Cheruiyot Finishes First, Johnson Places Second at Cowboy Preview

Friday, August 30

Stillwater, OK

University of Oklahoma

OSU Cowboy Preview

Cheruiyot Finishes First, Johnson Places Second at Cowboy Preview

August 30, 2024 | Cross Country

Results

STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Oklahoma men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2024 season Friday morning at OSU's Cowboy Preview in Stillwater, Okla. Freshman Thobias Cheruiyot finished first in the men's race and graduate transfer Megan Johnson earned second place for the OU women.

The men's team finished fifth in the 5K with 103 points and the women's squad placed fourth with 80 points. The preview's function is to condition runners for upcoming meets, and it served its purpose. All 15 Sooners posted career-best times, including seasoned OU veterans Fernando Morales, Colin Caso, Gabi Barrera and Erin O'Brien.

"I'm pleased with the effort from the group today. It was a good opportunity for the men to use an early-season meet as a workout. We'll continue to build and establish fitness as we head into a big training block and prepare for meets in October," said co-head cross country coach Jay Weaver. "It was a beautiful morning at one of the nicest courses in the country. It was amazing to see our entire coaching staff, sport administrators, support staff and a strong contingent of our track and field team make the early morning trip to support our men and women."

"Today was a solid start. The way the ladies worked together was impressive and we got affirmation that we are where we want to be at this point in the season," added co-head cross country coach, Anna Bearss. "We're primed to keep building fitness and we have more pieces to add to our lineup, so it's exciting to see that we can already compete well in a stacked field when we're far from our ceiling."

Cheruiyot recorded a 14:57.1 time in his cross country debut. Morales was Oklahoma's next-best finisher on the men's side, registering a time of 15:38.6.

Johnson posted a time of 10:37.7 for her first in the crimson and cream. Barrera clocked 10:50.7 for the Oklahoma women's second-best finish.

Results from the Cowboy Preview are available via Red Dirt Running.

The Sooners will take two weeks off before heading to College Station, Texas, for the Texas A&M Invitational on Friday, Sept. 19.

OU INDIVIDUAL FINISHERS

Men's 5K - Fifth – 103 points
Thobias Cheruiyot (14:57.1)
Fernando Morales (15:38.6)
Jack Vincent (15:38.7)
Peter Makuei (15:50.7)
Colin Caso (15:53.5)
Logan Seger (16:10.5)
Joshua Cherry (16:22.4)

Women's 3K – Fourth – 80 points
Megan Johnson (10:37.7)
Gabi Barrera (10:50.8)
Erin O'Brien (11:07.4)
Kiera Snyder (11:14.3)
Peyton Benson (11:20.0)
Nicole Clifford (11:23.8)
Mary Van Dyke (11:39.7)
Kel McDavid (12:07.2)

CONNECT WITH THE SOONERS
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