OSU Track & Field Positioned Well For Big Run After Day Two at Big 12 Outdoor Championship

OSU Track & Field Positioned Well For Big Run After Day Two at Big 12 Outdoor Championship

May 15, 2021 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

MANHATTAN, Kan. – In the second of three days from 2021 Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championship, Oklahoma State had a number of athletes contribute to its team score, while plenty of other OSU student-athletes are positioned well to compete among the best in the conference in tomorrow's finals sections.

The first half of day two featured the conclusion of the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon, in which Oklahoma State's multis athletes finished quite well.

Bailey Golden cemented herself as one of the most versatile athletes in the conference with a 5,513-point finish, which earned her the sixth-place podium finish. With the performance, Golden bested her own school record for the women's heptathlon she set earlier this season at the Sooner Invitational.

"It was a good day, certainly for Bailey [Golden]," multis coach Josh Langley said. "It's tough when you score that many points and you walk away with sixth. I'm sure she probably feels a mix of emotions right now, as do I. We're going to wait and see where she falls on the national level within the top 24. She had a good meet; she executed a lot of things really well. She's going to get rested up and try to attack the high jump tomorrow."

True freshman Maddie Meiner finished just six points from the podium, but her 5,271-point performance ranks second all-time in program history.

"I don't know the last time that [point total] didn't score in the Big 12," Langley said. "That's a huge mark for her. I think it puts her third or fourth for the USA Under-20 toplist, so she's just going to miss out on making that team. She scored indoors, but outdoors is just a different beast. I know she's heartbroken she didn't score, but what I saw out of her today proves to me she's got a very bright future ahead."

In the decathlon, it was Jake Dyer and Max Braht who scored team points for America's Brightest Orange and will take home medals after a grueling two-day stretch.

Dyer saved his best for what will likely be his last competition at OSU. The senior totaled 6,570 points – a personal record that ranks third all-time in program history – and contributed to the Pokes' team score with an eighth-place finish.

"This is definitely the ultimate way to end it," Dyer said. "After not being able to score in the indoor season, it was definitely a point of interest for me to able to be able to finish and end on a win. I couldn't be more grateful to get to end things the way I did. I couldn't ask for a better team and staff that we're able to support me. For each of these ten events, me, Will [Edmonds] and Max [Braht] would never leave each other in the dust. We'd optimize, sit down and review and pick each other up when we had our downfalls. It's never been us versus each other, it's always been us being in this together, even to the very end."

For Braht, the first-year outdoor competitor can now add All-Big 12 outdoor honors to his OSU resume. His 6,590-point finish was good for the seventh-place finish and a spot on the podium.
"It was a really fun weekend and I think there's a lot to build on," Braht said. "Looking back on this weekend, I'm kind of going to remember this for the teammates I did it with. This is kind of my last ride with Jake [Dyer] and Will [Edmonds]. Me and those guys have been through literally everything together, so just being able to come out and compete one last time with them has been the highlight of this weekend."

While the multis events came to a close, plenty of preliminary events took place on day two of the conference championship.

One event that needed no prelim – the women's pole vault – proved to be yet another event in which Oklahoma State would score thanks to a stellar performance from Elissa Ray. The senior cleared the 4.05m bar for a career best mark and the fourth-place finish, the highest ever by a Cowgirl in the event at the Big 12 outdoor championship meet.

In the final event of day two is when OSU scored its biggest points of the meet thus far. The 3,000 meter steeplechase saw a trio of Cowboys earn medal-worthy finishes. 2019 All-American Ryan Smeeton paced the group, clocking in at 8:45.77 for the silver medal in a runner-up finish. Joining Smeeton on the podium, a pair of true freshmen in Jonas Price and Will Muirhead proved their potential as distance racers with the sixth and seventh-place finish, respectively.

The men's 1,500 will see four Cowboys in its final section tomorrow: Kian Davis, Isaiah Priddey, Alex Stitt and Sukhi Khosla all raced qualifying times in the prelim races. Davis, a true freshman who joined the program in January, has made tremendous strides since his arrival. He recorded the Pokes' fastest prelim pace: a career best 3:44.38 that placed him fifth in the field.

Ashton Hicks looked true to his form in the men's 400 meters. Racing his fastest when it matters most, Hicks clocked in at 46.11, a season best for the 2019 All American that earned him the third-place finish and a spot in the final.

On the women's side of the sprints events, Aaliyah Birmingham continues to solidify her title as one of the best to ever race for the Cowgirls. The senior qualified quite handily for the final sections of both the 100 meters and 200 meters with top-five finishes in both prelims.

Rilee Rigdon, Maddie Salek and Stephanie Moss all punched their ticket to the women's 800 meters final after strong showings in today's prelim. Rigdon and Salek earned their spots in career best fashion: Rigdon took third in a time of 2:06.19 and Salek trailed closely with a 2:06.87 pace and the fifth-place finish.

In the men's race, Juan Diego Castro ran a personal record time of his own; his 1:48.06 pace earned him fifth-place and a ticket to the final.

As the conference meet comes to a close tomorrow in the third and final day of competition, the Big 12's best will compete in the final sections of the sprints and distance races along with a handful of events in the field.

