Shitsama Wins Steeplechase as Cowboys and Cowgirls Wrap Day Two of Big 12 Championships

Shitsama Wins Steeplechase as Cowboys and Cowgirls Wrap Day Two of Big 12 Championships

May 13, 2023 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

NORMAN, Okla. – Victor Shitsama claimed his first individual outdoor conference title as Oklahoma State track & field wrapped up its second day Saturday at the Outdoor Big 12 Championships in Norman, Okla.

After a third-place finish in the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase in last year's conference championship, Shitsama became a Big 12 champion in a race that was decided after the first lap. Shitsama secured 10 points for the Cowboys after finishing in 8:33.59 after riding a burst of speed to the end of the race, holding a roughly 10 second lead over the competition for the race's entirety. His performance breaks the 47-year-old John Jacobs facility record, set in 1975 by Kansas State's Kent McDonald.

With his win, Shitsama is the second consecutive Cowboy to stand atop the Big 12 in the event and is the third time in five years a Cowboy earned the gold in the Steeplechase (Ryan Smeeton, 2019 and 2022).

Shitsama concluded what proved to be a successful second day in Norman for the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Earlier in the day, three school records fell and many athletes set personal bests and several athletes in various events qualified for the final round in their respective events. With 14 events remaining, the Cowboys and Cowgirls each stand in fifth place in their respective team scores.

Mehdi Yanouri broke his own school record in the 800 Meters with a 1:46.84 performance. Yanouri took home the preliminary victory in his first outdoor Big 12 competition after running a consistent race, leading to a comfortable finish. Hafez Mahadi also qualified for Sunday's final round with a 1:48.16 finish.

Bailey Golden and Blair Anderson highlighted the field events with their stellar performances in the Long Jump. Golden, competing in her second event of the weekend, broke her own school record in the Long Jump with a 6.39-meter leap. Golden soared over her previous best by more than a tenth of a meter and secured a critical five points for the Cowgirls. So far this weekend, Golden has contributed nine points to the Cowgirls' team score.

Anderson captured the silver medal in the Long Jump with a personal-best 7.77-meter leap on his second attempt. Anderson, who is No. 2 all-time on OSU's leaderboard, edges closer to OSU's top spot held by Jacob Fincham-Dukes. With his second-place finish, Anderson notched eight points for the Cowboys.

OSU middle-distance runners dominated the early afternoon, with the Cowgirls sending five representatives to Sunday's 1,500 Meters final round. Freshman phenom Billah Jepkirui led the charge for the Cowgirls with a dominating heat victory and a second overall finish. Maddie Salek also had an impressive outing, setting a personal-best in the event at 4:17.85 and took the third spot in her heat. Taylor Roe, Heidi Demeo and Sivan Auerbach were the other Cowgirls to qualify in the first heat.

Not to be outdone, the Cowboys secured five extra spots in their respective 1,500 Meters final round. Fouad Messaoudi, Alex Stitt and Isaiah Priddey each secured a spot after setting the John Jacobs Track Complex facility record. Messaoudi came out on top in the preliminary round, finishing in 3:40.85. Christopher Middleton-Pearson and Juan Diego Castro were the other two Cowboys to earn a trip to the final round, with both securing a top two spot in their respective heats.

Of the 18 qualifying times spread across the men's and women's 1,500 Meters, 10 belonged to an OSU athlete.

In the women's 800 Meters, all three Cowgirls competing qualified for Sunday's final round. Gabija Galvydyte took the top spot of the preliminary round with a 2:05.05 finish. Freshmen Madi Surber and Kaylie Politza punched their tickets to the finals in the first outdoor Big 12 tournament of their careers and set personal-best times of 2:07.21 and 2:08.46, respectively, in the process.

Multi-athlete Olivija Vaitaityte landed on the podium in the second half of the Heptathlon, tallying 5,515 points. Vaitaityte ended the competition on a positive note with a second-place finish in the 800 Meters. With her bronze medal, she secured six points for the Cowgirls. Freshman Annie Molenhouse also made a name for herself with a seventh-place finish in the Heptathlon in just her second career Heptathlon.

In the Decathlon, Philip Frank built on the momentum from Friday's first half and earned a new personal best in the event at 7,450 points. He also set personal best marks in the 110 Meter Hurdles, Discus Throw and 1,500 Meter run, while posting three points to the Cowboys team score.

