Cowboy Track & Field Advances Five More Qualifiers to NCAA Championships

Wednesday, May 24

Sacramento, CA

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Oklahoma State University

NCAA West Prelims

Cowboy Track & Field Advances Five More Qualifiers to NCAA Championships

May 27, 2023 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Cowboy track & field wrapped up its final day at the NCAA West Prelims on Friday in Sacramento, Calif., with multiple Cowboys punching their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas.

Five Cowboys punched their tickets to their respective semifinal rounds in Austin, with Fouad Messaoudi, Victor Shitsama and Mehdi Yanouri earning automatic qualifications in their respective events.

Messaoudi led a trio of Cowboys to the semifinal round of the 1,500 Meters with the second-fastest qualifier time this season at 3:38.75. The NCAA frontrunner ran a patient race, controlling the first three splits. In the final lap, Messaoudi lost the lead before turning on the burners and running a 54.27 final split to secure the second qualifying spot, avenging his 2022 West Regional finish in the process.

Alex Stitt and Christopher Middleton-Pearson ran alongside Messaoudi and ran the two fastest non-qualifier times between the heats. All three Cowboys earned their spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time in their careers. Stitt finished with yet another personal best at 3:40.62, his third time setting a career mark in as many attempts. Middleton-Pearson finished just behind his teammate at 3:40.88, edging out three opponents by less than two seconds.

In the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase Quarterfinals, Shitsama hung in the middle of the pack for the first five laps of the first heat before exploding in the final two-and-a-half laps to take the heat victory. His final burst of speed helped him cross the finish line at 8:30.70, a personal best and avenging an earlier defeat to Washington's Ed Trippas. In total, the reigning Big 12 champion ran four of the fastest splits in the first heat and finished fifth overall to earn the second trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships of his career and the first in the Steeplechase. Additionally, Shitsama will serve as the lone representative of the Big 12 in the semifinals of the Steeplechase.

Yanouri claimed his spot as an 800 Meters semifinalist with a 1:48.16 finish in the second heat. Yanouri's breakthrough season continues as the Texas native returns home to compete for a national title. OSU's outdoor record holder in the event ran a conservative first lap, before capping a quick 53.88-second final 400 meters to claim second in the heat.

Joining the five semifinalists are 10,000 Meter finalists Isai Rodriguez and Alex Maier, who were among the top-12 finishers in the semifinal race on Wednesday.

Action for OSU continues tomorrow with the women's side of the quarterfinal races. As for the men, the five semifinalists and 10K finalists will now prepare for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin from June 7-10.

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

NCAA West Prelims

Men's Individual Results

1,500 Meter Quarterfinals
2. Fouad Messaoudi — 3:38.75
6. Alex Stitt — 3:40.62
7. Christopher Middleton-Pearson — 3:40.88
12. Ryan Schoppe — 3:45.70

3,000 Meter Steeplechase Quarterfinals
5. Victor Shitsama — 8:30.70
41. Jonas Price — 9:06.94

800 Meter Quarterfinals
13. Mehdi Yanouri — 1:48.16
21. Hafez Mahadi — 1:50.47

4x400 Meter Relay Quarterfinals
16. Charlie Bartholomew, Elijah Berry, Justin Long, DJ McArthur — 3:07.18