Writing a New Chapter in a Familiar Area

NORMAN -- Every program has distinct eras of greatness throughout its history, and the University of Oklahoma track and field team, known in the past for its multi-event competitors, is in the beginnings of a new epoch in multi-event athletes.

The University of Oklahoma track and field team hasn't had entries in three years, but this year, the Sooners have four: Thomas Cheval, Steven Jazdyk, Makayla Stephens, and Payton Stumbaugh. All of them were freshmen in the recently completed indoor season while Cheval, who competed in the outdoor season for Cerritos College in 2014, will be a sophomore in the outdoor season.

With an all-freshman squad in the multi events, Oklahoma track and field has begin a new multi-event era in the program, and these four student-athletes are already making history.

“I think that they really have a nice little fit together because they're all kind of like 'oh we're new here, we haven't had multis here in a few years and this is a new staff,'” multi-event coach John Dagata said. “They took that on full stride. And I think that is what's special about the group we have now.”

Everybody on our staff has really helped them come together. Helping them come together has really made it successful. It was almost like a team staff success at the Big 12s.
John Dagata, multi-event coach

What's even more special about this young group ofstudent-athletes is that they have all made it on to OU's all-time best list. After the indoor season, Cheval is second and Jazdyk is eighth on the OU men's all-time list for the indoor season.

“It's a great success for all of the athletes in multi events,” Jazdyk said. “We came in here. None of us had really done a full-out multi or indoor season of a heptathlon or a pentathlon. It's a new experience for us, adapting to it, and it's a great way to start out the season.”

For the women, Stephens is third and Stumbaugh is fourth on the OU women's all-time list for the indoor season.

“I think it gives us a little of incentive to do really good knowing that they (the coaches) brought the program back and that we're the ones they chose to do it,” Stephens said. “We want to start it off on a good note so I think it pushes us to do better.”

While all of the multi athletes have seen success this year, earning spots on the all-time lists, Cheval has earned national attention as well. After his third-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, he was ranked 26^th in the nation, just 10 places away from being able to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

“Almost making nationals on my first time doing indoor, that's really big to me,” Cheval said. “I'm just getting better as it comes. The competitors I have out there have been doing it longer than I have. I'm still new to this thing. I'm still trying to get a feel for it. I go out there and do the best that I can so Ican make it to the next level.”

Competing as a multi-event athlete is not for the faint of heart. Preparing for meets where an athlete will compete in as many as 10 events over two days requires commitment on and off the track.

“It takes a ton of dedication and hard work,” Stumbaugh added. “You go out to the track every day, knowing you are going to be there for a while. You are going to be working on a ton of events, never one specific event.”

However, after going from no multis to having four multis, the earned success is from more than just an individual effort.

In his coaching career, Dagata said that he has been at programs where the multi event was not a priority. At Oklahoma, the coaching staff's investment in multi athletes, in addition to individual event athletes, has resulted in the early success this program has seen.

“Everybody came together to try to help them. They're watching the sprints with Coach (Kevin) Tyler or they're watching the long jumpers jump with Coach (Jim) VanHootegem. Everybody on our staff has really helped them come together,” Dagata said. “Helping them come together has really made it successful. It was almost like a team staff success at the Big 12s.

“We still have a long way to go,” Dagata added. “Going from no multis to four multis and, with everybody doing pretty well, I think it indicates that we have an environment that we're setting up for success in the multi events.”

As the Sooners transition into outdoor season, workouts will continue to progress, the number of events will increase (five to seven for the women, seven to 10 for the men) and the length of some events will increase. While these multi-talented OU student-athletes may have a long way to go, the success experienced by these freshmen in the indoor season has built a foundation that will lead to continued success in the months and years ahead.

By Candace Hinnergardt, OU Athletics Communications intern