Upcoming Event: Cross Country at Gans Creek Classic (Women) on September 26, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. CT
8:15 a.m. CT
Cross Country
at Gans Creek Classic (Women)
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Friday, October 4
Southbend, Ind.
University of Oklahoma
at
Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational
OU XC Resumes Season at Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational
October 03, 2024 | Cross Country
NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma men's and women's cross country teams travel to Southbend, Ind., for the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame on Friday at the Burke Golf Course.
The OU women will run a 5K at 10:30 a.m. ET and the men will compete in the 8K at 11:15 a.m. ET. Oklahoma will feature nine runners on both the men's and women's sides.
The women's squad is slated to race against 12 regionally-ranked teams plus USTFCCCA's national coaches' poll's No. 2 Northern Arizona, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 25 Michigan State. The OU women enter the invitational No. 7 in the Midwest region.
"We've been looking forward to this, and the ladies have done their part to ensure preparedness matches excitement," stated Co-Head Cross Country Coach Anna Bearss. "The group is ready for a big day and I look forward to seeing what we can do to move closer to our goals."
The Oklahoma women most recently collected a third-place team finish at the Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 13. Posting collegiate personal records, senior Gabi Barrera took fifth in the 5K (17:16.2) and graduate Megan Johnson grabbed eighth (17:24.6).
The men's team comes off a month-long training block after finishing fifth at the Cowboy Preview on August 30. Thobias Cheruiyot recorded first place at the meet with a career-best time (14:57.1), earning him SEC Freshman Runner of the Week honors on Sept. 3, and six more OU men clocked personal records.
"We're really excited for the race. The men are in a good place physically and mentally coming off the big September training block. It's going to a be a great field with some top-ranked regional and national teams," added Co-Head Cross Country Coach Jay Weaver. "This is going to be a great test to see where we're at currently and will drive our focus and momentum over the coming weeks."
The men's field is host to three nationally-ranked teams per USTFCCCA's coaches' poll, No.4 Northern Arizona, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 30 Michigan State, and 13 more regionally-ranked teams.
Three Sooners will race for the first time in the Crimson and Cream at the Joe Piane Invitational: freshmen Abby Jepchirchir and Leah Jeruto on the women's side and graduate transfer Daniel Nickell Jr. for the men.
Weaver noted, "They've all been eager to get back on the course and compete. I'm excited to see how we stack up."
Live results from the Joe Piane Invitational are available via PT Timing.
Joe Piane Invitational Information
Date: Friday, October 4
Women's 5K: 10:30 a.m. ET
Men's 8K: 11:15 a.m. ET
Venue: Burke Golf Course, Notre Dame, Ind.
Live Results: PT Timing
OU Men Competing: Sam Boyer, Colin Caso, Thobias Cheruiyot, Joshua Cherry, Peter Makuei, Fernando Morales, Daniel Nickell Jr., Logan Seger, Jack Vincent
OU Women Competing: Gabi Barrera, Nicole Clifford, Sophie Coughlin, Grace Hanson, Abby Jepchirchir, Leah Jeruto, Megan Johnson, Peyton McQuillan, Kiera Snyder
CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS
For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.
The OU women will run a 5K at 10:30 a.m. ET and the men will compete in the 8K at 11:15 a.m. ET. Oklahoma will feature nine runners on both the men's and women's sides.
The women's squad is slated to race against 12 regionally-ranked teams plus USTFCCCA's national coaches' poll's No. 2 Northern Arizona, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 25 Michigan State. The OU women enter the invitational No. 7 in the Midwest region.
"We've been looking forward to this, and the ladies have done their part to ensure preparedness matches excitement," stated Co-Head Cross Country Coach Anna Bearss. "The group is ready for a big day and I look forward to seeing what we can do to move closer to our goals."
The Oklahoma women most recently collected a third-place team finish at the Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 13. Posting collegiate personal records, senior Gabi Barrera took fifth in the 5K (17:16.2) and graduate Megan Johnson grabbed eighth (17:24.6).
The men's team comes off a month-long training block after finishing fifth at the Cowboy Preview on August 30. Thobias Cheruiyot recorded first place at the meet with a career-best time (14:57.1), earning him SEC Freshman Runner of the Week honors on Sept. 3, and six more OU men clocked personal records.
"We're really excited for the race. The men are in a good place physically and mentally coming off the big September training block. It's going to a be a great field with some top-ranked regional and national teams," added Co-Head Cross Country Coach Jay Weaver. "This is going to be a great test to see where we're at currently and will drive our focus and momentum over the coming weeks."
The men's field is host to three nationally-ranked teams per USTFCCCA's coaches' poll, No.4 Northern Arizona, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 30 Michigan State, and 13 more regionally-ranked teams.
Three Sooners will race for the first time in the Crimson and Cream at the Joe Piane Invitational: freshmen Abby Jepchirchir and Leah Jeruto on the women's side and graduate transfer Daniel Nickell Jr. for the men.
Weaver noted, "They've all been eager to get back on the course and compete. I'm excited to see how we stack up."
Live results from the Joe Piane Invitational are available via PT Timing.
Joe Piane Invitational Information
Date: Friday, October 4
Women's 5K: 10:30 a.m. ET
Men's 8K: 11:15 a.m. ET
Venue: Burke Golf Course, Notre Dame, Ind.
Live Results: PT Timing
OU Men Competing: Sam Boyer, Colin Caso, Thobias Cheruiyot, Joshua Cherry, Peter Makuei, Fernando Morales, Daniel Nickell Jr., Logan Seger, Jack Vincent
OU Women Competing: Gabi Barrera, Nicole Clifford, Sophie Coughlin, Grace Hanson, Abby Jepchirchir, Leah Jeruto, Megan Johnson, Peyton McQuillan, Kiera Snyder
CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS
For more information on Oklahoma Track & Field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross Country
Distance
/ Cross CountryHighlights: OU Women's Cross Country at Big 12 Championships
Friday, October 28
Highlights: OU Men's Cross Country at Big 12 Championships
Friday, October 28
Faith and Running
Monday, November 30
The Year That Was - Cross Country
Monday, March 23
