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
Sooner Vaulter Michael Westlund Earns All-America Track Honors
June 01, 2000 | Track and Field
June 1, 2000
DURHAM, N.C. - Redshirt freshman Michael Westlund tied for eighth in the pole vault and earned All-America honors in the process during action Thursday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The meet is being held at Wallace Wade Stadium on the campus of Duke University.
Westlund cleared on his first attempt at the first two heights, then missed three attempts at 17-8.75. He was credited with a successful vault at 17-4.5 and tied with Matt Phillips of Washington for one half point in the team standings.
Sophomore Michael McNamara missed on all three attempts at the opening height of 16-10.75.
Senior Michael Blackwood led the rest of the Sooners, posting the fastest qualifying time in the 400-meter dash with a 45.17. He won the first heat, then waited to see what the two other heat winners would post. Avard Moncur of Auburn won the second heat with a time of 45.43 and Baylor's Brandon Couts won the third heat with a time of 45.34. Blackwood and Couts battled in the Big 12 final on May 21 with Blackwood winning by .03 seconds. Derrick Brew of LSU, ranked second behind Blackwood coming into the meet, didn't qualify for the final.
Both men's and women's 1600-meter relays qualified for Saturday's final. The OU men ran a 3:03.28, a season best, to edge Baylor by .01 to win the second heat and take the second fastest time into the final. Arkansas won the first heat with the best time of 3:02.02. Raoul Harvey opened for the Sooners, then Michael Jackson got OU into the thick of things. LaBoris Bean handled the third leg and got OU closer to the lead, then had a great handoff to Blackwood who brought OU home first.
The Sooner women, ranked ninth heading into the meet, will take the fourth best qualifying time into the final. OU posted a season best with a 3:34.86. Staneshia Bell led off for OU and she got the Sooners into the lead. LaKisha Robinson and Alicia Emanuel kept the Sooners near the front and senior Jennifer Fontenot ran the best anchor split of her Sooner career to bring OU in second in the heat.
"I was so pleased for our student-athletes," said co-head coach Rodney Price. "We talked about finishing first or second to get into the final and both teams did exactly what they had to do. I am so pleased for Jennifer. This is her last time around the NCAA and she will have the opportunity to go out as an All-American. We just have to get the baton around the track. Her 52.2 split tonight showed what a senior leader can do.
"Raoul started us off well and then Jackson battled and fought to keep us in the hunt. LaBoris passed up some other teams and the handoff he had to Michael put us in a position to win the heat. This was a great effort by both teams and we are in great shape to add nine All-Americans on Saturday," Price added.
Fontentot ran a 53.40 to finish fifth in her heat, 12th overall, in the 400-meter dash semifinal. She was ranked 18th coming into the meet. She needed to finish in the top eight to earn a spot in Saturday's final.
Both relays and Blackwood in the 400-meter dash will compete Saturday night in the event finals. The top eight finishers will earn All-America honors.
Saturday, June 13
Friday, June 12
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
