Kipchirchir and Simonsen Win At USATF Cross Country Championships

January 08, 2022 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track

San Diego – Oklahoma State Cross Country and Track & Field distance runners Gabe Simonsen and Colleen Stegmann each competed in the USATF U-20 Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday morning.

Simonsen won the championship 8K by eight seconds overall with a blistering time of 25:42 in the event. The Cowboy freshman, and Mustang, Okla., native, has competed in just two events between the cross country and track seasons thus far but is just one example of how bright the future is for the OSU distance program with impressive performances in both outings.

Cowgirl freshman Colleen Stegmann also competed in the women's 6K, finishing second overall after posting a time of 23:39 in the race.

A native of Frisco, Texas, she is already making her mark on the Cowgirl program after winning the 5A cross country state championship in Texas in 2019.

Former Cowboy runner Shadrack Kipchirchir also competed in and won the the men's 10K Open race with an amazing kick, winning the race by two seconds after posting a time of 30:32.

Kipchirchir competed for the Cowboys from 2011-14, where he was a two-time cross country All-American and a Big 12 indoor individual champion in the 5000 meters. He also holds the current school record in the 5000m and finished as a second-team All-American in the event in both 2012 and 2013.

The USATF Cross Country Championships are held every year (besides 2021) and collect some of the top distance talents in the nation.

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