Track Shows Promise at Outdoor Opener

TULSA The University of Oklahoma men's and women's track and field teams opened the first week of spring and the outdoor season to the sweet smell of success Saturday at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium.

Four Oklahoma athletes Chip Heuser, Scott Martin, Tijhanni Newton and Dermillo Wise bested the NCAA regional qualifying standard in their respective events at the Tulsa Invitational in what was a training session for many of the Sooners.

All-Americans Heuser and Martin placed 1-2 in the men's pole vault. Both cleared the RQS of 16 feet, 6.75 inches (5.05 meters) and called it a day.

Complete Results

Newton won the women's 400-meter dash, finishing in a personal best 54.48 seconds. She was followed by teammates Terrika Warren in third (58.54) and Ashley Harvey in fifth (59.16).

Wise (14.18) finished runner-up to Kansas' Julius Jiles (14.12), a 2005 national qualifier and All-Big 12 honoree, in the men's 110-meter high hurdles.

The Sooners' sprinters dominated the relays, winning both the men's and women's 4x100-meter events.

The men's squad of Ronnie Pines, Marcus Pugh, Josh Scott and Frankie Wright completed their race in 41.03.

The women's team of Leslie Cole, Yolanda Goff, Ashley Harris and Larica Urbina finished in 46.17.

OU alum Shomari Wilson swept the men's 100- and 200-meter dashes, clocking in at 10.75 and 21.70, respectively.

Underclassmen also revealed their potential with impressive efforts at the meet.

Freshman Leslie Cole (11.91) and junior Larica Urbina (12.03) raced to a 1-2 finish in the women's 100-meter dash. Senior Ashley Harris finished sixth (12.28).

Freshman Katherine Johnson won the women's high jump, leaping a best of 5-7.00 (1.70). Her mark was just five centimeters under the regional qualifying standard.

Junior Nicola Maye placed second in the women's 800-meter run, running two laps in 2:12.33.

Junior Davene Findlay earned second in the women's 100-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.45.

Oklahoma's throwers were in action for the first time in 2006. Cale Drumright posted the best result among the group, placing third in the javelin with a toss of 189-10 (57.86).

The Sooners continue the outdoor season Saturday, April 1, at the UT-Arlington Invitational.