OSU's Athlete of the Year!

[Mr. Orange-Power]

→Oklahoma State runner German Fernandez was named Midwest Region Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Fernandez captured several national awards during his freshman season — and he might win more as he competes today in the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

He won Big 12 titles recently in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters.

[76374_Poke]

Have you ever had any individual national champions in track and field?

[Go Pokes]

In the mid-late 80s, Jackie Goodman won two distance titles ... J.W. Mashburn won two titles in the late 50s in the 440-yard dash.

There are likely some others as OSU has produced a number of Olympians in T&F ...

[FloridaPoke]

German won his semi-final heat.

[Poohness]

Did Joe Dial ever win a NC in the pole vault?

[FloridaPoke]

From the ORU site where he is now head coach.

A native of Marlow, Okla., Dial attended Oklahoma State University, where he was a four-time NCAA and six-time Big Eight Conference pole vault champion. Dial was the first collegiate pole vaulter to clear 19 feet, as he broke the Big Eight Conference record at the 1985 championships after vaulting 19’01.5”. He was inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame in 2002.

[legelegel]

Short and skinny...and one of the most aggressive run-ups in the pole vault.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeDI93A477g&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etPIyI1FKMI

[andyokstate]

Dial was awesome. Too bad he came along the same time as Sergei Bubka from the Soviet Union. That guy was insanely good.

[cactusjack]

You know you are getting old when someone drops a Sergei Bubka on you, and you know who he's talking about!