Waytula Wins Her Division At The USATF Pole Vault Summit

Jan. 19, 2003

RENO, Nev. - On a day when their Sooner teammates were hosting the season opening home indoor meet, eight University of Oklahoma pole vaulters were making headlines of their own in the USA Track and Field Pole Vault Summit. The competition, which drew more than 1,800 vaulters, concluded late Saturday night.

Junior Mary Waytula posted a career best of 11-1.75 to win the women's college division 6 title. She and Sooner teammate, redshirt freshman Jennifer Plank, were among six vaulters who cleared the same height. Waytula was declared the winner based on number of misses. Plank finished fifth in the division and her effort also was a collegiate career best. Waytula, in her third year with the program, is in her second year as a vaulter.

Sophomore Lindsey Bourne just missed a career best with her 12-3.5 in the women's college 3 division. She finished tied for fourth with that mark. Freshman Devon Fox opened her Sooner collegiate career with a 12th-place finish in the women's college 4 division. She cleared 11-7.75, establishing a collegiate career mark for the former Norman North state champion.

For junior Leslie Dunlap the results were not as successful. After finishing fourth in the women's collegiate division a year ago, she cleared 11-9.75 in the competition on Saturday. Final placings in her division were not available as of Sunday.

For the Sooner men, sophomore Austin Landreth finished eighth in the men's college 1 division with a 16-10.75. Senior Robin Hanna was ninth in men's college 2 with a 16-3. Senior Michael Westlund tried to compete but had to withdraw because of an injury he had suffered in practice last week.

Former Sooner Michael McNamara, who won the collegiate elite division a year ago, finished third in the men's open 1 division with a vault of 17-6.5.

The Sooner performances came one day after their event coach, Tom Williams, was named the USA TF Collegiate Pole Vault Coach of the Year.

OU returns to action Friday when they travel to the Missouri Southern/Radio Shack Invitational in Joplin, Mo.