Oklahoma State University Athletics
Smeeton Moves On, Rodriguez Runs Olympic Trial Standard in NCAA Outdoors’ First Day
June 10, 2021 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
EUGENE, Ore. – In the opening day of competition from the 2021 NCAA DI Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Oklahoma State raced well, qualifying Ryan Smeeton to the 3,000 meter steeplechase finals on Friday and Isai Rodriguez to the US Olympic Trials to race in the men's 10,000 meters.
Opening up the day for the Pokes was the 2019 3,000 meter steeplechase national runner-up Ryan Smeeton. The Cowboys' distance veteran and steeple specialist hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, earned himself a spot in the title race with a season best pace of 8:31.75 in the semifinal of the men's 3K steeplechase.
Smeeton qualified handily, earning the automatic qualification as the third-fastest finisher in his heat, which also earned him the third-place overall finish in the national semifinal. Falling no further than fifth for the entirety of the race, and even taking the lead for a lap-and-a-half at 2K mark, this year's Big 12 runner-up set himself up for the quite the outdoor season finale.
"I'd say my biggest takeaway from that semi was that I'm fit and ready to go, but so is the rest of the field," Smeeton said. "I felt comfortable at the front despite the quick pace. Going into the race, I knew I wanted to be up at the front with a few laps to go so I wouldn't miss a move and risk not qualifying. On Friday, I'll be 100 percent focused on winning and if it happens to big a quick time, that'll be a bonus."
After Smeeton's auto-qualifying race, Ashton Hicks took to the track at Hayward Field for the men's 400 meters semifinal. His hard-fought performance from lane nine – a 47.47 finish – missed the mark to qualify him for the national final.
The 2021 Big 12 400 meter indoor champion and outdoor All-Big 12 honoree closed the curtains on a decorated sophomore season, with plenty to look forward to in his years to come as an all-time sprinter for America's Brightest Orange.
Closing the curtain's on Oklahoma State's first day, Isai Rodrigeuz and Victor Shitsama competed in the men's 10,000 meters, representing Oklahoma State as one of only two schools (Iowa State) to qualify more than one athlete to the event.
Leading the way for the tandem in the distance showcase was Isai Rodriguez. The sophomore Cowboy was one of ten racers who clocked in below the 42-year-old meet record – a 28:01.30 pace set by Suleiman Nyambui of Texas El-Paso in 1979. Rodriguez's 27:52.92 shattered his previous personal best by 16 seconds, ranks him third all-time for the Cowboys in the event and qualified him as a competitor at the US Olympic Trials, which are also taking place at Hayward Field on June 18-27.
"The 10K is a man's race, it's not for the young," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Dave Smith said. "You need some development and maturity. Isai is still getting there and he's got time to develop and a couple years of eligibility left. I'm really proud of him. The future is bright for that guy and for our program with him in it. He's going to do bigger and better things soon."
Victor Shitsama raced his way to an improvement on the spot he held 24th seed coming into the competition. His 22nd-place, 29:32.28 finish earned him outdoor Honorable-Mention All-American for the first time in his career.
Following today's full slate of men's events, the women of NCAA track and field will get their turn tomorrow, June 10, as the first day of women's events begins.
Aaliyah Birmingham is scheduled to open up OSU's second day with the women's 400 meters semifinal at 5 p.m. Following the 2019 All-American will be the trio of Pokes slated for the women's 800 meters semifinal at 5:14 p.m.: senior Kaytlyn Larson, and freshmen Sivan Auerbach and Stephanie Moss. Rounding out the day, the Cowgirls' sprints specialists will combine for the women's 4x400 meter relay at 6:48 p.m.
Men's Individual Results
3,000 Meter Steeplechase (Semifinal)
3. Ryan Smeeton - 8:31.75
400 Meters (Semifinal)
22. Ashton Hicks - 47.47
10,000 Meters (Semifinal)
10. Isai Rodriguez - 27:52.92
22. Victor Shitsama - 29:32.28
Opening up the day for the Pokes was the 2019 3,000 meter steeplechase national runner-up Ryan Smeeton. The Cowboys' distance veteran and steeple specialist hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, earned himself a spot in the title race with a season best pace of 8:31.75 in the semifinal of the men's 3K steeplechase.
Smeeton qualified handily, earning the automatic qualification as the third-fastest finisher in his heat, which also earned him the third-place overall finish in the national semifinal. Falling no further than fifth for the entirety of the race, and even taking the lead for a lap-and-a-half at 2K mark, this year's Big 12 runner-up set himself up for the quite the outdoor season finale.
"I'd say my biggest takeaway from that semi was that I'm fit and ready to go, but so is the rest of the field," Smeeton said. "I felt comfortable at the front despite the quick pace. Going into the race, I knew I wanted to be up at the front with a few laps to go so I wouldn't miss a move and risk not qualifying. On Friday, I'll be 100 percent focused on winning and if it happens to big a quick time, that'll be a bonus."
After Smeeton's auto-qualifying race, Ashton Hicks took to the track at Hayward Field for the men's 400 meters semifinal. His hard-fought performance from lane nine – a 47.47 finish – missed the mark to qualify him for the national final.
The 2021 Big 12 400 meter indoor champion and outdoor All-Big 12 honoree closed the curtains on a decorated sophomore season, with plenty to look forward to in his years to come as an all-time sprinter for America's Brightest Orange.
Closing the curtain's on Oklahoma State's first day, Isai Rodrigeuz and Victor Shitsama competed in the men's 10,000 meters, representing Oklahoma State as one of only two schools (Iowa State) to qualify more than one athlete to the event.
Leading the way for the tandem in the distance showcase was Isai Rodriguez. The sophomore Cowboy was one of ten racers who clocked in below the 42-year-old meet record – a 28:01.30 pace set by Suleiman Nyambui of Texas El-Paso in 1979. Rodriguez's 27:52.92 shattered his previous personal best by 16 seconds, ranks him third all-time for the Cowboys in the event and qualified him as a competitor at the US Olympic Trials, which are also taking place at Hayward Field on June 18-27.
"The 10K is a man's race, it's not for the young," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Dave Smith said. "You need some development and maturity. Isai is still getting there and he's got time to develop and a couple years of eligibility left. I'm really proud of him. The future is bright for that guy and for our program with him in it. He's going to do bigger and better things soon."
Victor Shitsama raced his way to an improvement on the spot he held 24th seed coming into the competition. His 22nd-place, 29:32.28 finish earned him outdoor Honorable-Mention All-American for the first time in his career.
Following today's full slate of men's events, the women of NCAA track and field will get their turn tomorrow, June 10, as the first day of women's events begins.
Aaliyah Birmingham is scheduled to open up OSU's second day with the women's 400 meters semifinal at 5 p.m. Following the 2019 All-American will be the trio of Pokes slated for the women's 800 meters semifinal at 5:14 p.m.: senior Kaytlyn Larson, and freshmen Sivan Auerbach and Stephanie Moss. Rounding out the day, the Cowgirls' sprints specialists will combine for the women's 4x400 meter relay at 6:48 p.m.
Men's Individual Results
3,000 Meter Steeplechase (Semifinal)
3. Ryan Smeeton - 8:31.75
400 Meters (Semifinal)
22. Ashton Hicks - 47.47
10,000 Meters (Semifinal)
10. Isai Rodriguez - 27:52.92
22. Victor Shitsama - 29:32.28
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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