Upcoming Event: Track and Field versus OU Winter Field Fest Invitational on December 5, 2025

April 21, 2005 | Track and Field
Arkansas, after winning the 2005 NCAA Indoor title and opening the outdoor season as the top ranked men's team, remained as the top ranked team in the third week. On the women's side, Texas remained in the top spot for a second consecutive week.
The poll projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and NCAA qualifying competitions from across the country. The projection is generated by the Dandy Dozen, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event.
OU finished the 2005 indoor season ranked 12th after opening the season unranked. The poll proved to be an accurate prediction of NCAA finish as the Sooner men finished 12th in the 2005 NCAA Indoor, OU's best team finish since 1997.
The Sooners are one of four Big 12 men's teams ranked in the top 25. Other ranked teams include Texas (12th); Baylor (tied for 23rd) and Texas Tech (25th).
OU junior DaBryan Blanton, who repeated as NCAA Indoor champion at 60 meters on March 12, is ranked third on the Dandy Dozen list in the 100 for the third consecutive week. Blanton, who won the 200-meter dash at the John Jacobs Invitational last Saturday, opened the season ranked third in the 100. His time in the 200 at the John Jacobs met the NCAA Regional qualifying standard. On April 9,he finished second in the invitational 100 at the Texas Relays in a time that broke the regional standard but the wind was higher than allowable.
The factors used to build the Dandy Dozen include quantitative values that measure performances in past major competitions (such as conference championships, national championships and Olympic competition), durability and freedom from injuries, demonstrated ability to compete well in multiple rounds of competition, ability in other events, head-to-head competition with other top athletes, and personal or seasonal bests.
Sophomore Scott Martin is ranked third in the pole vault in the third Dandy Dozen list after opening the season in fourth place. Martin, who finished second at the Big 12 Championships and was fourth at the NCAA Indoor with a career best 18-0.5, finished second at the Texas Relays in section A of the men's pole vault with a 17-8.50, then finished second in the pole vault at the John Jacobs Invitational last Saturday. Both marks beat the NCAA Regional standard and his mark at Texas ranks as the sixth best in school history.
Senior Aldwyn Sappleton is ranked ninth in the 800 after ranking eighth the first two weeks. Last Saturday, Sappleton qualified for the NCAA Regional meet with his time of 1:49.63 at the John Jacobs Invitational. Sappleton finished eighth in the indoor 800 at the 2005 NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors in an indoor individual event for the first time in his Sooner career. He also won the 2005 Big 12 Indoor title in the 800 in a meet record time.
The Sooners will send competitors to two meets this weekend. The majority of the squad will head to Waco, Texas, for the Michael Johnson Invitational on Saturday. The short sprinters and 400-meter relay teams will compete in the TCU Invitational in Fort Worth on Saturday.