Denis Kipngetich takes second in 10,000 Meters; Steven Schmidt leads Decathlon after first day of Big 12 Championships

May 15, 2026 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track

TUCSON, Ariz. – Oklahoma State men's and women's outdoor track & field kicked off the Big 12 Outdoor Championships Thursday in Tucson, Ariz., headlined by Cowgirl dominance in the Hammer Throw.

In the first scored event of the weekend, Cowgirl true freshman Burklie Burton stole the show, winning her first Big 12 title in the Hammer Throw with a massive personal-best throw of 67.99 meters, a mark that moves her up to second on the program's all-time list and ninth in the NCAA this year. Burton is just the second Cowgirl in program history to win a Big 12 championship in the Hammer Throw, joining Delissa McLean in 2005.

In the same event, senior Rachel Neaves closed out her Big 12 championships career with a third-place throw of 63.90 meters. Right behind her was another Cowgirl in freshman Rylee Jenkins, who placed fourth with a toss of 62.02 meters. Sutton Howard also made the final and placed ninth overall with a personal-best throw of 57.34 meters.

After earning three of the top four places on the podium, the Cowgirls came away with 21 points in the event, making it two straight years OSU has scored the most points in the Hammer Throw on the women's side.

On the track, Laban Kipkemboi paced his way in the men's 1,500-meter prelim with a time of 3:45.08, taking first place and qualifying for the final set for Saturday night. The tandem of Oliver Patton and Alex Riley also qualified for the final with times of 3:47.93 and 3:51.52, respectively.

Big 12 indoor Mile champion Billah Jepkirui qualified through the women's 1,500-meter prelim with a time of 4:16.44 and the second fastest qualifying time on the day. Jepkirui will look to win her third Big 12 title of the calendar year and second career 1,500 Meter title Saturday. Teammate Maureen Cherotich also qualified for Saturday's final with a run of 4:23.04.

In the men's 10,000 Meters, Denis Kipngetich earned the Cowboys eight points with a second-place finish and a time of 29:23.30. This marks the third consecutive year Kipngetich has received All-Big 12 honors and the second year earning the honor in the 10,000 Meters.

In the men's Decathlon, senior Steven Schmidt leads the field through the first day with 4,051 points after five of 10 events. Schmidt took first place in the High Jump and Shot Put, adding personal bests in the Shot Put, 100 Meters, Long Jump and 400 Meters.

On the women's side in the Heptathlon, defending Big 12 champion Annie Molenhouse sits in third place with 3,617 points after winning the 200 Meters in the final event of the day. Molenhouse has not finished outside the top six in any event so far, with fifth, sixth, fifth and first-place finishes. She is also well ahead of her school record pace set earlier this season at the Mt. SAC Relays in California. Teammate Katie Chapman also sits in scoring position as she is in sixth place with 3,442 points at the end of the first day.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls return to action Friday for the second day of the Big 12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT. The entirety of the meet is streamed live on ESPN+, with live results found here.

For more information on the Cowboys and Cowgirls, continue to check back with okstate.com.

Men's Individual Results
Decathlon (through five of ten events)
1. Steven Schmidt – 4,051 points
100 Meters – (7) 11.12
Long Jump – (5) 7.24 m/23'9
Shot Put – (1) 13.68 m/44'10.75"
High Jump – (1) 2.06 m/6'9
400 Meters – (13) 50.81
10. Cooper Moore – 3,860 points
100 Meters – (5) 10.99
Long Jump – (9) 6.93 m/22'9
Shot Put – (10) 12.76 m/41'10.50"
High Jump – (8) 1.94 m/6'4.25"
400 Meters – (10) 50.37
15. Crayton Shaw – 3,484 points
100 Meters – (14) 11.33
Long Jump – (16) 20'3.50"
Shot Put – (9) 12.77 m/41'10.75"
High Jump – (16) 1.76 m/5'9.25"
400 Meters – (8) 49.82
1,500 Meters – Prelim
1. Laban Kipkemboi – 3:45.08 Q
10. Oliver Patton – 3:47.93 q
15. Alex Riley – 3:51.52 Q
16. Keegan Thomas – 3:51.54
19. Ayden Granados – 3:52.66
20. Matthew Thomas – 3:52.80
22. Nate Stadtlander – 3:53.16
30. David Mora – 4:03.06
200 Meters – Prelim
22. Carter Wilkerson – 20.84
400 Meter Hurdles – Prelim
15. Ben Currence – 53.98
10,000 Meters – Final
2. Denis Kipngetich – 29:23.30
13. Brian Musau – 30:43.87
14. Will Muirhead – 30:47.47
15. Will Conway – 30:57.27

Team Scores (Through three of 21 events)

No. 24 Iowa State – 22 points
No. 12 Kansas State – 20 points
Arizona – 18 points
BYU – 16 points
Cincinnati – 14 points

T6. No. 20 Oklahoma State – 8 points
T6. No. 13 Texas Tech – 8 points

Women's Individual Results
Heptathlon (through four of seven events)
3. Annie Molenhouse – 3,617 points
100 Meter Hurdles – (5) 13.64
High Jump – (6) 1.70 m/5'7
Shot Put – (5) 12.68 m/41'7.25"
200 Meters – (1) 23.53
6. Katie Chapman – 3,442 points
100 Meter Hurdles – (6) 13.72
High Jump – (15) 1.61 m/5'3.25"
Shot Put – (2) 13.32 m/43'8.50"
200 Meters – (11) 24.56
14. Jamila Isman – 3,195 points
100 Meter Hurdles – (17) 14.48
High Jump – (21) 1.55 m/5'1
Shot Put – (4) 13.12 m/43'0.50"
200 Meters – (18) 25.18
16. Elise Eikeland – 3,168 points
100 Meter Hurdles – (14) 14.21
High Jump – (14) 1.61 m/5'3.25"
Shot Put – (16) 10.51 m/34'5.75"
200 Meters – (13) 24.76
Hammer Throw – Final
1. Burklie Burton – 67.99 m/223'0 (No. 2 in program history)
3. Rachel Neaves – 63.90 m/209'8
4. Rylee Jenkins – 62.02 m/203'6
9. Sutton Howard – 57.34 m/188'1
1,500 Meters – Prelim
2. Billah Jepkirui – 4:16.44 Q
10. Maureen Cherotich – 4:23.04 q
15. Aubrey O'Connell – 4:25.88
22. Mandeep Sangha – 4:33.52
25. Lauren Ping – 4:34.81
30. Colleen Stegmann – 4:39.42
400 Meter Hurdles – Prelim
11. Kalen Goodman – 58.75
10,000 Meters – Final
10. Gentry Turner – 35:09.16

Team Scores (through three of 21 events)