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Track and Field
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Hosts Jacobs Invitational Saturday
April 12, 2006 | Track and Field
NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma hosts the 37th John Jacobs Invitational this week at Jacobs Field on the Norman campus. The high school meet begins Friday, April 14, and the collegiate meet concludes the event Saturday, April 15.
The meet will be the lone stop outside of Texas for many of the Sooners as OU travels to TCU, Rice, UT-Arlington and Texas for the Midwest Regional in the upcoming weeks.
Field and running events for Friday's high school meet begin at 9:30 a.m. Field events for Saturday's collegiate meet begin at 11 a.m. and running events begin at 4 p.m.
Related Article: Winchester Prepares for Double Duty
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Getting to Know the Sooner Coaching Staff
Martin Smith was announced as Oklahoma's sixth head track & field coach on June 30, 2005, and quickly assembled impressive staff of assistants to usher in the new era of Sooner track & field.
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John Jacobs Field
The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department completed a $3.5 million renovation of the John Jacobs Track in the spring of 2004. The project included a 25,000 square-foot building connecting the Mosier Indoor Practice Facility with the Everest Training Center. This new building includes track and field locker rooms, a sports medicine room and a video teaching room.
Additionally, the John Jacobs Track was altered and re-surfaced to include European Oval turns for a faster track and nine 48-inch lanes of embedded urethane surface. Other improvements included upgrades of field event areas, placing them directionally north/south and east/west to create the best wind conditions. Included in the re-design of the field event areas was the addition of walkways that allow spectators to get closer to the action of all field events.
New spectator seating for 2,000, new restrooms, concessions, a permanent scoreboard, sound system and the installation of championship lighting were also added to the championship facility.
Who to Watch...Portia Nash
With already a regional qualifying mark in the triple jump, Portia Nash has her eyes set on the same in the high jump and long jump this Saturday at the John Jacobs Invitational.
Nash became just the fourth Sooner woman all-time to triple jump 40 feet at the Texas Relays (April 7) with her leap of 40-9.00 (12.42), which ranks ninth among collegians in the Midwest region.
Double-duty is no big chore for the Douglasville, Ga., native, who also posted her season best long jump of 19-6.75 (5.96) the same afternoon.
Nash, who has competed once this year, has cleared 5-7.00 (1.70) in the high jump, just five centimeters from the regional qualifying mark in the event.
Expect Nash to continue progressing and surpass the qualifying standard consistently for the remainder of the outdoor season.
Oklahoma's Regional Qualifiers
OU has a total of 20 entries eligible for the NCAA Midwest Regional, hosted by the University of Texas, May 26-27. They are listed with their ranking in the Midwest as of April 11.
Women's 100-Meter Dash
5. Leslie Cole, Fr., 11.57
12. Larica Urbina, Jr., 11.73
Women's 200-Meter Dash
12. Leslie Cole, Fr., 23.92
Women's 400-Meter Dash
10. Tijhanni Newton, So., 54.48
Women's 800-Meter Run
4. Kristi Cook, Jr., 2:09.24
Women's 4x100-Meter Relay
7. Harris, Goff, Cole, Urbina, 45.05
Women's High Jump
7. Katherine Johnson, Fr., 1.75m
Women's Triple Jump
9. Portia Nash, Jr., 12.42m
Men's 100-Meter Dash
2. Marcus Pugh, So., 10.31
9. Ronnie Pines, Jr., 10.49
Men's 200-Meter Dash
10. Marcus Pugh, So., 21.11
Men's 800-Meter Run
4. Brayon Brown, So., 1:49.57
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles
6. Jason Stanley, Sr., 13.98
10. Tony Francis, Sr., 14.13
11. Dermillo Wise, Jr., 14.15
Men's 4x100-Meter Relay
5. Pines, Pugh, Wright, Scott, 39.95
Men's Pole Vault
4. Chip Heuser, So., 5.20m
4. Scott Martin, Jr., 5.20m
Men's Triple Jump
Tydree Lewis, So., 15.49m
Men's Shot Put
Kevin Bookout, Sr., 17.60m
Smith's Sooners Break Outdoor Record
It didn't take long for the Sooners to start showing success under first-year head coach Martin Smith during the indoor season, and they needed just one meet to continue during the outdoor season.
Four individuals -- Chip Heuser (pole vault), Scott Martin (pole vault), Tijhanni Newton (women's 400-meter dash) and Dermillo Wise (110-meter hurdles) -- bested the regional qualifying standard in their respective events at the Tulsa Invitational, an OU best for an opening weekend since the inception of the regional qualifier in 2003.
