Oklahoma State University Athletics
Friday, November 10
AMES, IA
12:00 PM
Oklahoma State University
at
NCAA Midwest Regional Championships
The Cowgirls scored 103 points to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Cross Country Teams Qualify for NCAA Championships
November 10, 2017 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
AMES, Iowa — The Oklahoma State Cowboy and Cowgirl cross country squads clinched spots in the 2017 NCAA Championships on Friday, as both teams took second at the NCAA Midwest Regional.
With 103 points, the OSU women advanced to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time in school history and the sixth time under head coach Dave Smith.
The women's race remained tight the entire 6K race, but the Cowgirls' start of the race is what allowed them to hold on in the end.
"They got out really aggressively and ran with a lot of confidence," Smith said. "That was a big change from the way we've been running all year. They put themselves in the top 30 right from the start and fought the rest of the way."
The Cowgirls got production from an unexpected place in sophomore Kaytlyn Larson. She rose to the occasion and earned a 13th overall finish in 20:30.8 as the Cowgirls' highest finisher.
"It's incredible," Larson said. "We have been working all season and we wanted this so bad. We haven't had necessarily the greatest races up to this point, but the fact that it all came together on the right day just means so much to us."
Senior Molly Sughroue ran a respectable 20:37.8, good enough for 17th overall. Essex, England native Kaylee Dodd wasn't far behind, crossing the line 21st overall.
Senior Gintare Zenkeviciute and freshman Cheyenne Walden rounded out the Cowgirls' top five, finishing 25th and 27th, respectively. That effort allowed the Cowgirls to advance to nationals ahead of No. 13 Minnesota, who finished third overall.
For the Cowboys, despite finishing third in the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago, a solid team effort was good enough for 74 points, just five points behind No. 1 Iowa State.
In familiar fashion, senior Hassan Abdi led the way for the Cowboys, finishing an impressive second overall to Illinois' Jonathan Davis.
"We just tried to stay together as a team and focus on qualifying for nationals," Abdi said. "And I tried to beat the guys who were really scoring a lot."
Senior Luis Martinez kept up his solid final campaign with a 29:19.4 in the men's 10K, good enough for 10th overall.
The Cowboys earned second in large part to their 3-4-5 runners, who all ran solid races. Junior Christian Liddell finished 19th, Noah Gade placed 21st and freshman Ryan Smeeton right behind, finishing the 10K in 29:41.3 for 22nd overall. That effort allowed all the Cowboys top five to finish in the top 25.
"In the men's, we had some good and bad," Smith said. "I thought Hassan and Luis ran really well. Noah, Christian and Ryan Smeeton were all solid. They did what we needed them to do."
The second-place finish marks the 15th-straight appearance at a national championship for the Cowboys and 31st overall.
Last year at the NCAA Championships, the OSU women finished 17th and the men 12th.
The teams don't get long to rest, as the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 18.
NCAA Midwest Region Championships | Nov. 10, 2017 | Ames, Iowa
Women's Results
13. Kaytlyn Larson 20:31
17. Molly Sughroue 20:38
21. Kaylee Dodd 20:48
25. Gintare Zenkeviciute 20:49
27. Cheyenne Walden 20:50
45. Michelle Magnani 21:11
61. Sinclaire Johnson 21:21
Men's Results
2. Hassan Abdi 29:11.28
10. Luis Martinez 29:19.31
19. Christian Liddell 29:39.95
21. Noah Gade 29:41.21
22. Ryan Smeeton 29:41.28
71. Sylvester Barus 30:27.27
136. Alec Haines 31:25.75
Women's Team
1. Iowa State – 90 pts.
2. Oklahoma State – 103
3. Minnesota – 119
4. Missouri – 215
5. South Dakota – 252
6. Bradley – 271
7. Northern Iowa – 286
8. Tulsa – 300
9. Northwestern – 301
10. Kansas – 333
Men's Team
1. Iowa State – 69 pts.
2. Oklahoma State – 74
3. Tulsa – 98
4. Illinois – 98
5. Minnesota – 144
6. Bradley – 161
7. UMKC – 248
8. Nebraska – 262
9. Missouri – 271
10. Kansas State - 314
With 103 points, the OSU women advanced to the NCAA Championships for the 11th time in school history and the sixth time under head coach Dave Smith.
