Four Advance to NCAA Finals

June 13, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Oklahoma triple jumpers extended their impressive season while Latoya Greaves' resume continued to expand at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Des Moines. Shardae Boutte and Tydree Lewis advanced to the finals of the men's triple jump as Toni Smith did the same on the women's side while Greaves moved on to the women's 100-meter hurdles final.

A three-time All-American, including yesterday's honor in the long jump, Smith recorded the prelims fourth-best jump with a program-record jump. The Denver, Colo., native extended her own school record in the event with a jump of 44 feet and 8.75 inches (13.63 meters) on her first jump, taking passes on her second and third to rest for tomorrow's final.

Smith entered this week's competition with a top jump of 44-0.00 (13.41).

Greaves finished third in the event's semifinals with a time of 13.23 to qualify for Saturday's finals at the top-three competitors from each of the two heats and the next two-fastest times advanced. The time was the sixth fastest of the semifinalists. Michigan's Tiffany Ofili ran the fastest, 12.92.

Greaves guaranteed herself an All-America honor in her first season on the Division I level as top-eight finishers in each event earn the honor along with the top eight American born finishers.

Lewis recorded the fifth-best jump of the three-jump prelims. The senior leapt a distance of 52-4.50 inches (15.96) on his first jump while Boutte was seventh with a distance of 52-4.00 (15.95). Boutte entered the meet ranked No. 1 nationally with a program-best jump of 55-0.00 (16.76). Arkansas' Nkosinza Balumbu leads the field with a jump of 53-2.25 (16.21).

Amy Backel and Jessica Eldridge will join the group in Saturday's finals in the women's javelin and 1,500-meter run, respectively.

Sheldon Leith closed out his Oklahoma career in the semifinals of the men's 110-meter hurdles. The senior from Jamaica took sixth in the event's second heat and 12th overall with a time of 13.81. No. 3 in the Oklahoma record book in the 110-meter hurdles, Leith picked up his sole All-America honor this year in the indoor 60-meter hurdles.

Junior Leslie Cole's season ended Friday evening in the semifinals of the women's 400-meter dash. The Idabel, Okla., native finished 15th overall with a time of 53.90.

Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m. CST with the women's heptathlon. Oklahoma's first competitors, Boutte and Lewis, will compete in the finals of the men's triple jump at 1 p.m. CST.

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