OU Rounding Into Shape at Home

April 25, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. — Competing on their home turf Saturday at the Sooner Invitational, Oklahoma track and field athletes continued to round into form with 15 NCAA Regional qualifying marks. While action on the track unfolded in front of the stands, it was the throws and jumps areas off the track that saw Oklahoma athletes affect NCAA and Big 12 rankings.

Freshman Will Claye entered the day as the nation's top triple jumper and had it not been for the wind being over 4.5 meters-per-second, the 17-year old would have left the meet as the nation's top long jumper as well. Claye took the event's title with a jump of 26-3.00 (8.00) but the high wind reading nullified the mark as a regional qualifying mark. Claye did have a legal regional qualifying jump of 25-6.25 (7.78) on his fourth attempt that puts the first-year Sooner at No. 7 in the nation and second in the Big 12 Conference.

Claye was not the only athlete affected by high south winds in the event as junior Neelon Greenwood had three regional qualifying marks wiped out by high wind readings. Greenwood still managed to finish fourth in the event with a jump of 25-1.25 (7.65).

Four hours later, Claye returned to the jumps runway as the nation's top triple jumper. The freshman did not disappoint the home crowd, extending his national lead with a jump of 55-0.75 (16.78) on his third attempt to claim the event's title. Along with the winning jump, Claye had the second-longest jump of the meet with his final attempt, 53-9.00. The jump is the longest in program history, but is not eligible for the program record as it was wind aided.

Claye was one two Oklahoma triple jumpers to record a regional qualifying mark in the event as Greenwood finished fifth with a regional qualifying jump of 49-5.00 (15.06).

Two OU freshmen took control of the Big 12 Conference Saturday as redshirt freshman Luke Bryant and true freshman Colin Quirke finished one-two in the discus and vaulted to the top two spots of the Big 12 in the event. Bryant's PR and regional qualifying distance of 192-1 (58.56) allowed the Clearwater, Kan., native to jump former Sooner throws legends Kevin and Kyle Bookout on the OU performance list to rank second all-time in program history. The throw is also currently sixth in the nation.

Quirke's throw of 186-4 (56.79) is fifth all-time in the history of the Oklahoma program and is over eight feet longer than the Big 12's third longest throw of 177-9.25 by Brandon Drenon of Texas Tech.

Mikaela Johansson extended her own program record in the hammer throw with a win in the event. The junior from Sweden tossed the implement a distance of 189-11 (57.88) to extend her record set earlier this year by a full foot.

Not to be outdone by Johansson, junior Buck Sullivan stepped into the hammer throw ring and responded by extending his own program record. Sullivan was the top collegiate finisher with a throw of 196-11 (60.02) and second overall.

The women's shot put saw OU freshman Karen Shump, competing unattached as she redshirts, win the event with a throw of 56-8.50 (17.28). Shump's throw eclipsed the automatic qualifying mark for the 2009 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships this June in Eugene, Ore., and defeated reigning Big 12 champion Patience Knight of Texas Tech by over two feet.

Also in the women's shot put, Amy Backel extended her personal best in the event with a regional qualifying toss of 51-9.25 (15.78) to finish fifth overall. The throw ranks third in Oklahoma program history and currently ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference.

Katelyn Penner posted another strong mark at home in the women's javelin. The freshman tossed the javelin a regional qualifying distance of 152-0 (46.32) to win the event and move up to No. 5 on the OU performance list.

Katherine Johnson equaled her PR in the women's high jump to finish first in the event, clearing a regional qualifying height of 5-10.00 (1.78). Johnson was one of two competitors left to attempt the height, clearing on her third attempt to defeat SMU's Viktoria Leks. Johnson's jump ranks second in the Big 12.

Just as Johnson did in the women's high jump, Paul Gill cleared a season-best height of 7-0.25 (2.14) to win the men's division. Gill was the only athlete left competing after clearing 6-8.75 (2.05) in two attempts before clearing his final regional qualifying height in three attempts. The performance ranks third in the Big 12.

Another freshman lowered his regional qualifying time as Mookie Salaam finished second in the men's 100-meter dash. Salaam's time of 10.47 comes one week after running 10.48 at the John McDonnell Invitational.

Salaam followed up the performance with a regional qualifying time in the 200-meter dash, finishing third overall and second among collegiate competitors with a time of 20.87. Salaam recorded a time of 20.76 at home in the John Jacobs Invitational on April 11.

D'Andre Fisher once again lowered his regional qualifying time in the men's 110-meter hurdles, crossing the line in a time of 14.15.

The women's 100-meter hurdles also saw a regional qualifying time lowered as Demeeka Jones recorded a time of 13.86 in the event to finish fourth.

Dominique Jacobs continued the OU NCAA Regional qualifying mark streak in the women's triple jump with a PR of 40-6.75 (12.36) which ranks sixth all time in OU program history. Jacobs also leapt a PR in the long jump with a distance of 19-4.00 (5.89).

It was all OU in the women's 3,000-meter run as Lauren Watson (10:10.76), Jessica Engel (10:20.52) and Lindsay Pierson (11:01.08) swept the top honors in the event.

Gary Jeffrey Jr. won the men's javelin with a top throw of 199-4 (60.75) on his second attempt of the competition.

In his first action of the season in the event, sophomore Eric Bailey finished second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.76.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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