Oklahoma State University Athletics
Wednesday, June 7
Austin, TX
All Day
Oklahoma State University
at
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
OSU Track & Field Set to Kick Off NCAA Championships with Seven Cowboys on Opening Day
June 07, 2023 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma State track & field kicks off action at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, with seven Cowboys competing across four events on Wednesday.
First up for the Cowboys is the trio of Fouad Messaoudi, Chris Middleton-Pearson and Alex Stitt in the 1,500 Meter Semifinals. Messaoudi enters the NCAA Championships with the fastest time in the country in the event and will compete in the second heat alongside Stitt. Middleton-Pearson will be competing in the first heat starting at 6:46 p.m. CT. The top five runners in each heat plus the next two fastest times will advance to Friday's final.
Immediately following the 1,500 is Victor Shitsama in the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase Semifinals at 7:02 p.m. Shitsama currently owns the fifth-fastest time in the NCAA this season and will look to punch his ticket to his second career NCAA final after competing in the 10,000 Meter final in 2021. Similar to the 1,500, the top five fastest in each heat plus the next two best time will advance to the final.
Roughly an hour after the Steeplechase, Mehdi Yanouri makes his first appearance at the NCAA Championships in the 800 Meters at 8:14 p.m. Yanouri owns the school record in the event and finished as the Big 12 runner-up in the event. The junior college transfer from South Plains College is in the second of three heats, with the top two in each heat plus the next three fastest times moving on.
Rounding out opening night for the Cowboys are distance legends Isai Rodriguez and Alex Maier in the 10,000 Meter Final. Rodriguez is coming off a win at the West Preliminary Semifinal and is making his second appearance at the outdoor championships after a 10th-place finish two years ago in the 10K. Meanwhile, Maier returns to the 10K final for the second consecutive season after finishing second overall in his championship debut.
The entirety of the NCAA Championships will be broadcast live on ESPN2, with live results for the meet found here.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
First up for the Cowboys is the trio of Fouad Messaoudi, Chris Middleton-Pearson and Alex Stitt in the 1,500 Meter Semifinals. Messaoudi enters the NCAA Championships with the fastest time in the country in the event and will compete in the second heat alongside Stitt. Middleton-Pearson will be competing in the first heat starting at 6:46 p.m. CT. The top five runners in each heat plus the next two fastest times will advance to Friday's final.
Immediately following the 1,500 is Victor Shitsama in the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase Semifinals at 7:02 p.m. Shitsama currently owns the fifth-fastest time in the NCAA this season and will look to punch his ticket to his second career NCAA final after competing in the 10,000 Meter final in 2021. Similar to the 1,500, the top five fastest in each heat plus the next two best time will advance to the final.
Roughly an hour after the Steeplechase, Mehdi Yanouri makes his first appearance at the NCAA Championships in the 800 Meters at 8:14 p.m. Yanouri owns the school record in the event and finished as the Big 12 runner-up in the event. The junior college transfer from South Plains College is in the second of three heats, with the top two in each heat plus the next three fastest times moving on.
Rounding out opening night for the Cowboys are distance legends Isai Rodriguez and Alex Maier in the 10,000 Meter Final. Rodriguez is coming off a win at the West Preliminary Semifinal and is making his second appearance at the outdoor championships after a 10th-place finish two years ago in the 10K. Meanwhile, Maier returns to the 10K final for the second consecutive season after finishing second overall in his championship debut.
The entirety of the NCAA Championships will be broadcast live on ESPN2, with live results for the meet found here.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & TrackDoug Meacham Postgame News Conference - Oklahoma State vs. Baylor (9-27-2025)
Saturday, September 27
2025 Cowboy Jamboree - Men's 8k - Full Race
Friday, September 26
2025 Cowboy Jamboree - Women's 6k - Full Race
Friday, September 26
Inside Oklahoma State Athletics: Chad Weiberg on What's Next For Cowboy Football
Thursday, September 25
