Cowgirl Track Cracks Top 25 For First Time; Cowboys Remain In Top 10

For the first time since the national track and field team rankings took their current form, both the Oklahoma State men's and women's squads are in the top 25 at the same time. The men are No. 6 and the women are No. 22 in this week's United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings.

This is the first time the Cowgirls have appeared in the top 25 of the USTFCCCA rankings and it's the first time the OSU men have been ranked in the top 10 in consecutive weeks (the Cowboys were third last week).

"We're very excited," OSU Coach Dave Smith said. "It really helps the perception of the program as more than just a cross country school, but at the end of the day it's just a ranking—we have to go out there and prove it--starting this weekend in Iowa."

Individually, OSU continues to be well-represented on the national performance lists.

On the men's side, the Cowboys have five of the 23 sub-four minute miles run in the NCAA this season. No other school has more than two. Raul Botezan (No. 7), Tom Farrell (No. 10), Kirubel Erassa (No. 11), Fabian Clarkson (No. 17) and Shane Moskowitz (No. 18) are all ranked in the top 18.

In the 3,000 meters, Erassa (No. 6) Farrell (No. 9) and Clarkson (No. 15) all stayed in the top 15 this week. Shadrack Kipchirchir held his spot at No. 28, and Justin Vilhauer slid one spot to No. 43.

In the 5,000 meters, Kipchirchir's school-record run of 13:38.57 in Seattle has him ranked third nationally.

Nick Miller stayed in the top 10 in the weight throw, checking in at No. 9.

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 put at No. 15 in the 3,000 meters

In the shot put, Chase Ealey kept her national ranking, showing up at No. 38 this week.

The OSU men's and women's track and field teams will be in Ames, Iowa, this weekend, Feb. 22-23, competing in the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships.

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

1 Arkansas

2 Florida

3 Texas A&M

4 Texas Tech

5 Nebraska

6 Oklahoma State

7 Penn State

8 Texas

9 Indiana

10 Wisconsin

11 Oregon

12 Florida State

13 Arizona State

14 Arizona

15 Minnesota

16 LSU

17 NC State

18 Pittsburgh

19 Mississippi

20 Tulsa

21 Oklahoma

22 UT Arlington

23 Northern Arizona

24 Clemson

25 Indiana State

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

1 LSU

2 Oregon

3 Arkansas

4 Clemson

5 Kansas

6 Florida

7 Georgia

8 Arizona State

9 Texas A&M

10 UCF

11 Arizona

12 Iowa State

13 Texas

14 South Carolina

15 Illinois

16 Stanford

17 Indiana State

18 Dartmouth

19 Wichita State

20 Michigan

21 Georgetown

22 Oklahoma State

23 Connecticut

24 San Diego State

25 Baylor

NCAA Division I Individual Event Rankings

Men's Mile

7. Raul Botezan – 3:57.79

10. Tom Farrell – 3:58.20

11. Kirubel Erassa – 3:58.24

17. Fabian Clarkson – 3:59.47

18. Shane Moskowitz – 3:59.48

Men's 3000m

6. Kirubel Erassa – 7:50.92

9. Tom Farrell – 7:51.77

15. Fabian Clarkson – 7:53.92

28. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 8:00.41

43. Justin Vilhauer – 8:04.39

Men's 5000m

3. Shadrack Kipchirchir – 13:38.57

Men's Weight Throw

9. 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

15. Monika Juodeskaite – 9:10.83

Women's Shot Put

38. Chase Ealey – 15.80m/51-10.00