CU runs with big schools at OSU
STILLWATER, Oklahoma (September 29) – Running alongside some of the most elite cross country programs in the nation, the Cameron Aggie cross country team traveled to Stillwater this afternoon for the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree. The event is one of the more prestigious meets of the NCAA season. The Aggies finished in 17th place (out of 17) in the University Division against a field of primarily Division-I programs. Cameron also had the option of running in the College Division against teams from Division-II and below.
“We ran so much better than we did last week and are getting better with each race, which is the main thing,” Head Coach Matt Aguero said. “Today was by far the best showing ever by Cameron.” Had Cameron run in the College Division, they would have finished in 12th place out of the 25 teams.
“If we had run in the College Division we would have beat a lot of teams we have never beaten before,” Coach Aguero said. “The main reason we run in the University Division is because that’s where the best competition is. You run faster when everyone around you is running fast.”
Cameron’s top finisher was senior Mudasar Haidat who came in 54th place. He finished the eight kilometer race with a time of 26.37. A total of 181 runners ran in the University Division.
The rest of the Aggie runners finished as follows: Juan Ruiz – 90th place – 28:23
Jamin Jones – 97th place – 28:45
Casey Kreger – 98th place – 28:46
Aaron Hibbits – 101st place – 28:54
Mubashar Haidat – 102nd place – 28:58
Garrett Hofman – 114th place – 30:59
“All of our guys looked really good. We have been training really hard and haven’t eased back on any of our training in order to get ready for this meet.”
The host OSU Cowboys, the 8th ranked team in the nation, won the event. John Kosgei of South Plains University finished the race in 1st place with a time of 23:42. The remainder of the top ten finishers were as follows:
2nd place - Nicodemus Naimadu – Abilene Christian – 23:46
3rd place – Ryan Vail – Oklahoma State – 23:49
4th place – Edwin Hensaw – Tulsa – 24:10
5th place – Scott MacPherson – Arkansas – 24:12
6th place – Laurent Ngirakamaro – New Mexico Highlands – 24:13
7th place –Noah Too – Mid America Nazarene – 24:17
8th place – Matt Barnes-Smith – Oklahoma State – 24:19
9th place – Fred Samoei – South Plans – 24:25
10th place – Festus Kigen – Texas Christian University – 24:34 The Aggies next travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, on October 13 for the University of Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival. It will be the team’s final meet before the Lone Star Conference Championship in Commerce, Texas, on October 20.
