WACO, Texas — Oklahoma State's 15th-ranked women's cross country team placed second with 53 points at the Big 12 Championships on Friday, at the Bear Run Cross Country Course.
The point total was the best in school history at the championships, while the Cowgirls matched their best finish. OSU also finished second in 2001.
With 38 points, Colorado defended its Big 12 title for the seventh consecutive season, while Christine Bolf won the individual title with a time of 20:24 for the Buffaloes. Rounding out the top-five team finishes were 20th-ranked Baylor, Missouri and Nebraska at third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
OSU was impressive with five runners finishing in the top 20, while being led by four All-Big 12 performers that included Mary Davies, Valentina Medina, Barbora Kuncova and Nina Andersson.
Davies, a sophomore from Whangaei, New Zealand, was the first Cowgirl to cross the finish line as she placed fifth with a time of 20:48.
The Pokes were then led by seniors Medina and Kuncova, who have consistently placed in the top five for the team this season. The duo ran well at their last conference championships by placing seventh and 12th.
Andersson, a native of Helsingborg, Sweden, exploded into OSU's top five for the third time this season. The freshman sensation ran the 6-kilometer course with a time of 21:18 to finish 13th.
"Nina has been the most improved runner for us this season," Cowgirl head coach Rene Sepulveda said. "She started out as our eighth runner this season and is now our fourth runner.
"Her potential is exciting and she is the most talented freshman that I have ever coached."
Tomankova, sophomore from Radinov, Czech Republic, pulled through for OSU for the second straight season at the championships, as she took the final scoring spot for the team with a 16th-place finish. Tomankova missed making the All-Big 12 team by one position, as the top 15 finishers earn the honors.
The Cowgirls then got added support from junior Eva Slavikova, freshman Anissa Angelosante, senior Michelle Prowse and redshirt freshman Brittany Hill, as they finished 21st, 23rd, 34th and 71st, respectively.
Sepulveda believes that his squad has evolved into one of the stronger teams in the Big 12, as shown by the squads fifth, sixth and seventh runners placing higher than any other schools Nos. 5, 6 or 7 runners.
"We feel like we have the most quality depth-wise in the Big 12," Sepulveda said. "It shows that the future of our program is bright and that we want to be recognized as one of top teams in the country."
OSU will return to action, Nov. 14, when they travel to the NCAA Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.
"With the depth we have, we are looking forward to regionals because we will compete against teams such as sixth-ranked Illinois and 11th-ranked Minnesota."