Three-for-Three Regional Qualifiers

April 25, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. -- All three Sooners competing in the 2008 Oregon Relays in Eugene recorded NCAA Regional qualifying marks in the 1,500 meter run as OU athletes continued to rack up regional qualifying marks in advance of the NCAA Midwest Regional May 30-31 in Lincoln, Neb.

Jessica Eldridge, Catherine Odell and Rob Sorrell all eclipsed the NCAA Regional qualifying mark in their respective divisions.

Sorrell posted a personal-best time of 3:44.29 en route to finishing eighth in the men's first section. Sorrell continued his recent streak of shaving seconds off his time, topping his previous best of 3:46.94 set last week at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.

"Rob had a breakthrough performance tonight, he really did a great job," said OU head coach Martin Smith. "Tonight was a nice step for him, hopefully this will allow him to continue his improvement. Each week he continues to improve and his times reflect that. The women certainly competed well, not every race is perfect, but I am proud of their competitive effort."

With Friday's time, the redshirt freshman moves up to No. 3 in Oklahoma's historic performance list. Classmate Jacob Boone is No. 2 with his time of 3:43.96 set at last week's competition at Arkansas. Erin Rankin is the program-record holder with a time of 3:42.76 set in 2001. Sorrell's time ranks sixth in the Big 12.

Results

Eldridge was the highest Oklahoma finisher, coming in fifth with a time of 4:20.45, under the NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 4:27.80.

Odell came in 10th with a regional qualifying mark of 4:27.20. Both Eldridge and Odell have had success on the west coast, recording season-best times at the Stanford Invitational on April 5. Eldridge entered the weekend ranked No. 3 in the Big 12 Conference while Odell was ninth.

OU hosts the 2008 Sooner Invitational Saturday at the John Jacobs Track & Field Complex. Action begins at 10 a.m. with the women's javelin. Running events begin at 12:15 p.m. as the women's steeplechase takes to the track.

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