Blanton Posts Automatic Qualifying Mark As Records Fall in Oklahoma Track Classic

DaBryan Blanton won the 60-meter dash with an NCAA qualifying mark of 6.62 to highlight the action in Saturday's Oklahoma Track Classic in front of crowd of more than 750 at the Mosier Indoor Center. Blanton posted an NCAA provisional mark in the prelims with a 6.70, then lowered his time in the final 30 minutes later. His time of 6.62 is the best time in the country to date.

The time by Blanton also set a meet and facility record, beating the mark set by Kim Collins of TCU in 2001.

Blanton's performance was just one of several highlights in the meet. It turned into a two team meet as Baylor outscored the Sooner men 41-37. The Bears also won the women's competition, outscoring OU 51.75 to 50.75. TCU was third in the men's team standings followed by Southern Methodist and Texas A&M. TCU also finished third in the women's team standings followed by Texas A&M and Southern Methodist.

OU senior LaVerne Jones won the women's 60, posting NCAA provisional qualifying times in the prelims and final. Her time in the prelim of 7.35 was the best time posted in the first round. She dropped her time of 7.31 in the final, missing the automatic qualifying mark by .01 seconds. Her time in the final also is the best time in the country to date.

A total of six meet records were set today. In addition to Blanton's and Jones' qualifying marks, three other NCAA provisional marks were set. Baylor's Jeremy Wariner, who set a meet record in the 400 with his winning time of 46.96, and Jerry Harris, who finished second in the 400, both posted NCAA provisional marks as did SMU's Hannes Hopley who won the shot put with a 63-3.5 (19.29 metric).

The Sooners got victories today from Nicola Maye, who doubled in the 800 and the mile; Jessica Eldridge, who won the 1000; the women's distance medley (Catherine Odell, Michelle Thomas, Kristi Cook and Eldrdige) with a meet record of 11:57.42; Leslie Dunlap in the pole vault; LaDonna Moore in the triple jump; Aldwyn Sappleton in the 600; and Scott Martin and Austin Landreth, who tied for first in the men's pole vault.

OU will travel to the Clemson Invitational next Saturday and return to Norman to host the J.D. Martin Invitational on January 31.