OSU Sweeps Big 12 Championships

Saturday, October 31

Stillwater, OK

10 a.m.

Oklahoma State University

Big 12 Cross Country Championships

October 31, 2015 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

Men's Results
Women's Results

STILLWATER – For the first time in school history, Oklahoma State swept the Big 12 Cross Country Championships Saturday at the OSU Cross Country Course.

Vegard Oelstad led the way to the Cowboys' eighth consecutive conference title as he took the individual title as well. The Cowboys put up just 28 points as all of their top-five runners finished in the top-10.

At the 2K mark, the Cowboys were in fifth place as a team and Oelstad sat in 14th. OSU had a six-point advantage at the 5K split, but stormed ahead in the last 3K to beat second place Oklahoma by 22 points.

"I was trying to convince myself that it was just a workout," Oelstad said. "I was just going to sit on Cerake and learn from him because he's been running really well this year. I thought that he would probably win it, so if I followed him, I would probably finish second. So that was really the plan - that, and to beat the OU guys."

Josh Thompson claimed the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award after he grabbed a 10th place finish and earned All-Big 12 honors, along with four other Cowboys. Along with Oelstad and Thompson, Cerake Geberkidane finished third, Craig Nowak took sixth and Chad Noelle claimed eighth.

"It's been a really exciting season," Thompson said. "Working with this team is so much fun because they're all nice and really supportive, so to come out here in my first Big 12 season and win with this team, it's just a great feeling."

The Cowboys' eighth straight Big 12 Cross Country titles ranks as the second longest streak in conference history. Oelstad also became the 10th Cowboy to win an individual conference title and the sixth to win a Big 12 title. His win also gave the Cowboys back-to-back individual wins as Kirubel Erassa took the 8K crown last season.

The Cowgirls also made history, claiming their first Big 12 title and first conference title since 1986. Ingeborg Loevnes led the way once again for the Cowgirls with a 20:50.6 and a third place finish in the 6K race. Her time was the 10th fastest in school history and her performance earned her Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

"This is what we've been working toward all year," Loevnes said. "We knew that we had a really strong group of girls, but to actually do it on our home course is pretty amazing."

Loevnes earned All-Big 12 honors with five other Cowgirls as Kaela Edwards finished fourth, Natalie Baker took sixth, Anna Boyert finished ninth, Aurora Dybedokken 12th and Molly Sughroue 14th. Overall, OSU led all Big 12 programs in All-Conference honors with 11 total.

"The women's team has come a long way," coach Dave Smith said. "The difference between where we were last year, with basically the same group of women, and this year is really all about maturity, and belief in themselves. They just did an unbelievable job. For the men, eight straight is a big accomplishment itself, but for the women's team to finally break through and win against some of the toughest teams in the country in Iowa State and West Virginia, I couldn't be happier."

The Cowgirls ran away with the team title, scoring just 34 points and topping No. 11 Iowa State by 18. At the halfway mark of the race, the Cowgirls sat in third with 80 team points, but passed Kansas State and ISU in the remaining 3K to take their first conference title in nearly 30 years.

"I think we raced smart," Loevnes said. "We knew we had to stay conservative on this course because the last 2K are just really hard and challenging. You have to start out slower than you think you should."

The team sweep was the first in the Big 12 since Colorado in 2007. With the wins behind them, OSU turns its attention to the national stage. OSU's next race will be on Nov. 13 at the NCAA Midwest Regionals in Lawrence, Kansas.

"It's going to sort of be like a practice run for us," Oelstad said. "We're all pretty confident going into that race, so we're trying to save it as much as possible for Nationals."

As of right now, the Cowboys will head into the race as the top-ranked team in the region, while the Cowgirls currently sit at No. 2, just behind fellow Big 12 member Iowa State.

Big 12 Championships | OSU Cross Country Course | Oct. 31, 2015

Women's 6K
3. Ingeborg Loevnes – 20:50.6
4. Kaela Edwards – 20:51.1
6. Natalie Baker – 20:58.4
9. Anna Boyert – 21:09.1
12. Aurora Dybedokken – 21:11.1
14. Molly Sughroue – 21:18.9
25. Katie Spencer – 21:46.5
27. Abbie Hetherington – 21:48.3
45. Janelle Martinez – 22:17.0
48. Savannah Camacho – 22:27.8

Men's 8K
1. Vegard Oelstad – 23:58.9
3. Cerake Geberkidane – 24:07.1
6. Craig Nowak – 24:36.3
8. Chad Noelle – 24:39.2
10. Josh Thompson – 24:44.8
21. Brian Gohlke – 25:20.0
22. Christian Liddell – 25:20.7
38. Matthew Fayers – 25:50.3
40. Brigham Hedges – 25:53.2
47. David Kilgore – 26:11.2

Team Results

Women's
1. Oklahoma State – 34 pts
2. Iowa State – 52
3. West Virginia – 118
4. Kansas – 129
5. Oklahoma – 152
6. Texas – 158
7. Kansas State – 193
8. Baylor – 195
9. Texas Tech – 196
10. TCU – 292

Men's
1. Oklahoma State – 28 pts.
2. Oklahoma – 50
3. Texas – 83
4. Iowa State – 93
5. Kansas – 111
6. Kansas State – 180
7. Baylor – 184
8. Texas Tech – 200
9. TCU – 295