Oklahoma State wins Big 12 cross country championship
FROM STAFF REPORTS
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Published: October 31, 2009
The Oklahoma State men's cross country team won the Big 12 championship Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
OSU's Ryan Vail won his first individual crown, leading the pack with a 24:50.67 time.
"It has taken me six years to get here," said Vail, a senior from Gresham, Ore. "This is my sixth year of cross country, so it feels that much more special. After putting in this much effort, to finally have it pay off at this meet is a great finish for me."
Senior John Kosgei, sophomore Colby Lowe and last year's winner, German Fernandez, placed just behind Vail to give the Cowboys the four best times.
OSU's team score of 24 beat second-place Colorado by 32 points to give the Cowboys their second straight Big 12 title. The Buffaloes had won the 12 previous titles before OSU's win last year.
OU, which finished in third, had its highest finish ever in the championship and its best since finishing third in the 1980 Big 8 championship, ending 51 points back from OSU.
OU sophomore and Mustang native Kevin Schwab was sixth overall with a 25:08.32 time, leading the Sooners to a third-place finish. Schwab's sixth place was the second-highest individual finish for a Sooner since the creation of the Big 12.
Redshirt freshman Bill Kogel and junior Rob Sorrell finished 10th and 11th for the Sooners.
OSU's Vail, Kosgei, Lowe, Fernandez and sophomore Girma Mecheso received All-Big 12 honors, along with Schwab, Kogel and Sorrell from OU.
OSU and OU's women's teams finished 10th and 12th respectively.
Men
1. Oklahoma State — 24
2. Colorado — 56
3. Oklahoma — 75
4. Iowa State — 107
5. Texas — 132
6. Texas A&M — 171
7. Nebraska — 199
8. Kansas — 237
8. Missouri — 237
10. Texas Tech — 278
11. Baylor — 282
12. Kansas State — 354
Women
1. Texas Tech — 38
2. Colorado — 52
3. Iowa State — 85
4. Nebraska — 143
5. Kansas — 160
6. Kansas State — 170
7. Baylor — 174
8. Texas — 210
9. Missouri — 212
10. Oklahoma State — 224
11. Texas A&M — 243
12. Oklahoma — 340
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