OSU Outdoor Track & Field Qualifies Thirty-Four Athletes to West Prelims

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State outdoor track & field has qualified 34 athletes to the West Preliminary Round in Sacramento, Calif., 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 Austin, Texas.

The Cowgirls qualified 17 individuals and the 4x400 Meter Relay squad with the Cowboys adding 15 individuals in addition to the 4x400 Relay. Along with the 34 regional qualifiers, Bailey Golden has already qualified for nationals in the Heptathlon as one of the top 24 scoring athletes in the event this season.

On the women's side, Gabija Galvydyte (800 Meters), Madi Surber (800 Meters), Kaylie Politza (800 Meters), Billah Jepkirui (1,500 Meters), Sivan Auerbach (1,500 Meters), Maddie Salek (1,500 Meters), Heidi Demeo (1,500 Meters), Taylor Roe (5,000 Meters), Molly Born (10,000 Meters), Michaela Travers (400 Meter Hurdles), Payton Hinkle (3,000 Meter Steeplechase), Saara Hakanen (High Jump), India Morgan (Long Jump) and Rachel Neaves (Hammer Throw) will all be competing in Sacramento with a national championship berth on the line. Hannah Bradford is the only Cowgirl doubling in two events as she qualified in both the Discus and Hammer Throws. Golden also qualified individually in the Long Jump in addition to her NCAA berth in the Heptathlon.

For the Cowboys, DeJuana McArthur (400 Meters), Mehdi Yanouri (800 Meters), Hafez Mahadi (800 Meters), Fouad Messaoudi (1,500 Meters), Juan Diego Castro (1,500 Meters), Alex Stitt (1,500 Meters), Ryan Schoppe (1,500 Meters), Isaiah Priddey (1,500 Meters), Isai Rodriguez (10,000 Meters), Rory Leonard (10,000 Meters), Alex Maier (10,000 Meters), Victor Shitsama (3,000 Meter Steeplechase), Jonas Price (3,000 Meter Steeplechase) and Blair Anderson (Long Jump) all qualified in the respective events.

Heading into the postseason, Messaoudi is the NCAA leader in the 1,500 Meters and remains on the Bowerman Watch List following a season thus far that has included two NCAA titles, three Big 12 titles as well as a world and collegiate indoor record in the Distance Medley Relay.

"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, Gabby Hentemann entered the regional meet with the 46^th- fastest time in the NCAA but earned her spot through a seventh-place finish at West Prelims. From there, she went on to earn first-team All-America honors with her sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

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

OSU Outdoor Track & Field Qualifies Thirty-Four Athletes to West Prelims

Players Mentioned

Blair Anderson

Juan Diego Castro

Rory Leonard

Hafez Mahadi

Alex Maier

DJ McArthur

Fouad Messaoudi

Jonas Price

Isaiah Priddey

Isai Rodriguez

Ryan Schoppe

Victor Shitsama

Alex Stitt

Mehdi Yanouri

Oklahoma State University Athletics