Rodriguez Sets Facility Record In Joe Walker Invite Finale

Friday, April 9

Oxford, Miss

ALL DAY

Oklahoma State University

Joe Walker Invitational

Rodriguez Sets Facility Record In Joe Walker Invite Finale

April 10, 2021 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

OXFORD, Miss. – In the final day of competition from the Joe Walker Invitational at Ole Miss, Oklahoma State's distance athletes shined, led by Isai Rodriguez's facility-record-setting event win in the men's 5,000 meters.

In the final event of the weekend, Rodriguez's performance was an exclamation point on a strong showing from OSU's distance athletes. He took the individual title in a career best time of 13:41.02, a facility record for the Ole Miss Track & Field Complex.

The pace ranks ninth in the NCAA and first in the Big 12 this season. With the performance, Rodriguez submitted his name among elite company with the eighth-fastest time in Cowboy history, joining the likes of German Fernandez, Hassan Abdi and Tom Farrell. The 2020 Cross Country All-American also owns the facility record for the 10,000 meters at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Directly behind Rodriguez, freshman Ryan Schoppe finished as the runner-up in a personal best 13:43.82. For the Cowgirls, freshman Heidi Demeo earned a top-ten finish of her own in the women's 5,000. She led the Cowgirls across the finish in ninth place with a time of 16:49.57.

Earlier in the day, in the women's 800 meters, a trio of Cowgirls put in Rilee Rigdon, Kaytlyn Larson and Sivan Auerbach recorded top-ten finishes. Rigdon led the way, taking the fifth-place spot in a time of 2:06.87. Larson (2:06.92) and Auerbach (2:06.98) trailed right behind and finished in sixth and seventh, respectively.

In the men's 1,500 meters, Juan Diego Castro, Garrett Calhoun and Isaiah Priddey each finished in the top 25 of a tough field of 75 total racers, while also each setting new personal bests in the event.

As the distance unit of OSU Track & Field returns home, they'll rest, recover and refocus on another pair of meets next weekend: the Michael Johnson Classic at Baylor and the John Jacobs Invitational hosted by in-state rival Oklahoma.

Men's Individual Results

3,000 Meter Steeplechase
1. Ryan Smeeton - 8:51.73
8. Jonas Price - 9:14.41
10. Bryce Quigley - 9:15.11

800 Meters
21. Triston Read - 1:55.82

1,500 Meters
19. Juan Diego Castro - 3:43.23
24. Garrett Calhoun - 3:44.65
25. Isaiah Priddey - 3:45.35
33. Alex Stitt - 3:46.88
34. Kian Davis - 3:47.63
61. Alec Haines - 3:56.30
64. Chris Middleton-Pearson - 3:57.51
70. Nick Kenville - 3:59.94
73. Will Muirhead - 4:01.40

5,000 Meters
1. Isai Rodriguez - 13:41.02
2. Ryan Schoppe - 13:43.82
15. Adam Dayani - 14:23.73
20. Shuki Khosla - 14:30.55

Women's Individual Results

1,500 Meters
3. Taylor Roe - 4:13.99
9. Sivan Auerbach - 4:19.24
24. Stephanie Moss - 4:28.86

800 Meters
5. Rilee Rigdon - 2:06.87
6. Kaytlyn Larson - 2:06.92
7. Sivan Auerbach - 2:06.98
11. Maddie Salek - 2:08.09
16. Taylor Roe - 2:08.78
25. Lilly Lavier - 2:11.50
33. Jayden Fiebiger - 2:14.00

5,000 Meters
9. Heidi Demeo - 16:49.57