Oklahoma State University Athletics
Born Sets OSU 10K School Record, Cowgirls Advance Three to Quarterfinals at West Prelims
May 26, 2023 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Cowgirl track & field took on the second day of the NCAA West Prelims Thursday in Sacramento, Calif., with Molly Born punching her ticket to NCAAs and several Cowgirls advancing to their respective quarterfinals.
Born highlighted the first day of competition for the Cowgirls by qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas, for the first time in her career with a school record in the 10,000 Meters. Additionally, three Cowgirls advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective events, with two of them earning automatic qualifications by winning their heats.
Born entered the race as the No. 28 qualifier in the West Region, but it didn't stop her from earning a top-12 finish to move onto the finals. Born spent most of the race in the middle of the pack before gradually moving up the order to her ultimate eighth-place finish. Her time of 32:42.93 breaks OSU's 37-year-old program record in the event by almost 10 seconds. The previous record was set in 1986 by Christine McMiken in the NCAA Championships. Born joins McMiken as the only two Cowgirls in school history to go sub-33 minutes in the 10K.
Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Dave Smith said Born is one of the most resilient athletes he has ever coached.
"That was a masterpiece on how to race and how to maximize your abilities in a very chaotic situation," Smith said. "Even though she was looking like she was out of it, she was methodical and worked her way back. She's overcome so many setbacks and adversities in her career and to come through and finally qualify to the national championships in track, we're really excited for her."
Earlier in the day, Maddie Salek and Billah Jepkirui earned the first qualifications of the day in the 1,500 Meters. Salek took on a loaded field in the first heat, where she set the final qualifying mark on time. Her 4:18.67 finish held through the four heats as she punched her ticket as one of the four fastest finishes outside automatic qualifiers.
"Maddie was running the race of her life," Smith said. "Whether you're the first qualifier or the 12th qualifier, it doesn't matter. It all starts over again in two days and you have to do it again."
Jepkirui followed Salek with an impressive showcase in the second heat, earning the top spot with a 4:15.45 finish. The 2023 Big 12 Outdoor Outstanding Freshman of the Year flew under the radar after the first two splits, entering the final half of the race in fourth place. She charged ahead of the pack with the fastest final two splits and stole the top spot in the final stretch.
"Billah looked really, really good," Smith said. "She's one of the best closers in the NCAA. If she takes care of business, she'll get through to Austin."
In the 800 Meters, Gabija Galvydyte was the lone Cowgirl to advance with a 2:05.40 finish and a heat victory. Last year's podium finisher in the event took a commanding lead in the final split and controlled it to claim a comfortable win. Once again, Galvydyte proved to be the best in the Big 12, as her eighth-place finish was the highest of anyone in the conference in this event.
"Gabija, much like Billah, looked like she was in control of that race from the first step to the final step," Smith said. "She never looked like she was in any kind of duress and seemed to handle it very well and ran a very patient race."
True freshmen Madi Surber and Kaylie Politza competed alongside Galvydyte in the 800 Meters but fell just short of qualifying to the quarterfinals in their first outdoor season. Surber and Politza's freshmen seasons come to an end with personal best 800 times of 2:07.21 and 2:07.62, respectively. Politza additionally earned All-Big 12 recognition this year in the event.
In the field, Rachel Neaves entered the circle in the Hammer Throw, and put forth a personal best 60.28-meter toss. Neaves has now surpassed the 60-meter mark for the first time in her career and entered OSU's podium in the event. It's the first time a Cowgirl hit the 60-meter mark since 2013. On the year, Neaves placed fifth in the conference championship, had the fourth best performance as a freshman between both regional championships today and saw a 10-plus meter overall improvement.
Action for the Cowgirls continues Saturday with Jepkirui, Salek and Galvydyte taking on their respective quarterfinals, as well as the semifinal rounds of the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase, 5,000 Meters and 4x400 Meter Relays. Meanwhile, the Cowboys continue action on Friday with more qualifying races.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
NCAA West Prelims
Women's Individual Results
Hammer Throw First Round
23. Rachel Neaves — 60.28m/197'8"
40. Hannah Bradford — 55.05m/180'7"
Long Jump
28. Bailey Golden — 5.99m/19'8"
44. India Morgan — 5.50m/18'0.5"
1,500 Meter First Round
10. Billah Jepkirui (Q) — 4:15.45
21. Maddie Salek (q) — 4:18.67
26. Heidi Demeo — 4:19.96
37. Sivan Auerbach — 4:23.363
43. Lilly Lavier — 4:24.36
800 Meter First Round
8. Gabija Galvydyte (Q) — 2:05.40
34. Madi Surber — 2:08.18
39. Kaylie Politza — 2:08.80
400 Meter Hurdles First Round
31. Michaela Travers — 59.84
10,000 Meters Semifinal
8. Molly Born (Q) — 32:42.93
Born highlighted the first day of competition for the Cowgirls by qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas, for the first time in her career with a school record in the 10,000 Meters. Additionally, three Cowgirls advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective events, with two of them earning automatic qualifications by winning their heats.
