Borman Discus All-American in First Day of NCAAs

June 9, 2010

EUGENE, Ore. — Brittany Borman became Oklahoma's second All-American in the discus while Mookie Salaam advanced to the finals of the 100-meter dash Wednesday at the first of four days of the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The event was hampered by cooler temperatures and intermittent steady rain as a low cloud cover hung over the 9,891 fans assembled at Hayward Field.

Borman finished second overall in the event with a top throw of 178-3 (54.33) on her fourth attempt, finishing just two feet and an inch behind the champion, Jeneva McCall of Southern Illinois at 180-4 (54.98). Borman entered the meet tied with McCall for the No. 2 national ranking. With the finish, Borman became Oklahoma's second All-American in the event, joining Bambi Carson who accomplished the task in 2001.

Borman fouled on her first attempt before recording a throw of 166-4 (50.70) on her second attempt to move into sixth. She jumped to fourth with a throw of 173-6 (52.88) before moving into second on her fourth attempt, a spot she would not relinquish.

Borman now turns her attention to Saturday's final in the javelin, an event she enters the meet ranked fourth nationally in. The sophomore will look to become Oklahoma's 11th female athlete to earn All-America honors in two different events in the same meet and just the fourth to do so without running on a relay.

Salaam guaranteed himself a career-high NCAA finish in the 100-meter dash as the sophomore automatically qualified for Friday's finals by winning the event's third heat with a time of 10.27. The time is Salaam's second-fastest this season behind the 10.25 he ran at the Big 12 Championships when he finished second.

Salaam entered the meet ranked 14th nationally in the event and was one of seven athletes in the top 14 to advance as seven others bowed out including the nation's top-ranked athlete in the event, Texas San Antonio's Teddy Williams, and the No. 3 ranked Maurice Mitchell of Florida State. Before Salaam returns for the finals of the 100, the Edmond, Okla., native will run in tomorrow's semifinal of the 200-meter dash.

Affected by a steady rain that soaked the triple jump runway prior to the event's second flight, last year's NCAA triple jump champion, Will Claye, was unable to defend his title in 2010 as the sophomore finished 10th overall with a top jump of 51-6.50 (15.71). Claye was one of two Sooners in the second flight as senior Neelon Greenwood closed out his collegiate career by finishing 14th with a jump of 50-7.25 (15.42). Florida's Christian Taylor won the event with a jump of 56-1.00 (17.09).

Eric Bailey closed out his season in the 400-meter hurdles as he finished 11th overall in the event with a time of 50.62. The year is not done for Bailey, however, as he will run a leg on the men's 4x400-meter relay scheduled to begin competition Thursday evening.

The men's 4x100-meter relay comprised of Bailey, Salaam, Remuro Henry and Evan Pierson ran the season's fourth-fastest time for an Oklahoma 4x100 as they clocked a time of 40.17. The time was less than a half second off the mark to qualify for the event's finals as the team finished 12th overall with UCLA grabbing the last qualifying spot at 39.75.

Luke Bryant finished 14th overall in the men's discus, recording a top throw of 175-10 (53.61) on his third attempt. The final standing was a career improvement for the sophomore after finishing 15th in the event in 2009. Bryant was in 12th after his first throw of 172-10 (52.69) before fouling on his second attempt and finishing with his final distance. The future looks bright for Bryant and the other underclassmen in the field as 11 of the 24 competitors were seniors.

The women's 100-meter dash semifinals saw Scottesha Miller bow out of the competition, finishing 18th with a time of 11.58. All is not lost for the Daytona Beach, Fla., native, however, as the senior will return to the track on Thursday for the semifinals of the 200-meter dash.

OU action at the event resumes Thursday at 4:15 p.m. PST with Salaam in the men's 200-meter dash.

Oklahoma Final Results:
Men's Discus: 14. Luke Bryant 175-10 (53.61)
Men's 4x100-Meter Relay: 12. Eric Bailey, Mookie Salaam, Remuro Henry, Evan Pierson 40.17
Men's Triple Jump: 10. Will Claye 51-6.50 (15.71); 14. Neelon Greenwood 50-7.25 (15.42)
Women's 100-Meter Dash: 18. Scottesha Miller 11.58
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles: 11. Eric Bailey 50.62
Women's Discus: 2. Brittany Borman 178-3 (54.33)

Oklahoma Finals Qualifiers:
100-Meter Dash: Mookie Salaam 10.27