Prior to the 2003 season, provisional national qualifiers were determined. OU had four athletes meet provisional marks in its opening weekend of 2002.
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Bookout Returns to Team
A two-time All-American in the shot put, Kevin Bookout, who is a junior in track and field, returns to the team after the completion of his final season of eligibility in basketball.
The Stroud, Okla., native recorded a personal best in the shot put (61-9.50) en route to a seventh-place result at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last season. He placed eighth in 2003.
His personal best ranks second on OU's all-time performance chart. OU”s school record in the shot put was set by Ed Wade in 1987 at 63-8.25 (19.41).
Marcus' Marks
The blazing sun and 90-degree temperatures weren't the only elements blistering the Mike A. Myers Track during the Texas Relays.
Marcus Pugh's personal best run in the 100-meter dash of 10.31 likely did equal damage.
The sophomore's mark ranks 10th on OU's all-time performance list. He is the fastest Sooner not named DaBryan Blanton since Shomari Wilson ran 10.28 in 1999.
Pugh, who was an alternate on the U.S. 4x100 relay at the 2005 Junior Pan American Games, ranks fifth nationally among collegiate athletes.
What Can Brown Do For You?
As a freshman, Brayon Brown was nipping on the heels of All-American 800-meter runner Aldwyn Sappleton as the two teamed to run the first and third fastests indoor 800s in school history.
Alone as a sophomore Brown was hard-pressed to eclipse the 1:50 benchmark during the indoor season. However, his first run outdoors revived the spirit the Houston, Texas, native showed his first year with the Sooners.
Brown's 1:49.57 run at the Duke Invitational (April 8), gave him a personal best and the 11th fastest time in the nation.
With more to prove, a home-track advantage, and Sappleton back in the field this Saturday, Brown may set a new PR for the second straight week.
Stanley Has All The Tools
Jason Stanley has the ability to be one of the nation's premier hurdlers. Now, he just needs the luck.
Out of high school, Stanley was the Sooners' prize recruit. His first effort as a Sooner ended in victory and conference athlete of the week honors.
As a freshman in 2002, Stanley set the school record in the 60-meter hurdles but injuries ended his season. In 2003, he ran five provisional marks in his first six starts, but was once again injured for the season. The next year proved no different but, finally, in 2005 he was able to string a season together, placing third at the Big 12 indoor and 12th outdoors in the high hurdles events.
With only a season of outdoor eligibility remaining, Stanley is eager to deliver the results he seemed so promised to accomplish. With his 13.98 season best, he is ranked 22nd in the nation in the 110-meter high hurdles.
Johnson Thriving Outside
After posting a meager season best of 5-5.50 (1.64) in the high jump during her first indoor campaign, Katherine Johnson is thriving early in the outdoor season.
The freshman started the season with a win at the Tulsa Invitational (March 25) and a second (on attempts) at the UT-Arlington Invitational (April 1) with jumps of 5-7.00 (1.70). She nearly broke her personal best of 5-9 at the Texas Relays, finishing fourth (on attempts) with a regional qualifying mark of 5-8.75 (1.75).
One of only nine Sooner women all-time to reach 5-8.75 (1.75) and one of three in the last decade, only one of Johnson's opponents has cleared a greater height in competition so far in 2006.
Runs Like a Portia
Portia Nash has become the jack of all trades at Oklahoma -- as far a jumping is concerned.
Limited to just horizontal leaps during a successful indoor season, the junior college transfer added the high jump to her repertoire early in the outdoor schedule. Nash jumped 5-7.00 (1.70), nearly posting a regional qualifying mark her first try, at the Bobby Lane Arlington Invitational (April 1).
Though new for the Sooners, the added duty is all part of a day's work for Nash, who competed in all three events while at Barton County (Kan.) Community College.
Nash was the 2005 NJCAA National runner-up in the triple jump, fifth in high jump and sixth in long jump.
King Cole
Leslie Cole wasn't fooling around when she stepped on the track for the UT-Arlington Invitaitonal on April 1.
The freshman recorded regional qualifying marks and personal bests in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, becoming the first Sooner woman to achieve that honor this year.
The Idabel native dominated Oklahoma's class 4A high school ranks, winning two state titles in the 100 (2002 and 2003 and three in the 200 (2002-04).
