Cowboy Track Ranked For Fifth Straight Week

The Oklahoma State men's indoor track and field team is ranked No. 11 in this week's United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association top 25.

This is the fifth straight week the Cowboys have been ranked in the USTFCCCA poll, matching their longest stint in these rankings. The other occurrence came in 2010, when the team was ranked in the preseason through week four.

Individually, on the men's side, the Cowboys have five of the 29 sub-four minute miles run in the NCAA this season, which is the most in the nation. Raul Botezan (No. 8), Tom Farrell (No. 11), Kirubel Erassa (No. 12), Fabian Clarkson (No. 21) and Shane Moskowitz (No. 22) are all ranked in the top 22.

In the 3,000 meters, Erassa (No. 6), Farrell (No. 10) and Clarkson (No. 17) all stayed in the top 20 this week. Shadrack Kipchirchir jumped to No. 26 after his personal best at the Big 12 meet, and Justin Vilhauer rounded out the rankings at No. 50.

In the 5,000 meters, Kipchirchir's school-record run of 13:38.57 in Seattle still has him ranked third nationally. Girma Mecheso showed up at No. 28 this week, following his second-place finish at the Big 12 Championships.

Big 12 Champion Nick Miller stayed in the top 15 in the weight throw, checking in at No. 13.

On the women's side, Natalja Piliusina is still in the top five in both the 800 meters (No. 5), and the mile (No. 4).

Monika Juodeskaite stayed in the top 20, ranking No. 17 in the 3,000 meters.

After finishing in second at the Big 12 meet, the women's distance medley relay, featuring Piliusina, Juodeskaite, Mihaela Bobos and Clara Nichols, received the No. 25 ranking this week.

In the shot put, Chase Ealey kept her national ranking, showing up at No. 42 this week.

The OSU men's and women's track and field teams will be in action this weekend, March 1-2, competing in last chance NCAA qualifiers.

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Men's Team Computer Rankings

1. Arkansas

2. Florida

3. Texas A&M

4. Wisconsin

5. Oregon

6. Nebraska

7. Indiana

8. Texas Tech

9. Texas

10. Penn State

11. Oklahoma State

12. Virginia Tech

13. LSU

14. Florida State

15. Arizona

16. Arizona State

17. Clemson

18. Minnesota

19. NC State

20. Baylor

21. Oklahoma

22. Tulsa

23. Mississippi

24. Northern Arizona

25. Auburn

NCAA Division I Individual Event Rankings

Men's Mile

8. Raul Botezan – 3:57.79

11. Tom Farrell – 3:58.20

12. Kirubel Erassa – 3:58.24

21. Fabian Clarkson – 3:59.47

22. Shane Moskowitz – 3:59.48

Men's 3000m

6. Kirubel Erassa – 7:50.92

10 Tom Farrell – 7:51.77

17. Fabian Clarkson – 7:53.92

26. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 7:56.20

50. Justin Vilhauer – 8:04.39

Men's 5000m

3. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 13:38.57

28. Girma Mecheso – 13:57.06

Men's Weight Throw

13. Nick Miller – 20.97m/68-09.75

Women's 800m

5. Natalja Piliusina – 2:04.35

Women's Mile

4. Natalja Piliusina – 4:32.26

Women's 3000m

17. Monika Juodeskaite – 9:10.83

Women's Distance Medley Relay

25. Oklahoma State – 11:17.28

Monika Juodeskaite

Mihaela Bobos

Natalja Piliusina

Clara Nichols

Women's Shot Put

42. Chase Ealey – 15.80m/51-10.00