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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Backel Wins Shot on Day One of USAs
June 21, 2006 | Track and Field
NORMAN, Okla. University of Oklahoma sophomore-to-be Amy Backel stands 16th with 2,712 points after the completion of four events of the women's heptathlon at the USA Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis today.
Though she had to compete in two of her worst events on Wednesday, the Dillsburg, Pa., native managed to find success after dominating the shot put, winning by more than three feet with a throw of 41 feet, 9.75 inches (12.74 meters) that garnered 710 valuable points.
The Keystone State was well represented during the day's action as Norristown, Pa., native Ryann Krais (3,263 points) held a slim, 37-point lead over Shana Woods of Long Beach, Calif., for the top spot.
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Backel's (pronounced BAKE-uhl) day started with a 22nd-place run, out of 24 competitors, in the 100-meter high hurdles, but she found solace finishing in a personal best 15.84 seconds.
She also had to misfortune of running against the fiercest headwind of the afternoon during her heat of the 200-meter dash and finished 19th overall at 27.52 seconds.
Backel finished 21st in the high jump after clearing 4-10.25 (1.48).
However, Backel should rise up the leaderboard during day two as she excels in two of the three remaining events -- the long jump and javelin throw.
Another Sooner sophomore-to-be, Katherine Johnson, will begin competition Friday in the women's high jump. She enters the meet ranked fifth in the junior division.
OU alums DaBryan Blanton and Shomari Wilson begin their quest for a national championship in the 100-meter dash as the AT&T USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships also begin Thursday.
The 2006 USA Junior Championships take place June 21-25 at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis. The meet runs concurrently with the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships as the selection meet for the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, China.
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