OSU Track & Field Takes on Big 12 Indoor Championships in Ames

Friday, February 28

Ames, IA

10:00 a.m.

Oklahoma State University

Big 12 Indoor Championships

OSU Track & Field Takes on Big 12 Indoor Championships in Ames

February 27, 2020 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

MEET SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES CT)
The Big 12 Indoor Championships will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Lied Recreation Athletics Center and will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. The championships will also be streamed live on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE MEET
• Follow along on Twitter: @run4okstate
• ESPN+: Friday link | Saturday link
• Live results: Big 12 Championships
• Final results & recap: www.okstate.com

THE BASICS
The OSU track and field teams enter the Big 12 Indoor meet looking to improve upon last year's team finishes, where the Cowboys finished fourth place and the Cowgirls came in fifth. Cowboy Juan Diego Castro is coming off of a 1:48.87 time in the 800-meter race at the Alex Wilson Invitational. Kaytlyn Larson ran a near personal-best time of 2:06.72 to win the Arkansas Qualifier. Both will look to keep their hot streaks going and pick up their first Big 12 titles. Sophomore sprinter Ashton Hicks will aim to improve upon his runner-up finish in the 400 meters as a freshman. Hicks ran 45.60 a year ago to set an indoor OSU record in the event, finishing behind only Baylor All-American Will London. Senior Aaliyah Birmingham was the 60-meter runner-up in her debut season for the Cowgirls. Her time of 7.25 at last year's indoor meet set a school record in the event. Head Coach Dave Smith is excited to see a strong group of Cowgirl freshmen compete at their first conference meet, including distance runner Taylor Roe, pole vaulter Ariadni Adamopoulou and the versatile Gabija Galvydyte.

RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE ATHLETES
Cowboys: Ashton Hicks (400m, 4x400m relay), LaKyron Mays (400m, 4x400m relay), Juan Diego Castro (800m, DMR), Garrett Calhoun ( 1,000m), Ryan Smeeton (mile, 3,000m), Victor Shitsama (5,000m) , Ayrton Ledesma Fuentes (5,000m), Isai Rodriguez (3,000m, 5,000m), Blake Scott (pole vault), Mace Metcalf (heptathlon), Sukhi Khosla (DMR), Isaiah Priddey (DMR) and Justin Long (4x400m relay). Cowgirls: Ariane Ballner (DMR), Aaliyah Birmingham (60m, 4x400m relay), Molly Born (5,000m), Nicolette Dixon (DMR, 4x400 relay), Taylor Somers (3,000m, 5,000m).

FROM HEAD COACH DAVE SMITH
On sophomore sprinter Ashton Hicks:
"Ashton showed up here last year and shocked the Big 12. Even though he hasn't run as fast as he did last year, he's running faster at this stage in the year than he was last season. He knows how to turn it on in big meets and big competitions and this is certainly that. He's been great in the Big 12 meets. I'd love to see him get his first title. The crazy thing about the 400 meters, as good as he is, our conference is a mini-national meet in that event. If you win the Big 12 title, you're going to be one of the favorites to win the national title."

On Juan Diego Castro and Ashenafi Hatte:
"Juan Diego Castro is another very competitive athlete. He's right on the verge of qualifying for the national championships in both the mile and the 800 meters. Ashenafi Hatte is back after being gone for a long time. I'm hoping he keeps improving, he's looked great in workouts and I'm excited to see him run."

On senior Aaliyah Birmingham:
"Aaliyah Birmingham, whatever we run her in, she'll be competitive. She's full of surprises. Last year she shocked the conference in the 60 meters at indoors and then did it again in the 400 meters at the outdoor meet. I'm looking forward to watching her."

On seniors Kaytlyn Larson and Ariane Ballner:
"Kaytlyn Larson is on a roll right now. I'd love to see her do something big. She's never won a Big 12 title and I think she's right there. Ariane Ballner has a Big 12 title under her belt and I think she's capable of winning another."

On Cowgirl freshmen:
"There are a lot of freshmen I'm excited to see compete. Taylor Roe is having a great year. Ariadni Adamopoulou in the pole vault is another freshman to watch. Gabija Galvydyte is another one I'm excited to see. She's just learning how to run the 800 meters and I think she has a lot of room to improve. She's very talented and very competitive."