Denis Kipngetich Finishes Third in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships

(This story originated with Oklahoma State University athletic media relations and Mason Harbour.)

EUGENE, Ore. – Oklahoma State track & field opened competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships Wednesday, highlighted by Denis Kipngetich, who secured first team All-America honors in the 10K with his third-place finish overall.

Kipngetich joins a long history of Cowboy All-Americans in the 10,000 Meters, becoming the ninth Cowboy in program history to earn the honor. OSU has also now had a first team All-American in the 10K in each of the past three seasons, with Isai Rodriguez (5th, 2023) and Alex Maier (2nd, 2022) accomplishing the feat.

The Cowboy freshman wraps up an incredible debut season in the orange and black, with first team All-America honors in both cross country and outdoors, as well as second team honors indoors. His fourth-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships led the Cowboys to their fifth NCAA title in program history in November.In the same race, Maier earned second team All-America honors with his ninth-place finish overall.

The Cowboy senior will double back on Friday night in the 5,000 Meters, where he will race in an OSU uniform for the final time in his illustrious career. Freshman Adisu Guadie placed 22nd overall in his outdoor championship debut.

Earlier in the day, several Cowboys competed in semifinal action in their respective events. Alex Stitt ran the ninth-fastest time on the day in the 1,500 Meters, but failed to earn a time qualifier as 11 of the 12 men in his heat were faster than the first heat.

In the Steeplechase, senior Victor Shitsama ran a patient race near the rear of the field and looked to have locked up an automatic qualifying spot to the final before hitting the last hurdle and falling just short of the final time qualifier.

Rounding out the night, the Cowboy 4x400 Meter Relay squad of Jordon Smith, Blake Wynne, Caio Almeida and DJ McArthur entered the competition with the slowest seed time in the field, but defeated ten teams to place 14th overall with their time of 3:06.33. The quartet was the first 4x4 to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the event for OSU since the turn of the century.

Pokes Report

Taylor Roe runs un the Women’s 10,000 meters.

Action resumes tomorrow, with the Cowgirls taking center stage. Defending NCAA Outdoor 800 Meter Runner-Up Gabija Galvydyte competes in her semifinal before a trio of Cowgirls run in the 10,000 Meter Final.

The entirety of the NCAA Outdoor Championships are broadcast live on ESPN2, with field events having their own dedicated streams on ESPN+. Live results for the meet can be found here.

Remaining Competition schedule (all times CT):

Thursday

Women’s 800 Meter Semis – Gabija Galvydyte (9:14 p.m.)

Women’s 10,000 Meter Final – Gabby Hentemann, Molly Born, Taylor Roe (10:08 p.m.)

Friday

Women’s Heptathlon first three events – Bailey Golden, Olivija Vaitaityte (3:00 p.m.)

Women’s Heptathlon 200 Meters – Golden, Vaitaityte (9:43 p.m.)

Men’s 5,000 Meter Final – Maier, Brian Musau (9:55 p.m.)

Saturday

Women’s Heptathlon Long Jump and Javelin Throw – Golden, Vaitaityte (12:30 and 1:45 p.m.)

Women’s Triple Jump Final – Winny Bii (4:50 p.m.)

Women’s 800 Meter Final* - Galvydyte (5:44 p.m.)

Women’s Heptathlon 800 Meters – Golden, Vaitaityte (6:13 p.m.)

Women’s 5,000 Meter Final – Roe (6:25 p.m.)

* = If advanced through semifinal round

Men's Individual Results

1500 Meters - Semifinals

9. Alex Stitt - 3:38.90

3000 Meter Steeplechase - Semifinals

14. Victor Shitsama - 8:38.30

800 Meters - Semifinals

19. Mehdi Yanouri - 1:49.09

10,000 Meters - Final

3. Denis Kipngetich - 28:10.25

9. Alex Maier - 28:14.81

22. Adisu Guadie - 29:57.66

4x400 Meters - Semifinals

14. Blake Wynne, Caio Almeida, DJ McArthur, Jordon Smith - 3:06.33

Men’s Team Standings After Day One

1.  USC - 19 Points

2. Georgia - 13 Points

3. California - 12.5 Points

4. Kansas - 12 Points

4. Ole Miss - 12 Points

T14. Oklahoma State - 6 Points