OU Picks up Five Regional Marks

March 28, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas — University of Oklahoma Track and Field athletes recorded five NCAA Regional qualifying marks Saturday at the Bobby Lane Invitational at Maverick Stadium on the campus of UT-Arlington. Along with the times and distances needed to compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional to be held in Norman, May 29-30, OU athletes picked up two event titles as Leslie Cole (200-meter dash) and Mikaela Johansson (hammer throw) each claimed wins in their respective events.

Cole earned a title at the meet for the second consecutive year with a win in the 200-meter dash. Cole, who won the 400-meter dash in 2008, reeled off an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 23.63 to take first in the event.

Johansson won the women's hammer throw with her second consecutive regional qualifying mark of the season. One week after finishing second at the Tulsa Duals, Johansson improved her placement with a throw of 184-5 (56.21).

Amy Backel moved up to No. 3 on the OU women's shot put performance list with a regional qualifying throw of 50-1.75 (15.28) Saturday to finish second overall and first among all collegiate competitors. Backel's throw, which came on her third attempt, is the second best in the Big 12 Conference entering the weekend.

Latoya Heath was the top collegiate finisher in the 100-meter hurdles with a regional qualifying mark. Heath finished second overall with a time of 13.74, the second-fastest time in the Big 12 entering the weekend.

Freshman Alex Madkins finished second overall and was the top collegiate athlete in the men's long jump with a regional qualifying mark. Madkins' jump of 24-1.50 (7.35) on his sixth and final jump gave the Midwest City, Okla., native the regional mark after taking over the second-place spot with his fifth jump, 23-10.75 (7.28).

The program record holder in the event, Scottesha Miller finished second in the women's 100-meter dash with a time of 11.79. Miller was one of two Sooners in the top four as freshman Sherine Wells was fourth with a time of 11.98.

On the men's side of the hammer throw, Buck Sullivan took fourth overall and second among the collegiate competitors with a throw of 180-11 (55.15).