gestate fischer: State's schools chasing NCAA cross country title

Sunday, November 18, 2012

State's schools chasing NCAA cross country title

Oklahoma State, the No. 1-ranked team in the country, tied Oklahoma for the Midwest Regional title last weekend.

Both teams earned 45 points, while Tulsa finished third with 47 points.

Tulsa junior Chris O'Hare was the individual regional champion, running a time of 30 minutes and 25.87 seconds.

The Cowboys' Girma Mecheso was second at 30:26.39, while OU's Patrick Casey placed third with a 30:28.61

"I think we're all fit and healthy and ready to go, which is 90 percent of the battle at this time of the year, just getting everyone to the starting line and ready to go," said OSU coach Dave Smith. "I think the course looks great, and the weather looks like it's going to be perfect.

"I think the field is as deep and full of parity as it has been in the last 10 years."

Iona and Stanford are tied for second in the most recent national poll. Oklahoma is ranked sixth, Arkansas is 11th, and Tulsa is 12th.

OSU runners Tom Farrell (fourth) and Shane Moskowitz (seventh) joined Mecheso in the top 10 at regionals. Tulsa's Andy Heyes (eighth) and Paulo Pinheiro (ninth) also had top 10 regional finishes, while Kevin Williams (fifth) and Bill Kogel (10th) accomplished the feat for OU.

Oklahoma State is the only state school sending its women's team to the NCAA meet. OSU finished second at regionals. Monika Juodeskaite was the top OSU finisher, placing ninth with a time of 20:51.34. Jessica Engel of Oklahoma placed fourth.

Florida State is the No. 1-ranked women's team in the country. Oregon is second, and Iowa State, which finished first ahead of OSU at the Midwest Regional, is ranked third.
Original Print Headline: State chasing cross country title