OU Opens Outdoor Season

NORMAN, Okla. - After three weeks out of competition, the University of Oklahoma track and field teams open the 2014 outdoor season Friday and Saturday at the Baldy Castillo Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.

The Sooners haven't competed since the Big 12 Indoor Championships in Ames, Iowa, on March 1. The OU men finished fifth and the women were ninth in the league meet.

According to head coach Jim VanHootegem, the transition from indoor competition to outdoor is not as much a change as it is the continued pursuit of established team goals.

“The focus from day one has been the outdoor Big 12 Championships and NCAA Championships,” VanHootegem explained. “The indoor championship meets are like mid-terms and the outdoor championships are the finals.”

This weekend marks the debut for Sooners in multiple throwing events, including the javelin, discus and hammer throw, that are on the outdoor-only schedule.

The Oklahoma women return three javelin throwers who scored at last year's Big 12 Championships, including the conference's champion, Avione Allgood. Allgood ended her freshman season as an All-American by finishing seventh in the NCAA Championships. Sophomore Elizabeth Herrs finished fourth in the javelin last season as a freshman at the Big 12 meet while Ashley Kowalewski finished eighth.

On the men's side, Tyler Renton makes his 2014 debut this weekend. Renton placed third in the javelin at the 2013 Big 12 Championships.

“I really like what I have seen from this group in practices over the last six months,” VanHootegem said. “I hate to single out anyone because I am excited to see them all, but I think Tyler (Renton) and Elizabeth (Herrs) are ready for breakout seasons if they can manage themselves well.”

Alexandra Morgan, who placed seventh, and Kate Foster, who was ninth, will be making their 2014 debuts in the discus.

Rylee Rackley and Sarah Tolson are two of the top returners for the Oklahoma women in the hammer throw. They hope to continue the success they found in the weight throw during the indoor season as they move outside. Tolson finished sixth in the event at the 2013 outdoor Big 12 while Rackley finished seventh.

Austin Perry, who had a good indoor season in the shot put, is a top returner for the men in the hammer throw after he finished fifth at last year's Big 12 meet.

“I would say that I am especially excited to see what our hammer throwers do after throwing the weight indoors,” VanHootegem said. “Plus we have some people running in the steeplechase as well.

“The biggest thing is to open up people in the outdoor-only events. The overall goal for this weekend is to get in some good training, take the next step in the season and leave healthy.”

Competition for OU begins at 3 p.m. CT Friday in the men's and women's hammer. The men's and women's 1500 runners also compete Friday. The majority of the events are set for Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. CT. Results and recaps will be available on SoonerSports.com following the event.

Players Mentioned

Avione Allgood

Elizabeth Herrs

Ashley Kowalewski

Alexandra Morgan

Austin Perry

Rylee Rackley

Tyler Renton

Sarah Tolson

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University of Oklahoma Athletics