Completed Event: Track and Field at Battle on the Bayou on April 3, 2026 ,
Final
Track and Field
at Battle on the Bayou
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Finish Second In 1600-Meter Relay
March 11, 2000 | Track and Field
March 11, 2000
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Senior Michael Blackwood ran a 45.8 split on the final leg of the men's 1600-meter relay as OU finished second to Texas Christian in the 2000 NCAA Indoor Track Championship. TCU finished with a 3:06.69 while the Sooners finished with a 3:06.99. The competition was held before a facility-record crowd of 5,350 at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
Sooner co-head coach Rodney Price protested the race. According to Price, LaBoris Bean, who was running OU's third leg, was pushed from the track as he rounded a curve. The marshall on that curve was writing down another violation and did not see what had happened to Bean. The NCAA Track Committee has a policy of not reviewing videotape so the protest was denied.
Raoul Harvey opened the relay for the Sooners and his 46.8 split had the Sooners in a tight battle for second and third. Michael Jackson ran the second leg and it was a battle between TCU's Anthony Amatine, Jackson and LSU's Deryell Patterson for first place. After the second hand off, the LSU runner dropped the baton, turning the race into a battle between the Sooners and TCU. Bean and TCU's Kendrick Campbell continued to battle the entire 400 meters before Bean handed off to Blackwood. Blackwood kept it close but couldn't make up the difference.
"We're disappointed by finishing second but I am pleased with how we ran," Price added. "Everyone ran very well and the atmosphere here was great. We've got a great group of guys who are long-legged and we will just great ready for the outdoor season. There's less contact in outdoor and we will go after the national title again."
Harvey, Michael Jackson, Bean and Blackwood earned All-America honors for the second-place finish.
In the team race, Arkansas finished first on the men's side and UCLA edged South Carolina for the women's title. The Sooner men finished tied for 19th with eight points.
OU's other competitors on the second day of competition failed to score. Pole vaulter Michael Westlund finished 12th with a 17-4.5 while Michael McNamara failed to clear the opening height of 16-10.75.
The Sooners will open outdoor competition on Friday when the multi-event performers travel to Texas A&M for the A&M Multis. The full team will open outdoor competition on March 25 at LSU.
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