Completed Event: Track and Field at Battle on the Bayou on April 3, 2026 ,
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Track and Field
at Battle on the Bayou
University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Women 18th in Latest Rankings
April 30, 2008 | Track and Field
April 30, 2008
NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma women's outdoor track and field team has reappeared in the top 25 as the 18th-ranked team in the latest national rankings released Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA). The USTFCCCA Division I indoor track and field rankings are compiled solely from NCAA descending order lists.
The Sooners are led by Leslie Cole with the team's highest individual ranking, fifth in the 400-meter dash. Cole moved up 11 spots from 16th with a personal-best time of 52.70 in the event at last Saturday's Sooner Invitational. Cole is also ranked seventh in the 200-meter dash with a personal-best time of 23.01.
Toni Smith, Jessica Eldridge and Latoya Greaves each contribute top-10 individual rankings for OU as well. Smith is eighth nationally in the triple jump while Eldridge is ninth in the 1,500-meter run. Greaves is 10th in the 100-meter hurdles.
Sophomore thrower Amy Backel moved up one spot in the javelin rankings to No. 12 while Tijahnni Newton made an inaugural appearance in the 400-meter dash rankings at No. 15. Newton also moved up 30 spots in the 200-meter dash rankings to No. 35.
The women's 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay are both ranked 16th. Katherine Johnson is No. 22 in the high jump, Toni Smith No. 23 in the long jump and Scottesha Miller No. 29 in the 100-meter dash. Miller is also 34th in the 200-meter dash and 54th in the long jump.
OU has two runners ranked in the 800-meter run with Kristi Cook at No. 26 and Catherine Odell at No. 30. Latoya Heath rounds out OU's rankings contributors at No. 38 in the 100-meter hurdles.
LSU is the nation's top-ranked women's team followed by Arizona State and Texas A&M. OU is one five Big 12 schools in the women's top 25.
The Sooner men have two triple jumpers in the top-10 nationally. Shardae Boutte and Tydree Lewis are ranked sixth and eighth, respectively. Marcus Pugh (100-meter dash) and Paul Gill (high jump) are both ranked 12th while Pugh is 14th in the 200-meter dash. Chip Heuser rounds out the Oklahoma men in the top 20 as the 18th-ranked pole vaulter in the nation.
The Sooners have two weekends of regular-season competition remaining as preparations for the post-season are being made with the 2008 Big 12 Track & Field Championships quickly approaching, May 16-18.
Saturday, June 13
Friday, June 12
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
