Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Cross Country Sweeps Big 12 Awards
November 29, 2023 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State cross country continues to collect postseason awards following its historic season, with the OSU men sweeping the awards for the second consecutive season and Billah Jepkirui winning the Cowgirls' first-ever Runner of the Year.
Brian Musau, Denis Kipngetich and Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Smith were named Big 12 Runner, Newcomer and Coach of the Year after the Cowboys ran through the postseason undefeated, culminating in the program's fifth NCAA Championship.
Musau is the second consecutive Cowboy to be named Big 12 Runner of the Year, following teammate Alex Maier's award last season. The freshman was vital to the Cowboy lineup this season, winning the Big 12 cross country title in just his second career race on the grass for OSU. From there, he earned All-Region honors with his runner-up finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. At the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Virginia, Musau pushed the pace up front and finished eighth overall for his first All-America honor.
Kipngetich was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after his dominant season on the grass that included victories at the Cowboy Jamboree and NCAA Midwest Regional in addition to his All-Big 12 finish at the conference meet. He was also the top Cowboy finisher on the team that won the NCAA title, at one point leading the race before ultimately finishing fourth overall for All-America honors in his first season as a Cowboy. Kipngetich was also named U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Region Men's Athlete of the Year for his performances. He is the eighth Cowboy to win the award since 2006 and second straight as teammate Fouad Messaoudi won the award last season.
For Smith, the awards continue to roll in as he was named Big 12 Men's Coach and Women's Co-Coach of the Year. So far, he has won every award possible on the men's side this year as earlier this week he was named USTFCCCA National Men's Coach of the Year as well as Midwest Region Men's and Women's Coach of the Year. Smith coached the Cowboys to an undefeated postseason with wins at the Big 12, Midwest Region and NCAA Championships. The men scored just 49 points at the national meet, which was the third-lowest score since 2000.
On the women's side, Smith's Cowgirl squad earned a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships, which was the highest in program history and just the second time the Cowgirls earned a team trophy at the national meet. The Cowgirls also won the NCAA Midwest Region, with Billah Jepkirui taking home the individual title. At the Big 12 Championships, he coached Cowgirl legend Taylor Roe to the program's first Big 12 individual title on the grass.
Rounding out the Big 12 awards is Jepkirui, who was named Big 12 Women's Runner of the Year for her dominant performances on the grass this season. She is the first Cowgirl in program history to win the award as she picked up All-America and All-Big 12 honors for her seventh-place finish at the national meet as well as her runner-up finish at Big 12s. Jepkirui also tabbed individual victories at the Cowboy Jamboree and NCAA Midwest Championships to give her three career wins on the grass. In addition to her Big 12 award, she was also named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women's Athlete of the Year.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
Brian Musau, Denis Kipngetich and Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Smith were named Big 12 Runner, Newcomer and Coach of the Year after the Cowboys ran through the postseason undefeated, culminating in the program's fifth NCAA Championship.
Musau is the second consecutive Cowboy to be named Big 12 Runner of the Year, following teammate Alex Maier's award last season. The freshman was vital to the Cowboy lineup this season, winning the Big 12 cross country title in just his second career race on the grass for OSU. From there, he earned All-Region honors with his runner-up finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. At the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Virginia, Musau pushed the pace up front and finished eighth overall for his first All-America honor.
Kipngetich was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year after his dominant season on the grass that included victories at the Cowboy Jamboree and NCAA Midwest Regional in addition to his All-Big 12 finish at the conference meet. He was also the top Cowboy finisher on the team that won the NCAA title, at one point leading the race before ultimately finishing fourth overall for All-America honors in his first season as a Cowboy. Kipngetich was also named U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Region Men's Athlete of the Year for his performances. He is the eighth Cowboy to win the award since 2006 and second straight as teammate Fouad Messaoudi won the award last season.
For Smith, the awards continue to roll in as he was named Big 12 Men's Coach and Women's Co-Coach of the Year. So far, he has won every award possible on the men's side this year as earlier this week he was named USTFCCCA National Men's Coach of the Year as well as Midwest Region Men's and Women's Coach of the Year. Smith coached the Cowboys to an undefeated postseason with wins at the Big 12, Midwest Region and NCAA Championships. The men scored just 49 points at the national meet, which was the third-lowest score since 2000.
On the women's side, Smith's Cowgirl squad earned a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships, which was the highest in program history and just the second time the Cowgirls earned a team trophy at the national meet. The Cowgirls also won the NCAA Midwest Region, with Billah Jepkirui taking home the individual title. At the Big 12 Championships, he coached Cowgirl legend Taylor Roe to the program's first Big 12 individual title on the grass.
Rounding out the Big 12 awards is Jepkirui, who was named Big 12 Women's Runner of the Year for her dominant performances on the grass this season. She is the first Cowgirl in program history to win the award as she picked up All-America and All-Big 12 honors for her seventh-place finish at the national meet as well as her runner-up finish at Big 12s. Jepkirui also tabbed individual victories at the Cowboy Jamboree and NCAA Midwest Championships to give her three career wins on the grass. In addition to her Big 12 award, she was also named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women's Athlete of the Year.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
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