Denis Kipngetich places second in 5,000 Meters at Big 12 Championships; Cowboys sit third after day one

Friday, February 27

Lubbock, TX

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Oklahoma State University

Big 12 Indoor Track & Field Championships

Denis Kipngetich places second in 5,000 Meters at Big 12 Championships; Cowboys sit third after day one

February 28, 2026 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track

LUBBOCK, Texas – Oklahoma State men's and women's indoor track & field kicked off postseason action Friday at the Big 12 Indoor Championships, highlighted by a pair of school records and several All-Big 12 scoring performances.

In the women's Pentathlon, senior Olivija Vaitaityte crushed her previous program record with a score of 4,219 points to take third. The score marks the second time that Vaitaityte has broken the program record this season, following her powerful performance in the DeLoss Dodds Invitational that earned her a score of 4,167 points. Fellow Cowgirl Elise Eikeland also had a strong showing, putting up a personal-best 4,030 points and earning her the fifth-highest score in program history. The freshman also became only the fifth Cowgirl in the program's history to eclipse the 4,000 points mark. The pair put up ten points for the Cowgirls in the first event of the weekend with their third and fifth-place finishes.

Billah Jepkirui dismantled the competition in the women's preliminary 1,000 Meters, taking home first with a time of 2:43.67 and advancing to the final. Her time currently stands as the fifth-fastest in program history and broke the previous facility and meet record originally set in 2023. Right behind her was Elyse Wilmes, who automatically advanced to Saturday's final with her second-place time of 2:45.13.

In the men's 1,000 Meter prelims, David Mora led nearly wire-to-wire and blasted through to the final with a huge personal best of 2:20.83. His time currently ties with the second-fastest time in program history, ran by Alex Stitt during the 2025 Big 12 Indoor Championships.

In the women's preliminary Mile, all four Cowgirl competitors put up impressive performances to qualify for the final. Jepkirui returned to the track once more to cross the line first for the Cowgirls with her time of 4:49.09, while Mandeep Sangha, Aubrey O'Connell and Bella Nelson all finished in the top 10 to propel them into the final.

In the field, true freshman Kevin Kemboi continued to impress in his debut season during the men's Long Jump with his leap of 7.67m, earning him a third-place finish overall. The distance currently ranks as the second-longest in program history and improves upon his previous personal best of 7.48m. Blair Anderson, who won the event in 2025, also put up a stellar performance with his distance of 7.58m, placing sixth overall.

Two Cowboys showed out in the men's 5000 Meters with finishes in the top five. All-American Denis Kipngetich captured second in a tight race with a time of 13:43.99, his third top-three finish in the past three years. Not far behind, Jacob Deacon finished with a remarkable fourth-place finish and a time of 13:53.17. In the women's 5,000 Meters Isca Chelangat and Maureen Rutoh also added ten key points for the Cowgirls with third and fifth-place finishes, respectively.

Both the men's and women's Distance Medley Relay squads also picked up All-Big 12 honors as the men took home fourth and the women claimed second for eight key points.

Overall, the No. 15 Cowgirls sit second in the team standings behind No. 10 Kansas State by 8.5 points with 12 of 19 scoring events remaining. For the men, the Cowboys are tied for third with 13 events remaining on Saturday.

Postseason play at the Big 12 Indoor Championships continues for the Cowboys and Cowgirls tomorrow on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The entirety of the meet is streamed live on ESPN+, with live results being found here.

