Oklahoma State Crowns Five Total First-Team All Americans at NCAA Indoors

Friday, March 12

Fayetteville, AR

ALL DAY

Oklahoma State University

NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship

Oklahoma State Crowns Five Total First-Team All Americans at NCAA Indoors

March 12, 2021 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In the final competition of the indoor track and field season, Ariadni Adamopolou and the Cowgirl DMR unit of Sivan Auerbach, Christina Ollison, Stephanie Moss and Taylor Roe earned All-American honors.

Starting Oklahoma State's weekend in Fayetteville was Juan Diego Castro sitting at the no. 7 seed in the men's 800 meters. After a gritty start that left Castro in on the rail for the first laps of the race, he never got the chance to break back outside to make a move late.

Despite the tough start, Castro finished in a time of 1:50.09, a time that ranks 10th all-time in Cowboy history and within the top 50 in the country this season. The Costa Rican junior's 1:47.98 pace from the Texas Tech Shootout will remain his season best.

Heading into the indoor season finale in the no. 6 seed for the women's pole vault, Ariadani Adamopoulou ended her sophomore season just as successfully as she started it. The sophomore hailing from Athens, Greece, vaulted 4.16m with ease, but got caught at the 4.26m bar for three attempts before launching herself over. She ended the day on a first-attempt vault of 4.36m, finishing fifth in the event.

"She had her back against the wall at four-twenty-six," multis coach Josh Langley said. "I told her, "You just got to find a way." She pulled it out. From then on, I saw her posture improve and then she went and cleared four-thirty-six on her first attempt. I'm super happy for her, but I know it's not good enough for her. Onto outdoors. And I definitely want to say thank you to Coach Holder, Chad Weiburg and Kevin Klintworth for finding a facility to jump in this indoor season there in the east lobby of Gallagher-Iba Arena."

Wrapping up OSU's day at the Randal Tyson Track Center was the Cowgirl DMR, a quartet of Oklahoma State women making their first appearance in an NCAA championship.

With Auerbach in the 1200 leg, the Cowgirls were right in the middle of the pack as Ollison took over on the 400. Working from behind, Ollison made a considerable leap toward the front as she handed off the baton to Moss. Moss continued that trend, trading places with the likes of Florida State, Michigan and Florida in the front five.

Roe anchored the group and crossed the line in fifth in a time of 10:59.75, a time that ranks third all-time in Cowgirl history. After a lengthy review process, a disqualification was administered, finalizing the Cowgirls as the fourth-place finishers.

"We had four women who had never been to a national championship, including a pair of true freshmen," head coach Dave Smith said. "They did a really nice job. Again, coming in with high hopes. We said that second place, the runner-up finish, was our highwater mark. We finished in striking distance of second, but we also finished not too far from sixth, seventh or eighth either. Taylor Roe did a great job as the anchor. Stephanie Moss, I think had the fourth-fastest 800-split of the day. For a freshman to come in and do that, she did a great job."

As the indoor track and field season comes to a close, Oklahoma State has quick turnaround ahead of it as it hosts the NCAA Cross Country Championships on its home course on Monday.

Men's Individual Results

800 Meters (Prelim)
14. Juan Diego Castro - 1:50.09

Women's Individual Results

Pole Vault
5. Ariadni Adamopoulou - 4.36m

Distance Medley Relay
4. Oklahoma State - 10:59.75
(S. Auerbach, C. Ollison, S. Moss, T. Roe)