The women's race remained tight the entire 6K race, but the Cowgirls' start of the race is what allowed them to hold on in the end.
"They got out really aggressively and ran with a lot of confidence," Smith said. "That was a big change from the way we've been running all year. They put themselves in the top 30 right from the start and fought the rest of the way."
The Cowgirls got production from an unexpected place in sophomore Kaytlyn Larson. She rose to the occasion and earned a 13th overall finish in 20:30.8 as the Cowgirls' highest finisher.
"It's incredible," Larson said. "We have been working all season and we wanted this so bad. We haven't had necessarily the greatest races up to this point, but the fact that it all came together on the right day just means so much to us."
Senior Molly Sughroue ran a respectable 20:37.8, good enough for 17th overall. Essex, England native Kaylee Dodd wasn't far behind, crossing the line 21st overall.
Senior Gintare Zenkeviciute and freshman Cheyenne Walden rounded out the Cowgirls' top five, finishing 25th and 27th, respectively. That effort allowed the Cowgirls to advance to nationals ahead of No. 13 Minnesota, who finished third overall.
For the Cowboys, despite finishing third in the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago, a solid team effort was good enough for 74 points, just five points behind No. 1 Iowa State.
In familiar fashion, senior Hassan Abdi led the way for the Cowboys, finishing an impressive second overall to Illinois' Jonathan Davis.
"We just tried to stay together as a team and focus on qualifying for nationals," Abdi said. "And I tried to beat the guys who were really scoring a lot."
Senior Luis Martinez kept up his solid final campaign with a 29:19.4 in the men's 10K, good enough for 10th overall.
The Cowboys earned second in large part to their 3-4-5 runners, who all ran solid races. Junior Christian Liddell finished 19th, Noah Gade placed 21st and freshman Ryan Smeeton right behind, finishing the 10K in 29:41.3 for 22nd overall. That effort allowed all the Cowboys top five to finish in the top 25.
"In the men's, we had some good and bad," Smith said. "I thought Hassan and Luis ran really well. Noah, Christian and Ryan Smeeton were all solid. They did what we needed them to do."
The second-place finish marks the 15th-straight appearance at a national championship for the Cowboys and 31st overall.
Last year at the NCAA Championships, the OSU women finished 17th and the men 12th.
The teams don't get long to rest, as the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 18.
NCAA Midwest Region Championships | Nov. 10, 2017 | Ames, Iowa
Women's Results
13. Kaytlyn Larson 20:31
17. Molly Sughroue 20:38
21. Kaylee Dodd 20:48
25. Gintare Zenkeviciute 20:49
27. Cheyenne Walden 20:50
45. Michelle Magnani 21:11
61. Sinclaire Johnson 21:21
Men's Results
2. Hassan Abdi 29:11.28
10. Luis Martinez 29:19.31
19. Christian Liddell 29:39.95
21. Noah Gade 29:41.21
22. Ryan Smeeton 29:41.28
71. Sylvester Barus 30:27.27
136. Alec Haines 31:25.75
Women's Team
1. Iowa State – 90 pts.
2. Oklahoma State – 103
3. Minnesota – 119
4. Missouri – 215
5. South Dakota – 252
6. Bradley – 271
7. Northern Iowa – 286
8. Tulsa – 300
9. Northwestern – 301
10. Kansas – 333
Men's Team
1. Iowa State – 69 pts.
2. Oklahoma State – 74
3. Tulsa – 98
4. Illinois – 98
5. Minnesota – 144
6. Bradley – 161
7. UMKC – 248
8. Nebraska – 262
9. Missouri – 271
10. Kansas State - 314
Players Mentioned
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
/ Cowboy Cross Country & Track
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