Published: October 05, 2008 06:44 pm            

Cowboys win Jamboree title

Three Oklahoma State runners had a chance to claim the top individual honor Saturday.

Instead, they stuck to the virtue that has turned the No. 2 Cowboys into a national-championship contender — teamwork.

Freshman German Fernandez, senior Ryan Vail and junior David Chirchir crossed the finish line at the same time and led OSU to its second straight team title at the 72nd Annual Cowboy Cross Country Jamboree, placing ahead of No. 16 Northern Arizona.

“Our plan at the start of the race was to run as hard as it took to win as a team and be controlled enough to keep a group of four or five together,” said O-State coach Dave Smith. “They could’ve gone for the individual win but I asked them not to.

“I asked them to stay together and run as a group so we could build momentum for future races. Winning the way they did was really impressive. Good athletes make coaches look great — this is a group of really talented athletes that work hard. They see the vision and they believe it.”

Fernandez placed third at 24:12, followed by Vail (fourth, 24:13) and Chirchir (fifth, 24:13). Also competing for the Cowboys were senior Matt Barnes-Smith (eighth, 24:22) and junior Daniel Watts (19th, 24:52).

Participating but not scoring were Clay Mayes (21st, 24:57) and Brian Gosnell (25th, 25:02). Running unattached for OSU was freshman Colby Lowe, who finished seventh (24:22).

“To win this meet with a group of guys like this is unbelievable,” Vail said. “You have so many people from the city of Stillwater come in and actually support you. It’s awesome. We’ve got guys have been able to step up to the plate right away.”

Fernandez added, “We stayed as a group the whole way. That was our plan — just don’t go out too fast, go out smart. We just stayed strong the whole way so it was incredibly fitting that we finished together.”

The O-State women finished second in the university female race, trailing only No. 24 Northern Arizona. Junior Natalia Kovtun, a transfer from Southern California, led the Cowgirls individually by placing 10th at 21:37.

Also participating for OSU were juniors Tone Hjalmarsen (14th, 21:48) and Leah Schroeder (22nd, 22:01), freshman Victoria Fratczak (32nd, 22:19) and sophomore Mihaela Susa (40th, 22:31). Those who participated but didn’t score were Kristen Gillespie (56th, 22:51) and Brittani Johnson (58th, 22:53).

The top finisher was Kansas State’s Beverly Ramos. In the university men’s race, Daniel Kirwa of Harding (Ark.) and Northern Arizona’s David McNeill finished first and second, respectively. In the men’s college/junior college run, Jonathan Cherono of Cowley County (Kan.) earned top honors.

Cowley was also the top team in the race, followed by Incarnate Word (Texas) and Oklahoma Baptist. In the college/junior college female division, Jennifer Cherono of West Texas A&M finished first, and Butler Community (Kan.) was the top squad.

“Some of the very best teams in NCAA history have run in this meet,” Smith said. “Olympians, national champions, All-Americans, you name it — they’ve run on this course. It’s a very special thing to win on your home course in front of a crowd like this.”

The OSU teams return to action Oct. 18 when they head to the NCAA Pre-National Meet in Terre Haute, Ind.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.