Oklahoma State Cowboys track and field

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Oklahoma State Cowboys track and field
Oklahoma State University Athletics logo.svg
University Oklahoma State University
Head coachDave Smith (16th season)
Conference Big 12
Location Stillwater, OK
Indoor trackOSU Track and Field Complex
Outdoor trackOSU Track and Field Complex
Nickname Cowboys
ColorsOrange and black [1]
   
NCAA Indoor Tournament Appearances
1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
NCAA Outdoor Tournament Appearances
1929, 1931, 1932, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Conference Indoor Championships
Big 12
2014, 2016
Conference Outdoor Championships
Missouri Valley
1929, 1932, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957

The Oklahoma State Cowboys track and field program represents the Oklahoma State University in the sport of track and field. The program competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big 12. The Cowboys host their home indoor and outdoor meets at the OSU Track and Field Complex, both located on the university's Stillwater, Oklahoma campus. The Oklahoma State track and field teams are currently led by head coach Dave Smith. [2]

Contents

History

Indoor history

The Oklahoma State men's indoor track and field team was organized in 1926, first competing in the Missouri Valley Conference before moving to the Big Eight Conference. The team finished runner-up at the Missouri Valley conference meet twice, in 1929 and 1937. Ralph Higgins was hired as head coach in 1935 and would go on to lead the Cowboys for 32 years, the longest tenure of any coach in Oklahoma State track and field history. [3]

The program's most successful season came in 1965, when the team claimed a 2nd–place finish in the inaugural NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. Along with the runner-up finish, Oklahoma State also won their first individual national titles with Tom Von Ruden in the 880 yards and the two–mile relay team. [4]

Dave Smith took over the track and field program in 2009, with the Cowboys searching for their first indoor conference title and first national top–10 finish since 1984. In 2013, Oklahoma State scored an 8th–place finish at the NCAA Championship, their best result in 29 years. A year later in 2014, Oklahoma State would claim their first indoor conference championship, winning the Big 12 title over Texas, 112.5–108.5, along with a 6th–place finish at the NCAA Championship. The Cowboys would add another Big 12 title in 2016, again beating Texas by a score of 130–128.5. [5] [6]

The 2023 season marked the beginning of a three year stretch of Oklahoma State runners scoring individual national championships. In 2023, Fouad Messaoudi won the national title in the men's 3,000 meters, while the men's DMR team won their own national title in 2023 before successfully defending their championship and winning the title again in 2024. Brian Musau would keep the streak alive, winning the men's 5000 meters title in 2025 and helping the team secure a 5th–place finish, the program's first top–5 finish since 1965. [7]

Outdoor history

The Oklahoma State men's outdoor track and field team was organized in 1900, first competing in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate and Southwest conferences before moving to the Missouri Valley. The Cowboys would win their first Missouri Valley conference championship in 1929, before adding two more in 1932 and 1934. Oklahoma State would then dominate the rest of the conference, winning the conference title 17 straight times from 1938–1957. [8]

After moving to the Big Eight Conference, the Cowboys would score their first top–5 national finish in program history in 1959, earning a 5th–place finish at the NCAA Championship.

Since moving to the Big 12, the Cowboys most successful season was in 2025, when Oklahoma State scored an 11th–place finish at the NCAA Championships and Brian Musau won his second national title in the men's 5000 meters. [9]

NCAA Championship results

Indoor Championship Results [10]

YearPointsPlace
1965 122nd
1966 515th
1967 326th
1969 420th
1970 232nd
1971 616th
1973 426th
1974 432nd
1982 1014th
1983 241st
1984 157th
1985 1112th
1986 1013th
1989 242nd
1995 343rd
1996 1218th
1997 539th
1999 156th
2001 155th
2003 254th
2004 629th
2010 160th
2012 161st
2013 208th
2014 206th
2015 1413th
2016 924th
2017 630th
2018 636th
2019 541st
2022 441st
2023 256th
2024 237th
2025 265th

Outdoor Championship Results [11]

NCAA Individual Event Champions

Indoor

YearEventAthlete(s)
1965880 yards Tom von Ruden
1965Two–mile relayJim Metcalf, John Perry, Tom von Ruden, Dave Perry
1966Two–mile relayArnold Droke, Jim Metcalf, John Perry, Tom von Ruden
1984High Jump Joe Dial
1985Pole VaultJoe Dial
1986MilePaul Larkins
20233,000 metersFouad Messaoudi
2023DMRFouad Messaoudi, Charlie Bartholomew, Juan Diego Castro, Ryan Schoppe
2024DMR Brian Musau, DJ McArthur, Mehdi Yanouri, Ryan Schoppe
20255,000 metersBrian Musau

Outdoor

YearEventAthlete(s)
1955440 yards J.W. Mashburn
1956440 yardsJ.W Mashburn
1956400 metersJ.W. Mashburn
1956Pole VaultJim Graham
1959Pole VaultJim Graham
1961Pole Vault George Davies
1967Steeplechase Chris McCubbins
197210,000 metersJohn Halberstadt
1982200 meters James Butler
1984Pole Vault Joe Dial
1985Pole VaultJoe Dial
20091,500 meters German Fernandez
20151,500 meters Chad Noelle
2016Hammer Throw Nick Miller
20255,000 metersBrian Musau

Olympic track and field medalists

The following Oklahoma State men's athletes have earned medals in one or more track and field events at the Summer Olympics:

OSU Track and Field Complex

Built in 2013 at a cost of about $9 million, the complex features a nine-lane 400-meter track with a steeplechase turnout along with infield and adjacent areas for field events, including shot put, discus, hammer throw, pole vault, high jump and long jump. [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Oklahoma State University Athletics Official Athletics Branding Manual (PDF). November 20, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  2. ↑ "2024-25 Men's Cross Country and Track & Field Digital Guide" (PDF). Oklahoma State University Athletics. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  3. ↑ "Ralph Higgins". USA Track & Field. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  4. ↑ "Cowboys place fifth overall at NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships; Earn highest team finish since 1965". Oklahoma State University Athletics. 2025-03-15. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  5. ↑ "Oklahoma State Men, Texas Women Win 2014 Big 12 Track & Field Championships". Big 12 Conference. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  6. ↑ "Records Break & Final Race Decides T&F Champion". Big 12 Conference. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  7. ↑ "Brian Musau wins National Championship in the 5,000 Meters; Cowboys sit in first place after first day of NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships". Oklahoma State University Athletics. 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  8. ↑ "All-Time Missouri Valley Conference Champions Missouri Valley Conference" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  9. ↑ Allen, Robert (2025-06-13). "Oklahoma State's Brian Musau Wins NCAA Outdoor 5,000 Meters". Pokes Report. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
  10. ↑ "2024-25 Men's Cross Country and Track & Field Digital Guide" (PDF). Oklahoma State University Athletics. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
  11. ↑ "2024-25 Men's Cross Country and Track & Field Digital Guide" (PDF). Oklahoma State University Athletics. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
  12. ↑ "Oklahoma State University Athletics". Oklahoma State University Athletics. 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
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