# Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's track and field

The Oklahoma State Cowgirls track and field program represents the Oklahoma State University in the sport of track and field. The program competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big 12. The Cowgirl host their home indoor and outdoor meets at the OSU Track and Field Complex, both located on the university's Stillwater, Oklahoma campus. The Oklahoma State track and field teams are currently led by head coach Dave Smith.

## History
### Indoor History

The Oklahoma State women's indoor track and field team was organized in 1977, first competing in the Big Eight Conference. The Cowgirls would make their first NCAA Championship appearance in 1984, scoring a single point and claiming a 39th place finish. Christine McMiken became the first Oklahoma State individual national champion in 1985, when she won the 3,000 meter title.
The team would claim two more individual national championships with Jackie Goodman in 1989 and Siri Alfheim in 2002, both in the 5,000 meters. However, the Cowgirls would struggle to be nationally competitive throughout the 1990's and 2000's, scoring just two top–5 conference finishes and only finishing as high nationally as 13th at the 1989 NCAA Championship, until Dave Smith was hired to lead the track and field program in 2009.
Immediately after Smith's hiring, Oklahoma State would break an eight year NCAA Championship drought, qualifying in 2010 and beginning a streak of 10 straight appearances in the NCAA Championship, which included the program's first national top–10 finish in 2016. In 2023, the Cowgirls would break through to win the first conference title in program history, edging out Texas 146–136.5 to win the Big 12 championship. A year later, Oklahoma State would score their best national finish in program history, scoring 27 points and finishing 8th at the 2024 NCAA Championship.

### Outdoor History

The Oklahoma State women's outdoor track and field team was organized in 1974, first competing in the Big Eight conference. The Cowgirls would make their first NCAA Championship appearance in 1984, where they would score eight points and finishing 45th. Oklahoma State would win their first individual national championship in 1989 with Jackie Goodman in the 10,000 meters.
Since moving to the Big 12, Oklahoma State has won two more individual national championships with Natalja Piliusina in 2013 and Sinclaire Johnson in 2019, both in the 1,500 meters. Additionally, the Cowgirls most successful season came in 2016, when Oklahoma State scored 24 points and earned a 12th place finish at the NCAA Championship, the best finish in program history.

## NCAA Individual Event Champions
### Indoor

| Year | Event | Athlete(s) |
| 1985 | 3,000 meters | Christine McMiken |
| 1989 | 5,000 meters | Jackie Goodman |
| 2002 | 5,000 meters | Siri Alfheim |
| 2016 | Mile | Kaela Edwards |
| 2022 | 3,000 meters | Taylor Roe |

### Outdoor

| Year | Event | Athlete(s) |
| 1989 | 10,000 meters | Jackie Goodman |
| 2013 | 1,500 meters | Natalja Piliusina |
| 2019 | 1,500 meters | Sinclaire Johnson |

## OSU Track and Field Complex

Built in 2013 at a cost of about $9 million, the complex features a nine-lane 400-meter track with a steeplechase turnout along with infield and adjacent areas for field events, including shot put, discus, hammer throw, pole vault, high jump and long jump.