Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Track & Field Pushes Two to Finals; Molly Born Earns Second Team All-America Honors in 10K
June 09, 2023 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma State women's track & field completed its first day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas, with both semifinalist athletes moving onto their respective finals.
Billah Jepkirui and Gabija Galvydyte both took home heat victories in the 1,500 Meters and 800 Meters, respectively, to qualify automatically for the finals on Saturday. Jepkirui and Galvydyte now set their sights on becoming the fourth and fifth Cowgirl individual champions in OSU history outdoors and the first since Sinclaire Johnson won the 1,500 Meters in 2019. Galvydyte returns to the 800 Meter Final after placing third last year, while Jepkirui advances to her first career NCAA Outdoor Final.
Additionally, Molly Born wrapped up her season in the 10,000 Meters, where she clocked a 33:54.16 finish, locking up second-team All-America honors in the process. It's the first time in her career that she's picked up All-American status in outdoor competition.
Jepkirui brought home her qualifying time in the 1,500 Meters with a steady 4:17.76 finish. Jepkirui's patient pace stemmed from the early leaders of the race taking a conservative approach. Regardless, the freshman phenom had much left in the tank as she bolted ahead of the pack in the final kick to claim the heat victory. Jepkirui looks to join Johnson, who won her title in Austin, and Natalija Piliusina in 2013 as 1,500 Meter individual OSU champions.
In the 800 Meters, Galvydyte ran an expertly executed race in the first heat, crossing the finish line in 2:03.01. The NCAA's top returner in the event ran the fastest final 400 of the heat, highlighted by a strong final kick to make her return to the finals. Should Galvydyte claim the top spot in Saturday's race, she would become OSU's first champion in the 800 Meters, regardless of gender.
With their seasons ongoing, Jepkirui and Galvydyte will join Cowboy finalists Fouad Messaoudi, Victor Shitsama and Mehdi Yanouri as they compete for the individual titles.
Friday kicks off the busiest day of the competition for OSU, with the three Cowboys and Bailey Golden competing across four separate events. Golden will take on the first four of seven events in the women's Heptathlon before finishing the final three on Saturday.
Messaoudi follows Golden in the men's 1,500 Meter final after advancing through the semifinal round on Wednesday with a finish of 3:39.74. The NCAA's top-ranked 1,500 Meter runner is taking on the outdoor finals for the first time in his career and looks to become a three-time NCAA champion this season after taking home gold the indoor DMR and 3,000 Meter titles.
Shitsama immediately follows for the Cowboys in the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase, following an impressive outing in the semifinal round with his 8:36.27 finish. The Big 12 champion ran the fifth-fastest qualifying time and is moving onto the final round of the outdoor championships for the second time in his career.
Yanouri rounds out action for the Cowboys in the 800 Meter Final. OSU's program record holder advanced to the final after posting a time of 1:48.28 in the semifinal round. Like Galvydyte, a win in the race would result in OSU's first 800 Meter champion, regardless of gender.
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.edu.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Women's Individual Results
1,500 Meter Semifinals
12. Billah Jepkirui – 4:17.76 (Q)
800 Meter Semifinals
12. Gabija Galvydyte – 2:03.01 (Q)
10,000 Meter Finals
13. Molly Born – 33:54.16
Billah Jepkirui and Gabija Galvydyte both took home heat victories in the 1,500 Meters and 800 Meters, respectively, to qualify automatically for the finals on Saturday. Jepkirui and Galvydyte now set their sights on becoming the fourth and fifth Cowgirl individual champions in OSU history outdoors and the first since Sinclaire Johnson won the 1,500 Meters in 2019. Galvydyte returns to the 800 Meter Final after placing third last year, while Jepkirui advances to her first career NCAA Outdoor Final.
Additionally, Molly Born wrapped up her season in the 10,000 Meters, where she clocked a 33:54.16 finish, locking up second-team All-America honors in the process. It's the first time in her career that she's picked up All-American status in outdoor competition.
Jepkirui brought home her qualifying time in the 1,500 Meters with a steady 4:17.76 finish. Jepkirui's patient pace stemmed from the early leaders of the race taking a conservative approach. Regardless, the freshman phenom had much left in the tank as she bolted ahead of the pack in the final kick to claim the heat victory. Jepkirui looks to join Johnson, who won her title in Austin, and Natalija Piliusina in 2013 as 1,500 Meter individual OSU champions.
In the 800 Meters, Galvydyte ran an expertly executed race in the first heat, crossing the finish line in 2:03.01. The NCAA's top returner in the event ran the fastest final 400 of the heat, highlighted by a strong final kick to make her return to the finals. Should Galvydyte claim the top spot in Saturday's race, she would become OSU's first champion in the 800 Meters, regardless of gender.
With their seasons ongoing, Jepkirui and Galvydyte will join Cowboy finalists Fouad Messaoudi, Victor Shitsama and Mehdi Yanouri as they compete for the individual titles.
Friday kicks off the busiest day of the competition for OSU, with the three Cowboys and Bailey Golden competing across four separate events. Golden will take on the first four of seven events in the women's Heptathlon before finishing the final three on Saturday.
Messaoudi follows Golden in the men's 1,500 Meter final after advancing through the semifinal round on Wednesday with a finish of 3:39.74. The NCAA's top-ranked 1,500 Meter runner is taking on the outdoor finals for the first time in his career and looks to become a three-time NCAA champion this season after taking home gold the indoor DMR and 3,000 Meter titles.
Shitsama immediately follows for the Cowboys in the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase, following an impressive outing in the semifinal round with his 8:36.27 finish. The Big 12 champion ran the fifth-fastest qualifying time and is moving onto the final round of the outdoor championships for the second time in his career.
Yanouri rounds out action for the Cowboys in the 800 Meter Final. OSU's program record holder advanced to the final after posting a time of 1:48.28 in the semifinal round. Like Galvydyte, a win in the race would result in OSU's first 800 Meter champion, regardless of gender.
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.edu.
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Women's Individual Results
1,500 Meter Semifinals
12. Billah Jepkirui – 4:17.76 (Q)
800 Meter Semifinals
12. Gabija Galvydyte – 2:03.01 (Q)
10,000 Meter Finals
13. Molly Born – 33:54.16
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Multi-Events
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Distance
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