OSU Track & Field Adds Three Individual Champions in Final Day of Outdoor Conference Championship

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Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships

OSU Track & Field Adds Three Individual Champions in Final Day of Outdoor Conference Championship

May 14, 2023 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma State track & field added three more individual champions as it concluded the Big 12 Outdoor Championships on Sunday in Norman, Okla.

Billah Jepkirui and Fouad Messaoudi swept the 1,500 Meter races while Gabija Galvydyte brought home her first individual Big 12 title in the 800 Meters. On the weekend, four athletes were crowned the best in the Big 12, with Victor Shitsama winning the 3,000 Meter Steeplechase on Saturday. This is the second consecutive season where multiple Cowboys and Cowgirls earned an individual conference title in outdoor competition.

As a team, the Cowboys finished the tournament sixth overall, with the Cowgirls taking home fifth.

Jepkirui got the day started on a high note by comfortably taking the top spot in the 1,500 Meters in 4:15.74 to become an individual outdoor conference champion for the first time. Jepkirui wraps up her impressive freshman conference season as a three time Big 12 champion, spanned indoors and outdoors. Jepkirui contributed 10 of the 24 points the Cowgirls scored in the event, as all five Cowgirls competing added team points.

Messaoudi immediately followed that performance by defending his title in the 1,500 Meters by edging out Iowa State's Ezekiel Rop down the final stretch. After setting the facility record in Saturday's preliminary round, his 3:36.59 finish bests Saturday's time, while also setting the Big 12 championship record. It's his fourth career Big 12 title across indoor and outdoor competition, further establishing himself as one of the best in the Big 12. Alex Stitt joined Messaoudi on the podium, finishing third with a time of 3:42.47.

After three consecutive runner-up finishes in both indoor and outdoor conference championships, Galvydyte got over the hump by dominating the 800 Meter field in 2:03.66. Never losing sight of her goal, Galvydyte took an early lead after running the fastest lap of the event and coasted to the finish line. She's the first Cowgirl to be crowned Big 12 champion in the 800 Meters since Sinclaire Johnson in 2019.

On the men's side in the 800 Meters, Mehdi Yanouri once again set the school record with his 1:46.71 finish. It's the third time this season he's set the program standard, the second time being in Saturday's preliminary round. He claimed the silver medal in the competition and contributed eight points to the Cowboys.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls claimed valuable points in the men's and women's 5,000 Meters with podium finishes by Alex Maier and Taylor Roe. In the men's race, Maier held a consistent lead for much of the race and ultimately finished with the silver medal. His 13:53.71 finish added another eight points to the Cowboys' team score.

In the women's race, Roe spent the first four splits hanging in the middle of the pack, before a gradual increase in speed propelled her into third place. Roe and the other leaders separated from the group and held a commanding pace for the rest of the race. She held the third position until the end and crossed the finish line in 16:12.09.

The Cowboy 4x400 Relay squad put up the fourth-fastest time in OSU history at 3:06.01 and finished fourth in the competition. On the women's side of the 4x400, the Cowgirls tabbed the seventh-fastest time for OSU with a 3:36.51 finish and a fifth-place finish.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls now press onto the NCAA West Prelims in Sacramento, Calif., running from May 24-27.

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

Big 12 Outdoor Championships

Women's Individual Results

High Jump
10. Olivija Vaitaityte — 1.67m/5'5.75"
16. Bailey Golden — 1.67m/5'5.75

Discus Throw
11. Hannah Bradford — 47.92m/157'2"

Triple Jump
15. Winny Bii — 11.31m/37'1.25"

1,500 Meters
1. Billah Jepkirui — 4:15.74
4. Taylor Roe — 4:19.89
5. Maddie Salek — 4:20.11
6. Sivan Auerbach — 4:20.68
7. Heidi Demeo — 4:23.78

800 Meters
1. Gabija Galvydyte — 2:03.66
7. Kaylie Politza — 2:07.62
9. Madi Surber — 2:14.86

5,000 Meters
3. Taylor Roe — 16:12.09
12. Cayden Dawson — 16:56.25
13. Cameron McConnell — 17:01.36
16. Taylor Somers — 17:13.66

4x400 Meter Relay
5. Gabija Galvydyte, Ansley Scott, Yasmine Johnson, Tamara Woodley — 3:36.51

Men's Individual Results

1,500 Meters
1. Fouad Messaoudi — 3:36.59
3. Alex Stitt — 3:42.47
6. Christopher Middleton-Pearson — 3:44.14

800 Meters
2. Mehdi Yanouri — 1:46.71
9. Hafez Mahadi — 1:49.68

Discus Throw
13. Sam Mason — 48.57m/159'4"

5,000 Meters
2. Alex Maier — 13:53.71
12. Daniel Nickell — 14:47.44

4x400 Meter Relay
4. Charlie Bartholomew, Elijah Berry, Cash Merutka, DeJuana McArthur — 3:06.01