:38.57.
Erassa was selected to run as a member of the mixed relay team. The mixed relay is a race where each team selects two men and two women to run about two kilometers each.
In his time at Oklahoma State, Erassa helped OSU win a national title during the 2012 cross country season. He won four Big 12 titles as an individual and owns top-five times for OSU in the indoor 3,000 meters and outdoor 1,500 meters.
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