Oklahoma State University Athletics
USTFCCCA Votes Roe and Smith Best in the Midwest Region
March 19, 2021 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER – At the conclusion of a historic season for Oklahoma State cross country, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has voted Taylor Roe as the Midwest Region Women's Athlete of the Year, while Dave Smith has earned the title of Midwest Region Men's Coach of the Year.
The sophomore from Lake Stevens, Washington certainly had one of the strongest season resumes in the country, much less the Midwest Region. Roe finished runner-up in the championship women's 6K with a time of 20:06.7 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Stillwater. The second-place finish in the NCAA Championship is tied for the best in OSU history by a man or woman. Her time is the fourth-fastest by a Cowgirl in the 6K.
The All-American did not finish lower than fourth place in any meet during the 2020 season and paced the Cowgirls in all but one race. She posted a trio of consecutive runner-up finishes in the fall portion of the season, taking silver at the Cowboy Jamboree, the OSU Invitational and, most notably, at the Big 12 Championship in Lawrence, Kansas. She also tabbed a fourth-place finish at the FSU Winter Classic in February in a field that included Colorado, Stanford and Duke.
For Smith, this season is the ninth of his career in which he has earned the title as Midwest Region Coach of the Year and the eighth such season he has won the award on account of the success of his men's team.
In his 12th year at the reins with Oklahoma State, Smith guided a men's team that did not qualify for the national title race a year ago to a third-place podium finish at the NCAA championship in 2020. In the fall, the Pokes won the team title at the Big 12 Championships with 31 points in a tiebreaker over Iowa State. Also in the fall, the Cowboys took their ninth-consecutive Cowboy Jamboree team title with 23 points and placed second as a team at the OSU Invitational with 42 points in a field that featured 2020 national champion-Northern Arizona, BYU and Southern Utah.
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both the top men's and women's athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
The sophomore from Lake Stevens, Washington certainly had one of the strongest season resumes in the country, much less the Midwest Region. Roe finished runner-up in the championship women's 6K with a time of 20:06.7 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Stillwater. The second-place finish in the NCAA Championship is tied for the best in OSU history by a man or woman. Her time is the fourth-fastest by a Cowgirl in the 6K.
The All-American did not finish lower than fourth place in any meet during the 2020 season and paced the Cowgirls in all but one race. She posted a trio of consecutive runner-up finishes in the fall portion of the season, taking silver at the Cowboy Jamboree, the OSU Invitational and, most notably, at the Big 12 Championship in Lawrence, Kansas. She also tabbed a fourth-place finish at the FSU Winter Classic in February in a field that included Colorado, Stanford and Duke.
For Smith, this season is the ninth of his career in which he has earned the title as Midwest Region Coach of the Year and the eighth such season he has won the award on account of the success of his men's team.
In his 12th year at the reins with Oklahoma State, Smith guided a men's team that did not qualify for the national title race a year ago to a third-place podium finish at the NCAA championship in 2020. In the fall, the Pokes won the team title at the Big 12 Championships with 31 points in a tiebreaker over Iowa State. Also in the fall, the Cowboys took their ninth-consecutive Cowboy Jamboree team title with 23 points and placed second as a team at the OSU Invitational with 42 points in a field that featured 2020 national champion-Northern Arizona, BYU and Southern Utah.
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both the top men's and women's athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Players Mentioned
Distance
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