Oklahoma State University Athletics
Smith and Shitsama Voted Among Big 12 Cross Country’s Best
November 05, 2020 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State's Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Dave Smith was voted Big 12 Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year by unanimous decision, while Victor Shitsama earned the title of Big 12 Men's Co-Newcomer of the Year.
For Smith, the conference coach of the year award is the 12th of his career and second in a row. He was named the Big 12 Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2019 after leading the Cowgirls to their second-ever conference title.
In his 19th year with Oklahoma State, Smith continues to produce teams that compete at the highest level. He led a Cowboy team that did not qualify for the NCAA Cross Championships a year ago to the 2020 Big 12 title. The claim to the conference trophy marks the 10th for the Cowboys in the last 12 years.
Aside from the spectacular fall season finale, thanks to the leadership of Smith, the Cowboys placed themselves among the best in the nation during the condensed regular season, ranked No. 5 in the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State's men took home their ninth-consecutive Cowboy Jamboree title to start the season and followed up with a runner-up team finish at the OSU Invitational.
Shitsama had a breakout year in his first cross country season for Oklahoma State. The Eldoret, Kenya-native was the third-place Cowboy finisher or better and finished top-10 overall in each of the three meets OSU competed in this fall.
His fastest race of the season came when it mattered most. Shitsama finished fifth at the Big 12 Championships with an 8K time of 23:27.1, a personal best, the second-fastest time this season for the Pokes and the fourth-fastest in program history. He is the seventh Cowboy to win the Newcomer of the Year award and the first since 2018.
Smith, Shitsama and Oklahoma State cross country are ready to get back to work in preparation for the NCAA Cross Country Championships on their home course in March.
For Smith, the conference coach of the year award is the 12th of his career and second in a row. He was named the Big 12 Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2019 after leading the Cowgirls to their second-ever conference title.
In his 19th year with Oklahoma State, Smith continues to produce teams that compete at the highest level. He led a Cowboy team that did not qualify for the NCAA Cross Championships a year ago to the 2020 Big 12 title. The claim to the conference trophy marks the 10th for the Cowboys in the last 12 years.
Aside from the spectacular fall season finale, thanks to the leadership of Smith, the Cowboys placed themselves among the best in the nation during the condensed regular season, ranked No. 5 in the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll. Oklahoma State's men took home their ninth-consecutive Cowboy Jamboree title to start the season and followed up with a runner-up team finish at the OSU Invitational.
Shitsama had a breakout year in his first cross country season for Oklahoma State. The Eldoret, Kenya-native was the third-place Cowboy finisher or better and finished top-10 overall in each of the three meets OSU competed in this fall.
His fastest race of the season came when it mattered most. Shitsama finished fifth at the Big 12 Championships with an 8K time of 23:27.1, a personal best, the second-fastest time this season for the Pokes and the fourth-fastest in program history. He is the seventh Cowboy to win the Newcomer of the Year award and the first since 2018.
Smith, Shitsama and Oklahoma State cross country are ready to get back to work in preparation for the NCAA Cross Country Championships on their home course in March.
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