OSU Cross Country Enters 2011 With Several New Faces

August 31, 2011 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

Aug. 31, 2011

STILLWATER, Okla. – As the Oklahoma State cross country program begins its season this weekend, there will be a handful of new faces competing in 2011.

The men's team, winners of back-to-back national championships, added six runners to the roster, while the women's team, which is coming off its best performance at the NCAA Championships since 2005, added seven new athletes.

The men's additions are highlighted by sophomore transfer Shadrack Kipchirchir, an All-American who placed 27th at the 2010 NCAA Championships for Western Kentucky. He finished ninth in the Southeast Regional and recorded a runner-up finish at the Greater Louisville Classic.

Five freshmen also join the men's squad. Tommy Casey comes to the program as a proven winner. The Sligo, Ireland, native is a two-time Irish schools track and field 1,500-meter senior champion. He also won the Irish junior 1,500-meter run.

Fabian Clarkson, a native of Berlin, Germany, was also a decorated runner in his home country. In 2010, he won the North German Championship in the 5,000 meters. He also placed second in the 5,000 meters and third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Under-23 German Championships.

Brian Gohlke joins the Cowboys after running for College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas. Gohlke won two district championships and one regional championship at College Park. He finished third in the 3,200 meters at the state championship. Gohlke also registered an eighth place finish at the Nike Cross Country Nationals in Portland, Ore.

Justin Vilhauer, who hails from Visalia, Calif., not only ran for Redwood High School, but also played soccer. He made the USA World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, where he finished 47th.

Zach Wills ran for Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. Wills has a number of distinctions to his name in the state of Ohio, including being named to the Ohio All-Decade Team. He was twice named the Nike Runner of the Year in Ohio. He was a six-time state champion and seven-time all-state selection as well.

The women's recruiting class also includes one transfer and a number of talented freshmen. The Cowgirls add sophomore transfer Natanya Luther, who spent her freshman season at Arkansas. The Margate, South Africa, native placed second at the UC Riverside Invitational last season. She helped Arkansas to a runner-up finish at the SEC Championship with a 44th-place finish, completing the 6,000-meter race in 22:19.77

The Cowgirls added six freshmen to the roster. Alex Ervin comes to Stillwater from Sperry, Okla. She placed 15th at the Cowboy Jamboree last year while running for Sperry High School.

Adela Hofmannova, from Tmaò, Czech Republic, is a multi-talented athlete who won numerous medals in cross country, as well as indoor and outdoor track. She also participated in basketball and cross country skiing.

Monika Juodeskaite comes to OSU from Kaunus, Lithuania. She was coached by her mother, Inga, a two-time Olympian in the marathon and 20,000 meters. Juodeskaite twice earned the title of Lithuanian Champion. She placed third in the Baltic Sea Championships.

Taylor Light, from Flower Mound, Texas, is a former two-sport athlete who ran and played basketball at Flower Mound High School. She was voted her team MVP and also awarded Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.

Janelle Martinez was a stand-out athlete and student Greeley Central High School in Greeley, Colo. She was an all-conference and all-region cross country performer all four years of high school. She earned all-state cross country honors three times. Martinez also earned all-state honors in track all four years. She was her school's valedictorian, a National Hispanic Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society.

Chelsey Phoebus, from Lee's Summit, Mo., earned her share of accolades in high school as well. She was a two-time All-American, seven-time all-district and 11-time all-district honoree. She was a part of five state championship teams.

OSU opens the season Saturday, Sept. 3, at the Hurricane Festival, hosted by the University of Tulsa. The meet is set to begin at 8 a.m. at Mohawk Park.