Cole has quitely positioned herself the heir apparent to follow in the legacy of Sooner great Laverne Jones, who despite only competing in Division I for two seasons, became a six-time All-American.
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Cooking Up Success
Among the surprises to come out of the indoor season was junior Kristi Cook's performances in the 800-meter run.
After placing sixth at the Razorback Invitational, Cook put herself on the watch list of possible Big 12 scorers.
She did not disappoint as she placed seventh, running the four-lap race in 2:13.65. She also ran the third leg of the Big 12-winning distance medley relay.
Cook was also the 800-meter leg of OU's distance medley relay at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational on Feb. 3. With its 11:14.63 run, the relay broke the school record by over 15 seconds and ran under the NCAA provisional qualifying standard for the first time in program history.
The Flower Mound, Texas, native took the outdoor season by storm, placing third in the 800 at the Duke Invitational (April 8).
She ran the two-lap stint in a personal record and regional qualifying time of 2:09.24. Only nine Sooner women all-time have posted faster 800 marks.
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Newton's Laws of Motion
Tijahnni Newton battled injuries as a senior at Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and homesickness as a freshman at OU.
In 2006, however, Newton seems to be regaining her stride as she has improved dramatically in a year's time and recovering the form that made her one of SoCal's hottest prospects.
The sophomore finished sixth in the 400 at the Big 12 Championships, running 55.50 in the finals this season after placing 18th in 1:01.47.
Newton has also spurred the women's distance medley relay to new levels, running the 400-meter second leg. The DMR of Catherine Odell, Newton, Kristi Cook and Jessica Eldridge broke the previous school record set in 2004 by over 15 seconds.
The only member of the 2006 DMR not on the 2004 version? You guessed it...Tijhanni Newton.
Newton opened the outdoor season running a personal best and regional qualifying mark of 54.48 in the 400-meter dash at the Tulsa Invitational.
Indoor Season Leftovers
The OU women's track and field team recorded its best ever score, 61 points, and finish, tied for fourth, at the Big 12 Indoor Championships. The OU women placed 11th in 2005 with 21.5 points.
The OU women won two events at the Big 12 Indoor for the first time in history with the help of Jessica Eldridge, who won the mile run on Saturday after anchoring the distance medley relay win on Friday. The Sooner women had previously won only three event titles total at the meet (Staneisha Bell, 60-meter dash, 2000; Janel Hayes, long jump, 2001; and Leslie Dunlap, pole vault, 2002).
The women's DMR win was OU's first conference relay title since the DMR won the Big Eight Indoor Championship in 1994. The OU DMR had also won indoor conference titles in 1981, 1991 and 1992.
Eldridge's 12.5 points was the third best effort by a Sooner woman in the 10-year history of the Big 12 Indoor. Laverne Jones scored 16 from runner-up finishes in the 60- and 200-meter dashes in 2004 and 14 from a runner-up in the 60 and third in the 200 in 2003.
In 2006, seven men's and seven women's entries have surpassed the provisional qualifying standard. Only five Sooners were eligible to compete for the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championships.
The OU men, who returned only 21 points from the 2005 Big 12 Indoor team, scored 40 en route to a 10th-place overall finish.
The 2005 men scored 67.33 points from 35 entries, including two relays (1.92 points per entry). The 2006 men scored its 40 points from just 14 entries (2.86 per entry).
Nine of OU's 10 men who participated scored points in 2006. Last year, 12 of 25 Sooner men scored points.
The 2005 women scored 21.5 points from 32 entries (0.67 per entry). The 2006 women scored 61 from 17 entries (3.59 per entry).
Eight of OU's 12 women scored points in 2006. Three of the four who did not were true freshmen. In 2005, 10 of 20 athletes, including two relays, scored points. Without the relays, only four OU women would have scored points.
Four women who did not score in an individual event in 2005 Odell, Rimmer, Newton and Goff combined for 21 points in individual events in 2006. Odell and Newton also ran legs on the winning DMR.
Tijahnni Newton improved the most individually between 2005 and 2006. Last year, Newton was 18th overall in the women's 400-meter dash after running a 1:01.47 in her preliminary heat. This year, she finished second in her heat with a personal best 55.08 run and placed sixth overall.
By event, the women's horizontal jumps improved the most over last year's group. In 2005, zero points were scored from a combined six athletes in the women's long and triple jumps. In 2006, OU's three athletes in the horizontal jumps combined for 21 points, including Toni Smith's second-place leap in the triple and Portia Nash's third in the long jump.
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