Completed Event: Cross Country at Cowboy Preview on August 29, 2025 , , 2nd - M/3rd - W
Final
Cross Country
at Cowboy Preview
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Louisville, Ky.
9:00 AM
University of Oklahoma
at
Pre Nationals Invitational
Four for OU Place in Top Half at Louisville
October 17, 2015 | Cross Country
NORMAN - Four Sooners finished in the top half of a competitive 311- runner field at the Pre Nationals Invitational in Louisville as OU finished 28th in the 45-team field. The race was run on the same course that will host the NCAA Championship in November.
For the second consecutive time this season, junior Brittany Tretbar led the way for Oklahoma, finishing 32nd - 29th in team scoring - with at time of 20:34.8 on the 6K course.
Sophomores Belle Wallace placed 101st/97th (21:09.2) and Sarah Scott finished 144th/140th (21:25.4), respectively, for the Sooners.
OU finished ahead of 17 teams including Big 12 rival Texas, 27th in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. Texas was one of eight nationally ranked teams competing this weekend. While the Sooners gave a competitive effort, the team and coach believe they could have run better.
In her opening race of the season, Elena Arriaza pushes ahead of other runners at the Pre Nationals Invitational in Louisville on Oct. 17.
"It was not exactly the result we were looking for," said Jason Dunn, associate head coach for cross country. "I think we still have a young and inexperienced team. It was hard because we got caught in the back and weren't able to move ahead to places where we should've been.
"It's difficult to move ahead if you don't get out well in such a large field and you get caught behind a bunch of people," he continued. "It was a good experience for our team to go against a field like that."
Elena Arriaza, who was OU's fourth scorer to finish in the top half of the field, placed 153rd/149th (21:28.9) in her first competition of the season. Dunn also thinks her performance will improve as the team heads into the championship season.
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"It was not a great first race experience for her for the season, given her past accomplishments and what we expect of her," Dunn said. "She is capable of running better and we expect to see that at conference and going forward."
While the team fell short of its overall goal, OU did get a spark from freshman Grace Barber. Barber finished 267th/263rd with a time of 22:17.7 and her performance rounded out the team score for the Sooners. As a freshman, she has competed in nearly every meet for OU this season and has been in the top five for the Sooners the last two meets.
"She's doing a nice job considering this is her first 6K," Dunn said. "It's certainly very good experience. It's nice to see a freshman be in position to contribute."
Sooners Abbey Mace and Bryce Perry also ran for OU. Mace finished with a time of 22:18.8 and Perry ran a 22:42.7.
OU had additional entries in the open 6K race. Sophomore Sophia Fernald placed 47th (22:46.8) and freshman Morgan Long placed 60th (22:56.5) to end the day for Oklahoma.
Even after a disappointing day, the Sooners are confident as they begin to prepare for the postseason.
"We're still in a position to move up in the conference and we want to be better than fifth this year," said Dunn. "We'll get back get to work and use this experience and improve. Two more weeks will make a big difference."
The Sooners return to competition on Oct. 31 in Stillwater for the Big 12 Championships.
For more information on OU cross country check out SoonerSports.com.
Players Mentioned
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Friday, October 28
Friday, October 28
Monday, November 30
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