Sunday is slated to open earlier than anticipated with inclement weather making its way to Manhattan. The women's triple jump will kick off the field events at 11 a.m., while the women's 4x100 meter relay will get things started for the running events, also at 11 a.m. The meet will come to a close with the men's 4x400 meter relay at 2:45 p.m., followed by the team championships presentation at 3 p.m.

Men's Individual Results

Decathlon
7. Max Braht - 6,590 points
    3. 100 Meters - 10.93
    11. Long Jump - 6.68
    9. Shot Put - 12.03m
    9. High Jump - 1.84m
    8. 400 Meters - 54.04
    10. 110 Meter Hurdles - 16.55
    10. Discus - 31.09m
    8. Pole Vault - 4.31m
    3. Javelin Throw - 53.09m
    6. 1,500 Meters - 4:58.03
8. Jake Dyer - 6,570 points
    6. 100 Meters - 11.05
    5. Long Jump - 6.82m
    4. Shot Put - 13.21m
    10. High Jump - 1.81m
    6. 400 Meters - 52.80
    9. 110 Meter Hurdles - 16.19
    5. Discus - 38.91m
    12. Pole Vault - 3.71m
    7. Javelin Throw - 46.02m
    11. 1,500 Meters - 5:06.04
9. William Edmonds - 6,512 points
    7. 100 Meters - 11.18
    7. Long Jump - 6.77m
    8. Shot Put - 12.34m
    13. High Jump - 1.72m
    10. 400 Meters - 54.16
    12. 110 Meter Hurdles - 16.74
    4. Discus - 39.17m
    5. Pole Vault - 4.51m
    9. Javelin Throw - 42.64m
    7. 1,500 Meters - 4:58.56

Hammer Throw
15. Sam Mason - 50.53m

Javelin Throw
8. Max Braht - 56.52m

10,000 Meters
8. Victor Shitsama - 29:34.19
12. Adam Dayani - 29:54.51

1,500 Meters (Prelim)
5. Kian Davis - 3:44.38
7. Isaiah Priddey - 3:47.13
8. Alex Stitt - 3:47.51
9. Sukhi Khosla - 3:48.66
12. Alec Haines - 3:54.77

400 Meters (Prelim)
3. Ashton Hicks - 46.11
19. DJ McArthur - 47.58
24. Cash Merutka - 48.21

Shot Put
10. Torrey Hickel - 16.51m
12. Michael Releford - 16.42m

800 Meters (Prelim)
5. Juan Diego Castro - 1:48.06
15. Garrett Calhoun - 1:50.77
20. Triston Read - 1:53.00
23. Kobe Christiansen - 1:54.47

3,000 Meter Steeplechase
2. Ryan Smeeton - 8:45.77
6. Jonas Price - 9:01.21
7. Will Muirhead - 9:09.96

Women's Individual Results

Heptathlon
6. Bailey Golden - 5,513 points
    5. 100 Meter Hurdles - 13.92
    10. High Jump - 1.63m
    4. Shot Put - 11.98m
    5. 200 Meters - 25.03
    3. Long Jump - 5.95m
    3. Javelin Throw - 39.92m
    7. 800 Meters - 2:28.78
9. Maddie Meiner - 5,271 points
    9. 100 Meter Hurdles - 14.53
    3. High Jump - 1.72m
    5. Shot Put - 11.80m
    9. 200 Meters - 25.58
    10. Long Jump - 5.41m
    7. Javelin Throw - 35.72m
    6. 800 Meters - 2:25.85
11. Megan Mann - 4,527
    10. 100 Meter Hurdles - 14.62
    12. High Jump - 1.45m
    10. Shot Put - 10.17m
    11. 200 Meters - 26.17
    11. Long Jump -5.20m
    12. Javelin Throw - 29.52m
    10. 800 Meters - 2:32:34

Hammer Throw
11. Hannah Bradford - 51.55m
14. Johnna Orange - 43.52m

Javelin Throw
1. Kelsey Kehl - 50.03m

10,000 Meters
2. Molly Born - 34:21.25

Long Jump
14. Saara Hakanen - 5.99m

400 Meters (Prelim)
11. Christina Ollison - 53.98
20. Nicolette Dixon - 55.85
22. Tori Ortiz - 56.34
23. Kalaya Ali - 56.35

Pole Vault (Prelim)
T4. Elissa Ray - 4.05

100 Meters (Prelim)
5. Aaliyah Birmingham - 11.36
27. Brooke Givens - 12.08

800 Meters (Prelim)
3. Rilee Rigdon - 2:06.19
5. Maddie Salek - 2:06.87
6. Stephanie Moss - 2:06.96
15. Lilly Lavier - 2:12.97
21. Jayden Fiebiger - 2:19.49

400 Meter Hurdles (Prelim)
10. Michaela Travers - 1:01.33

200 Meters (Prelim)
5. Aaliyah Birmingham - 23.14
22. Brooke Givens - 24.52

Men's Team Results (Through day two)

1. Iowa State - 68 points
2. Texas - 58 points
3. Kansas State - 57 points
4. Oklahoma - 54 points
7. Oklahoma State - 18 points

Women's Team Results (Through day two)

1. Kansas State - 71 points
2. Texas Tech - 49.5 points
3. Texas - 49 points
4. Iowa State - 38 points
6. Oklahoma State - 25.5 points