Jacobs Inv. Provides Fierce Battles

NORMAN, Okla. The 2007 John Jacobs Invitational proved to be one of the best in the 38 years of the event as 35 regional qualifying marks were posted in men's results and 33 in women's.

Toni Smith made her outdoor debut as a Sooner in the women's triple jump, finishing second and trouncing a 17-year-old school record with her best of 43 feet, 1.75 inches (13.15 meters). Smith made four successful jumps all better than the former school record mark of 41-10.75 (12.77), by Jackie Smiley in 1990, before passing on her final attempt.

Crystal Manning of Kansas was the overall victor in the triple jump, posting a 43-7.25 (13.29) to set a Kansas school record.

Egor Aganofov of Kansas, the Big 12 weight throw champion during the 2007 indoor season, won the hammer throw and established meet and facility records with his best of 225-10 (68.83).

Complete Results | Meet Homepage

Four men's pole vaulters tied for top honors with OU's Chip Heuser earning the win by counting least number of attempts. Heuser jumped 17-0.75 (5.20) in his season debut to establish a regional qualifying mark.

Big 12 indoor champion Jordan Scott of Kansas was second, OU All-American Scott Martin was third and Northern Iowa's Jarno Kivioja was fourth.

The OU women took the short sprints as freshman Scottesha Miller (11.95) and Larica Urbina (12.06) finished 1-2 in the 100-meter dash and seniors Yolanda Goff (24.09) and Urbina (24.41) were 1-2 in the 200.

A fierce competiton took place in the men's long jump as Nebraska's Arturs Abolins won with a jump of 24-10.00 (7.57) to win by one inch over Northern Iowa's Cody Eichmeier. Oklahoma's Frankie Wright (24-8.50 [7.53]) and Dermillo Wise (24-7.00 [7.49]) were third and fourth, respectively, as the top four finishers jumped better than the regional qualifying standard.

The OU women also swept the relays, taking the 4x100-meter relay in 45.25 over Arkansas (45.68) and the 4x400, in their initial run this season, with a regional qualifying run of 3:39.90.

OU's Portia Nash won the women's long jump with a season best leap of 19-2.00 (5.84). Nash took top honors by just one-half inch over Nebraska's Chantae McMillan.

Big 12 60-Meter Champion Marcus Pugh (10.63) won the men's 100-meter dash in a tight battle with teammate Jacobi Mitchell (10.67).

Oklahoma's (41.13) men also ran well in the 4x100-meter relay, winning by .01 seconds over the University of Nebraska (41.14).

The women's pole vault came down to a battle between two of the best in the Big 12 as Kate Sultanova of Kansas (13-1.50 [4.00]) defeated Nebraska's Brysun Stately (12-9.50 [3.90]).

Nebraska's Daniel Roper won the men's triple jump over OU's Tydree Lewis. Roper's 51-8.25 (15.75) just surpassed Lewis' 51-7.75 (15.74).

Former Big 12 champion turned professional star Sheldon Battle won the men's shot put with a best mark of 64-5.00 (19.63). OU's Kevin Bookout placed second, shot putting for the first time since injuring his hand during the NCAA Indoor Championships. Bookout's best of 59-9.75 surpassed the regional qualifying standard.

Battle also won the discus throw at 191-1 (58.25). Bookout was third at 177-0 (53.96).

Houston's Ebonie Floyd ran a regional qualifying mark of 53.69 to win the women's 400-meter dash. Sooners Tijhanni Newton (55.69), Leslie Cole (55.70) and Jasmine Still (55.72) were fourth through sixth, respectively. OU sophomore Jasmine Pope (56.22) was eighth.

The Sooners return to action Saturday, April 21, at Fayetteville, Ark., for the John McDonnell Invitational before hosting the Sooner Invitational, April 28, at the John Jacobs Track Complex.

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