Sullivan Sets Hammer Record

April 3, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas -- Oklahoma junior Buck Sullivan wasted no time in his Sooner career to rewrite the OU record books. The junior college transfer stepped on campus in January and in his just the third outdoor meet on the NCAA level set a new program record in the hammer throw Thursday at the 81st Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

Sullivan, a former California state champion in the event, finished sixth in the event with an NCAA Regional Qualifying mark of 195 feet and six inches (59.60 meters). The toss bested the previous Oklahoma record of 192-2 (58.58) set by Nils Oliveto in 1999. It also marked a personal best for Sullivan, who transferred from Moorpark Junior College in California, smashing his previous best of 185-3 (56.46) set in last week's Bobby Lane Invitational in Arlington.

Sullivan's record is the second Oklahoma throws record to fall this season under first-year throws Brian Blutreich, who arrived at OU after 11 years at the University of North Carolina which featured two National Assistant Coach of the Year honors. Amy Backel broke the OU record in the women's javelin in the season-opening Tulsa Duels before besting her own mark one week later at the Bobby Lane Invitational with a toss of 166-8 (50.80).

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Zach Dawson finished ninth in the men's 400-meter hurdles, recording a personal-best and NCAA Regional Qualifying time of 52.19 in his first season competing in the event.

Friday's action at the Texas Relays begins with running events at 9:30 a.m. followed by field events at 10 a.m. Oklahoma will be represented in all eight University running prelims in Friday's morning session and in three of its field events.

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