THE BASICS
Oklahoma State cross country returns to the course for the third time this season for the Weis-Crockett Invitational on the state-of-the-art Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course in Stillwater.
The invitational is named after two OSU cross country legends Dick Weis and Jerry Crockett, both of whom have served the program for several decades.
Weis began his Oklahoma State career in 1983 as the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field head coach, leading the Cowgirls to back-to-back NCAA Cross Country Championship appearances in 1988 and 1989. He led the Cowgirls to their first conference title in 1986 as they took home the Big 8 Cross Country Championship. He also led the Cowboys to a cross country conference title in 1995 and won the Big 8 Coach of the Year award that season. During his tenure, the Cowboys made 12 NCAA Cross Country Championships appearances, finishing as high as third at the 1995 NCAA Championships. He also coached three individual NCAA Champions during his Oklahoma State tenure.
Crockett served the OSU track & field and cross country programs from 1976 to his retirement as an aide to Coach Ralph Tate. He was elected to the Oklahoma Distance Running Hall of Fame and served on the USA Track & Field Board of Directors from 1994-2001. He was a recipient of the 2002 USA Track & Field President’s Award and also served as the Dean at the University of Idaho from 1967-68 prior to his work at OSU.
Both gentlemen remain around the Oklahoma State distance program to this day as volunteer coaches, where they are helping develop current and future All-Americans reach their highest potentials.
RUN IT BACK
The Cowgirls enter the Weis-Crockett Invitational hot off their victory at the Cowboy Jamboree on Sept. 24. Following their victory, they reached their highest ranking in program history at No. 2 with freshman phenom Natalie Cook and superstar Taylor Roe leading the charge. Gabby Hentemann and Billah Jepkirui also tabbed top-15 finishes at the Jamboree secure the team title.
The Cowboys enter this weekend ranked No. 4 in the latest coaches poll following their fourth-place finish at the loaded Cowboy Jamboree. Alex Maier and Victor Shitsama took home first and third-place finishes in a field that included each of the top-5 ranked teams in the country currently. Rory Leonard also earned a top-20 finish at the Jamboree as the Cowboys look to defend their home course on Saturday.
FOLLOW THE MEET
Oklahoma State fans can follow along with the Cowboys and Cowgirls at the Invitational on Twitter by following @run4okstate for real time updates from the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course.
Results for the meet will also be posted live during the race at the link below.
https://live.pttiming.com/XC-PTT.html?mid=5223
MEET SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES CT)
The men's 8K kicks things off at 8:30 a.m. CT with the women's 6K immediately following at 9:20 a.m.
For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.
