Gabija Galvydyte and Billah Jepkirui Earn First Team All-America Honors Cowgirls Finish in Top-25

Wednesday, June 7

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Oklahoma State University

NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Gabija Galvydyte and Billah Jepkirui Earn First Team All-America Honors Cowgirls Finish in Top-25

June 10, 2023 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma State women's outdoor track & field completed its final day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas, as Gabija Galvydyte and Billah Jepkirui placed in the top five of their respective events.

Galvydyte and Jepkirui shined in their respective races, with each earning first-team All-America honors. With Galvydyte's second and Jepkirui's fifth-place finishes, the Cowgirls scored 12 points in the team standings, enough for a tie for 22nd overall. It's the third consecutive season the Cowgirls tabbed more than 10 points in the team competition, and the fifth time under Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Smith. It's also the 10th time in program history the Cowgirls placed 25th or better, and the fourth time under Smith.

Galvydyte earned her second consecutive podium finish in the 800 Meters with a personal best time of 2:00.47, earning eight points for the Cowgirls in the process. That time moves her into second on OSU's leaderboard, ahead of Natalja Piliusina and trailing only Sinclaire Johnson. Galvydyte once again ran a patient race, before running one of the strongest final 200 meters of her career as she moved up two spots into second. She improves from last year's third-place finish, while becoming a first-team All-American for the third time in her career, and second time in the 2022-23 year spanning back to her role in the indoor Distance Medley Relay squad.

Earlier in the evening, Jepkirui earned four points for the Cowgirls in the 1,500 Meters with her 4:10.17 personal-best finish. With that time, Jepkirui bumps up three spots on OSU's leaderboard from sixth to third-fastest in program history. OSU individual champions Johnson and Piliusina are the only ones with faster times than Jepkirui in the orange and black. After remaining in the middle of the pack, Jepkirui ran a strong final 400 meters to claim her spot in the top five. The Big 12 champion is the most recent Cowgirl first-team All-American in the 1,500 Meters since Johnson and Jennifer Celis-Martinez did so in 2019. Jepkirui ends her freshman year as a two-time All-American from indoor and outdoor track and a Big 12 champion outdoors.

Bailey Golden rounded out the evening for the Cowgirls with the final event of the Heptathlon, the 800 Meters. Earlier in the day, Golden completed the Long Jump and the Javelin. She placed in the top 10 in two events, including the Javelin earlier on Saturday. She finished with 5656 points and a 13th-place finish, resulting in second-team All-America honors for the second straight year.

Earlier in the week, the men's outdoor season ended with nine points and a tie for 27th-place. Isai Rodriguez, Victor Shitsama and Mehdi Yanouri are the trio of Cowboys to earn first-team All-America status, with Fouad Messaoudi and Alex Maier earning second-team and honorable mention status, respectively. For the Cowboys, it's the third-straight year OSU scored points at the outdoor championship meet, and the 12th time under Smith.

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

NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Women's Individual Results

1,500 Meter Final
5. Billah Jepkirui – 4:10.17

800 Meter Final
2. Gabija Galvydyte – 2:00.47

Heptathlon Long Jump
11. Bailey Golden – 5.92m/19'5.25"

Heptathlon Javelin Throw
8. Bailey Golden – 42.17m/138'4"

Heptathlon 800 Meters
17. Bailey Golden – 2:25.90

Heptathlon Final Score
13. Bailey Golden – 5656 Points