OSU Outdoor Track & Field Qualifies Twenty-Six Athletes to West Prelims

OSU Outdoor Track & Field Qualifies Twenty-Six Athletes to West Prelims

May 19, 2022 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State outdoor track & field has qualified 26 athletes to the West Preliminary Round in Fayetteville, Ark., next week. The top 48 athletes in each event qualify for regionals with the top 12 individuals and relays from each of the two regions advancing to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.

The Cowgirls qualified 13 individuals and the 4x400 Meter Relay squad with the Cowboys also qualifying the 4x400 Meter Relay and 11 individuals. In addition to the 26 regional qualifiers, Bailey Golden and Olivija Vaitaityte have already qualified for nationals in the Heptathlon as there is no regionals in that event.

On the women's side, Ariadni Adamopoulou (Pole Vault), Hannah Bradford (Discus Throw), Tamara Woodley (400 Meters), Christina Ollison (400 Meters), Gabija Galvydyte (800 Meters), Maddie Salek (800 Meters), Sivan Auerbach (1,500 Meters), Heidi Demeo (1,500 Meters), Taylor Roe (5,000 Meters), Gabby Hentemann and Clarissa Morales (10,000 Meters) will all be competing in Fayetteville with a chance to move on to nationals. Vaitaityte and Golden also qualified individually in the High Jump and Long Jump, respectively, in addition to their NCAA berths in the Heptathlon.

For the Cowboys, Charlie Bartholomew (400 Meters), Ryan Schoppe (1,500 Meters), Fouad Messaoudi (1,500 Meters), Isaiah Priddey (1,500 Meters), Kian Davis (1,500 Meters), Alex Maier (10,000 Meters), Ryan Smeeton (Steeplechase), Will Muirhead (Steeplechase) and Michael Releford (Shot Put) all qualified in their respective events in addition to the 4x400 crew. Victor Shitsama is the only Cowboy competing in multiple events as he qualified in both the 10,000 Meters and 3,000 Meter Steeplechase.

"Historically, we've been very good at the regional meet," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Smith said. "The past several years, we've had one or multiple athletes make it through to nationals that weren't ranked in the top 30 coming in. We've done a very good job of competing against the field that's in front of us rather than the clock, which has gotten some athletes through that maybe weren't projected to going in."

Last season alone, Shitsama, Auerbach and Stephanie Moss all qualified for the NCAA Championships despite being ranked outside the top 25 in their respective events.

The NCAA West Preliminary Round will take place across four days from May 25-28 in Fayetteville and will be streamed on SEC Network +.

For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.