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

Men's Individual Results
Heptathlon (through four of seven events)
17. Crayton Shaw – 2,573 points
60 Meters – (16) 7.27
Long Jump – (17) 5.86 m/19'2.75"
Shot Put – (12) 12.32 m/40'5
High Jump – (16) 1.77 m/5'9.75"
Mile – Prelim
2. Laban Kipkemboi – 4:03.98Q
10. Alex Riley – 4:06.88Q
14. Keegan Thomas – 4:08.01
18. Nate Stadtander – 4:16.90
600 Yards – Prelim
7. Aaron Morris – 1:09.67q
9. Blake Wynne – 1:09.92
13. Hunter Vaughn – 1:10.55
14. Ben Currence – 1:10.59
400 Meters – Prelim
8. Mason Page – 46.43q
12. Charlie Thorne – 46.70 (No. 3 in program history)
20. Will Bynum – 47.19
1,000 Meters – Prelim
4. David Mora – 2:20.83q (T-2 in program history)
8. Oliver Patton – 2:23.54
Long Jump
3. Kevin Kemboi – 7.67 m/25'2 (No. 2 in program history)
6. Blair Anderson – 7.58 m/24'10.5"
16. Rajaun Ricketts – 6.14 m/20'1.75"
800 Meters – Prelim
1. Hafez Mahadi – 1:47.95Q
6. Pradeep Senthilkumar – 1:51.68Q
High Jump
-. Kade Benjamin – NH
5,000 Meters – Final
2. Denis Kipngetich – 13:43.99
4. Jacob Deacon – 13:53.17
10. Adisu Guadie – 14:00.02
14. Will Muirhead – 14:02.92
-. Brian Musau – DNF
Distance Medley Relay
4. O. Patton, W. Bynum, P. Senthilkumar, H. Dover – 9:40.96
Men's Team Standings After Day One

No.4 Kansas State – 62 points
Kansas – 29 points
Iowa State – 27 points
Oklahoma State – 27 points
Cincinnati – 26 points

Women's Individual Results
Pentathlon
*3. Olivija Vaitaityte – 4,219 points
60 Meter Hurdles – (16) 8.88
High Jump – (T-3) 1.72 m/5'7.75"
Shot Put – (3) 12.16 m/39'10.75"
Long Jump – (5) 5.94 m/19'6
800 Meters – (1) 2:14.33
5. Elise Eikeland – 4,030 points
60 Meter Hurdles – (13) 8.86
High Jump – (9) 1.69 m/5'6.5"
Shot Put – (15) 10.69 m/35'1
Long Jump – (3) 6.00 m/19'8.25"
800 Meters – (6) 2:20.33
13. Katie Chapman – 3,799 points
60 Meter Hurdles – (7) 8.58
High Jump – (15) 1.63 m/5'4.25"
Shot Put – (5) 12.02 m/39'5.25"
Long Jump – (11) 5.69 m/18'8
800 Meters – (18) 2:36.85
Mile – Prelim
2. Billah Jepkirui – 4:49.09Q
4. Mandeep Sangha – 4:49.82Q
8. Aubrey O'Connell – 4:51.68q
10. Bella Nelson – 4:54.81q
Weight Throw
3. Rachel Neaves – 20.16 m/66'1.75" (No. 5 in program history)
6. Rylee Jenkins – 19.18 m/62'11.25" (No. 7 in program history)
11. Sutton Howard – 17.24 m/56'6.65"
600 Yards – Prelim
*2. Brooke Beck – 1:18.46q
4. Kalen Goodman – 1:18.88q (No. 2 in program history)
9. Isis Grant – 1:20.64 (No. 6 in program history)
1,000 Meters – Prelim
1. Billah Jepkirui – 2:43.67Q (Meet Record, Facility Record, No. 5 in program history)
2. Elyse Wilmes – 2:45.13Q
14. Madi Surber – 2:48.53
15. Kevriana Scott – 2:49.09
400 Meters – Prelim
20. Madisyn Jackson – 54.37 (No. 6 in program history)
800 Meters – Prelim
3. Kaylie Politza – 2:02.91Q
6. Kadence Huck – 2:07.24q
9. Paige Stuart – 2:07.99
Long Jump
6. Pavana Nagaraj – 6.30 m/20'8
12. Zeddy Chongwo – 6.20 m/20'4.25"
5,000 Meters – Final
3. Isca Chelangat – 15:52.36
5. Maureen Cherotich – 16:08.57
12. Gentry Turner – 16:57.13
Distance Medley Relay
2. K. Politza, M. Jackson, E. Wilmes, A. O'Connell – 11:20.62
Women's Team Standings After Day One