Freshman Payton Hinkle was the lone Cowgirl in the women's 3K Steeplechase and placed fourth in a loaded field. Her 10:28.34 finish earned five more points for the Cowgirls.

Action for Sunday's final events kicks off at 12 p.m. CT with the remaining field events, followed by the finals on the track.

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

Big 12 Championships

Women's Individual Results

Heptathlon Long Jump
6. Olivija Vaitaityte — 5.65m/18'6.5"
12. Annie Molenhouse — 5.37m/17'7.5"

Heptathlon Javelin Throw
4. Olivija Vaitaityte — 39.24m/128'9"
6. Annie Molenhouse — 37.32m/122'5"

Heptathlon 800 Meters
2. Olivija Vaitaityte — 2:16.48
5. Annie Molenhouse — 2:21.61

Heptathlon Final Results
3. Olivija Vaitaityte – 5,515
7. Annie Molenhouse – 5,180

Long Jump
4. Bailey Golden — 6.39m/20'11.75"
14. Winny Bii — 5.91m/19''4.75"
16. India Morgan — 5.82m/19'1.25"

1,500 Meter Prelims
2. Billah Jepkirui — 4:17.62 (Q)
5. Maddie Salek — 4:17.85 (Q)
7. Taylor Roe — 4:18.71 (q)
8. Heidi Demeo — 4:18.94 (q)
9. Sivan Auerbach — 4:19.52 (q)
10. Lilly Lavier — 4:20.61
11. Anne Gine Lovnes — 4:22.17
17. Cameron McConnell — 4:27.40
19. Krystal Rodriguez — 4:28.97

Shot Put
15. Rachel Neaves — 14.57m/47'9.75"

400 Meter Prelims
13. Tamara Woodley — 54.22
15. Ansley Scott — 54.59
20. Tori Ortiz — 55.40
21. Yasmine Johnson — 55.58

800 Meter Prelims
1. Gabija Galvydyte — 2:05.05 (Q)
6. Madi Surber — 2:07.21 (Q)
9. Kaylie Politza — 2:08.46 (q)

400 Meter Hurdles Prelims
10. Michaela Travers — 59.88

3,000 Meter Steeplechase
4. Payton Hinkle — 10:28.34

Pole Vault
10. Sarah Stair — 3.75m/12'3.5"

Men's Individual Results

Decathlon 110 Meters Hurdles
4. Philip Frank — 14.78
10. Crayton Shaw — 15.37

Decathlon Discus
5. Philip Frank — 39.72m/130'3"
8. Crayton Shaw — 34.97m/114'8"

Decathlon Pole Vault
7. Crayton Shaw — 4.46m/14'7.5"
10. Philip Frank — 4.16m/13'7.75"

Decathlon Javelin Throw
10. Crayton Shaw — 45.07m/147'10"
11. Philip Frank — 42.78m/140'4"

Decathlon 1,500 Meters
4. Philip Frank — 4:32.39
10. Crayton Shaw — 4:57.45

Decathlon Final Results
6. Philip Frank – 7,450
11. Crayton Shaw – 6,610

1,500 Meter Prelims
1. Fouad Messaoudi — 3:40.85 (Q)
4. Alex Stitt — 3:41.12 (Q)
5. Juan Diego Castro — 3:43.35 (Q)
6. Christopher Middleton-Pearson — 3:45.96 (Q)
8. Isaiah Priddey — 3:42.71 (q)
11. Daniel Nickell — 3:45.08

400 Meter Prelims
17. Charlie Bartholomew — 47.19
18. DeJuana McArthur — 47.21
20. Elijah Berry — 47.41
21. Justin Long — 47.44
25. Cash Merutka — 48.61

100 Meter Prelims
16. Koryee Wyatt — 10.65

800 Meter Prelims
1. Mehdi Yanouri — 1:46.84 (Q)
9. Hafez Mahadi — 1:48.16 (q)
16. Triston Read — 1:51.22
21. Ty Cook — 1:54.02

200 Meter Prelims
18. Koryee Wyatt — 21.30

3,000 Meter Steeplechase
1. Victor Shitsama — 8:33.59
3. Jonas Price — 8:52.48

Long Jump
2. Blair Anderson — 7.77m/25'6"