Born entered the race as the No. 28 qualifier in the West Region, but it didn't stop her from earning a top-12 finish to move onto the finals. Born spent most of the race in the middle of the pack before gradually moving up the order to her ultimate eighth-place finish. Her time of 32:42.93 breaks OSU's 37-year-old program record in the event by almost 10 seconds. The previous record was set in 1986 by Christine McMiken in the NCAA Championships. Born joins McMiken as the only two Cowgirls in school history to go sub-33 minutes in the 10K.
Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Dave Smith said Born is one of the most resilient athletes he has ever coached.
"That was a masterpiece on how to race and how to maximize your abilities in a very chaotic situation," Smith said. "Even though she was looking like she was out of it, she was methodical and worked her way back. She's overcome so many setbacks and adversities in her career and to come through and finally qualify to the national championships in track, we're really excited for her."
Earlier in the day, Maddie Salek and Billah Jepkirui earned the first qualifications of the day in the 1,500 Meters. Salek took on a loaded field in the first heat, where she set the final qualifying mark on time. Her 4:18.67 finish held through the four heats as she punched her ticket as one of the four fastest finishes outside automatic qualifiers.
"Maddie was running the race of her life," Smith said. "Whether you're the first qualifier or the 12th qualifier, it doesn't matter. It all starts over again in two days and you have to do it again."
Jepkirui followed Salek with an impressive showcase in the second heat, earning the top spot with a 4:15.45 finish. The 2023 Big 12 Outdoor Outstanding Freshman of the Year flew under the radar after the first two splits, entering the final half of the race in fourth place. She charged ahead of the pack with the fastest final two splits and stole the top spot in the final stretch.
"Billah looked really, really good," Smith said. "She's one of the best closers in the NCAA. If she takes care of business, she'll get through to Austin."
In the 800 Meters, Gabija Galvydyte was the lone Cowgirl to advance with a 2:05.40 finish and a heat victory. Last year's podium finisher in the event took a commanding lead in the final split and controlled it to claim a comfortable win. Once again, Galvydyte proved to be the best in the Big 12, as her eighth-place finish was the highest of anyone in the conference in this event.
"Gabija, much like Billah, looked like she was in control of that race from the first step to the final step," Smith said. "She never looked like she was in any kind of duress and seemed to handle it very well and ran a very patient race."
True freshmen Madi Surber and Kaylie Politza competed alongside Galvydyte in the 800 Meters but fell just short of qualifying to the quarterfinals in their first outdoor season. Surber and Politza's freshmen seasons come to an end with personal best 800 times of 2:07.21 and 2:07.62, respectively. Politza additionally earned All-Big 12 recognition this year in the event.
In the field, Rachel Neaves entered the circle in the Hammer Throw, and put forth a personal best 60.28-meter toss. Neaves has now surpassed the 60-meter mark for the first time in her career and entered OSU's podium in the event. It's the first time a Cowgirl hit the 60-meter mark since 2013. On the year, Neaves placed fifth in the conference championship, had the fourth best performance as a freshman between both regional championships today and saw a 10-plus meter overall improvement.
Action for the Cowgirls continues Saturday with Jepkirui, Salek and Galvydyte taking on their respective quarterfinals, as well as the semifinal rounds of the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase, 5,000 Meters and 4x400 Meter Relays. Meanwhile, the Cowboys continue action on Friday with more qualifying races.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
NCAA West Prelims
Women's Individual Results
Hammer Throw First Round
23. Rachel Neaves — 60.28m/197'8"
40. Hannah Bradford — 55.05m/180'7"
Long Jump
28. Bailey Golden — 5.99m/19'8"
44. India Morgan — 5.50m/18'0.5"
1,500 Meter First Round
10. Billah Jepkirui (Q) — 4:15.45
21. Maddie Salek (q) — 4:18.67
26. Heidi Demeo — 4:19.96
37. Sivan Auerbach — 4:23.363
43. Lilly Lavier — 4:24.36
800 Meter First Round
8. Gabija Galvydyte (Q) — 2:05.40
34. Madi Surber — 2:08.18
39. Kaylie Politza — 2:08.80
400 Meter Hurdles First Round
31. Michaela Travers — 59.84
10,000 Meters Semifinal
8. Molly Born (Q) — 32:42.93
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