Jones Posts NCAA Automatic Qualifying Time in the 200

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The last time she ran on this track, OU senior LaVerne Jones became a two-time All-American, the first Sooner woman to earn individual All-America honors in two events since 1981. When she returned to the track Friday for the Razorback-Tyson Invitational, Jones earned a return trip to the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

Jones finished fourth in the 200 in one of the day's feature races, posting an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 23.47. The winner of the race, Veronica Campbell of Arkansas, ran a 22.51, the fastest time in the world to date. She and Jones were in the first heat of the race.

Jones finished second in the 60-meter dash Friday night with a 7.34. Both her time in the final and her time in the prelim were provisional qualifying marks. She already has a better time in the 60 this season with a 7.31.

OU freshman Jessica Eldridge finished fourth in the seeded mile with a 4:45.10. The time is an NCAA provisional mark and cuts two seconds off her previous season best.

OU sophomore DaBryan Blanton, the top-ranked 60-meter sprinter in the country, kept his unbeaten streak alive through the prelims, winning his heat. He then finished third in the final with a 6.66. Both times were NCAA provisional marks. His best time in the 60 this season is a 6.62.

On Saturday, the OU men's distance medley relay will compete in the invitational event. The race is scheduled for 1:15 p.m.

OKLAHOMA RESULTS - RAZORBCK-TYSON INVITATIONAL
MEN
60-meter dash (final): 3. DaBryan Blanton, 6.66; (prelims) 5. Blanton, 6.73
200-meter dash: 48. Josh Scott, 22.71
800-meter run (seeded): 12. Aldwyn Sappleton, 1:51.79
Mile run (unseeded): 7. Salah Hussein, 4:12.82; 10. Jason Coleman, 4:15.29
3000-meter (seeded): 2. Silverus Kimeli, 8:16.14; 9. Joe McNair, 8:24.41
3000-meter (unseeded): 14. Blake Culp, 8:36.30
5000-meter (unseeded): 9. Jimmy Buchanan, 14:51.97
60-meter hurdles (prelims): 32. David Wright, 8.33
1600-meter relay: 14. Oklahoma (Dwayne Duhaney, Robert Smith, Dax Thomas, Caleb Turner), 3:19.09
Pole vault: 2. Robin Hanna, Oklahoma TC, 16-8.75; 3. Scott Martin, 16-8.75
Invitational pole vault: T-9. Austin Landreth, 17-0.75; 12. Mike Westlund, Oklahoma TC, 17-0.75
High jump: 16. Jon McMillian, 6-6.75
Long jump: 8. Cory Crosby, 23-4.5; 17. Robert Smith, 22-1
Triple jump: Robert Smith, 49-3.75

WOMEN
60-meter dash (final): 2. LaVerne Jones, 7.34 [NCAA provisional qualifying mark]; (prelims) 2. Jones, 7.32 [NCAA provisional qualifying mark]; 17. Yolanda Goff, 7.62
200-meter dash: 4. Jones, 23.47 [NCAA automatic qualifying mark]; 28. Goff, 24.61
400-meter dash: 46. Terrika Warren, 58.91; 49. Natasha Franklin, 59.66
800-meter run (unseeded): 7. Nicola Maye, 2:09.90; 19. Kristi Cook, 2:16.49
Mile (unseeded): 3. Catherine Odell, 4:53.89
Mile (seeded): 4. Jessica Eldridge, 4:45.10 [NCAA provisional qualifying mark]; 12. Maye, 4:57.15
3000-meter run (unseeded): 16. Jackie Dubois, 10:35.65
60-meter hurdles (prelims): 17. LaDonna Moore, 8.79; 27. Cicely Williams, 9.05; 36. Megan Hawkins, 9.26
1600-meter relay: 13. Oklahoma (Kristi Cook, Terrika Warren, Kelsey Strecker, Jessica Talton), 4:00.18
High jump: T-11. Kelsey Moore, 5-5
Pole vault: T-9. Leslie Dunlap, 12-1.5; T-14. Jennifer Plank, 12-1.5; 16. Devon Fox, 12-1.5
Triple jump: 20. LaDonna Moore, 37-10