Oklahoma State Men’s Cross Country Wins National Title

Keep count, Oklahoma State fans. It’s now five national titles for Cowboy cross country, and 53 NCAA titles across all sports for Oklahoma State.

OSU’s men’s cross country team claimed its first NCAA championship since 2012 on Saturday morning in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Cowboys dominated with 49 points. According to NCAA Stats, 49 points was the lowest team score to win the national championship in 18 years.

THE COWBOYS HAVE DONE IT!!! CHAMPIONS!!!#NCAAXC x 🎥 ESPNU / @run4okstate pic.twitter.com/mxE3E1nFKT

— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) November 18, 2023

Denis Kipngetich, a freshman from Kapsabet, Kenya, was the Cowboys’ highest individual finisher in fourth place. Brian Musau, another freshman from Kenya, was next to cross the finish line for the Pokes, coming ninth and leading a pack of Cowboys that also included Fouad Messaoudi (10th), Victor Shitsama (12th) and Alex Maier (15th).

Defending national champion and top seed Northern Arizona finished in second with 71 points. Last year in Stillwater, Northern Arizona narrowly beat OSU for the title in a tiebreaker with 83 points. Northern Arizona had won six of the past seven men’s cross country titles.

“A lot of things went right,” OSU coach Dave Smith said. “A lot of hard work by these guys. I think just belief in themselves, staying calm, staying poised. As the season went on, we’re seeing great results. Honestly, let me just say, what NAU has done over the last seven years, to me, is unbelievable. I can’t imagine the pressure of reloading, coming back year after year after year, being in the hunt. To beat a team like that, one of the legendary teams in NCAA history in any sport, is an incredible honor.”

The Cowgirls also finished on the podium in third place as a team behind North Carolina State and Northern Arizona, respectfully.