Sooners Host John Jacobs Invitational

April 17, 2015 | Track and Field

By: Athletics Communications

NORMAN- After four weeks on the road, the University of Oklahoma track and field teams are ready to defend their turf as OU hosts its lone home meet of the outdoor season Saturday with the 46th John Jacobs Invitational.

Joining the host Sooners in the meet are men's and women's teams from Alabama, North Texas, Wichita State, Barton County Community College and the women's teams from Missouri State and Central Oklahoma.

Competing this weekend will be eight Sooners who hold top 25 spots in the nation and more than 40 Sooners in the top 25 in the Big 12. OU field competitors are coming off of a strong performance in the dual at UCLA a week ago and hope to not only repeat, but improve, in front of a home crowd.

Looking to win his third consecutive meet, Chase Sammons has earned the No. 9 spot nationally in men's shot put with a 63-8.25 throw. Liz Herrs has a 179-8.00 to rank third nationally in women's javelin, and freshman Jessica Woodard has top 10 conference rankings in two different events – hammer throw (No. 6: 183-3.00) and shot put (No. 5: 48-1.25).

On the track, distance runner Dylan Blankenbaker moved up the national ranks in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase and is currently No. 14 with a time of 8:52.41. He will be competing alongside teammates Alex Deir and Brandon Doughty, who holds the OU record for the event with a time of 8:41.65 earned in the 2014 season.

The Sooners will be well represented in the men's 800-meter run will be a fierce battle among a quartet of Sooners who rank in the top 20 in conference: Zac Randall (2nd - 1:49.96), Malcolm Wankel (4th - 1:51.33), Jacob Goldberg (16th - 1:53.76) and Hunter Heaton (18th - 1:53.91). Four other Sooners will compete in the 800-meter as well.

The 800-meter run will also be an event for the OU women to gain some traction with three of the six Sooners running ranked in the conference's top 25: Marissa Codispodi (9th – 2:12.60), Kelsey McKee (16th - 2:14.05) and Jessica Martin (25th - 2:12.60 ).

The sprinters look to continue the momentum they have been gaining all season. Daye Shon Roberson, who is 19th in the west in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.55, will run as a part of the 400-meter relay team that is ranked 14th in the west with a time of 3:38.78. Ama Pipi, Daunicia Demerson, and Payton Baker complete the relay.

The men's 400-meter relay ranks fourth in conference and is comprised of Mike Wells, Trae Armstrong, Bennie Wesley, and Daniel Brooks, who is also a running back for the Sooners. This foursome looks to beat their season-best 41.48 time.

Erin Jones is looking to back up her winning performance at UCLA in the 100-meter dash this Saturday afternoon. She is currently ranked 22nd nationally after earning a season-best time of 11.48 last weekend.

The freshmen group of multi-event athletes - Steven Jazdyk, Thomas Cheval, Payton Stumbaugh, and Makayla Stephens will be competing in various open events at the invitational. Each are ranked in the top 25 in conference in at least one event.

The quality of the field will present additional challenges for the Sooners. The women's 100 will feature No. 1- ranked Remona Burchell from Alabama and 11^th-ranked Nikki Larch-Miller from Wichita State. Burchell ran an 11.04 at the Pepsi Florida Relays. She has indoor and outdoor national titles from the 2014 season and was an Indoor SEC Champion this year.

In addition to the ranked Sooners, the field in the men's 800 will include Alex Amankwah from Alabama, the second-ranked student-athlete in this event after clocking 1:45.91 at the Florida Relays. In the women's steeplechase Alabama sends Katelyn Greenleaf, who was ranked No. 10 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after clocking a time of 10:14.91 at the Florida Relays. The women's 800 will include Oklahoma State's nationally fifth-ranked Savannah Camacho, who has a best of 2:04.59, and Natalja Pillusina, who is ranked seventh in the west with a 2:06.05.

The Cowgirls also have the second ranked steeplechaser in Ingeborg Loevnes, who has a 9:56.30.

In the women's pole vault, several ranked NCAA Division I and Division II student-athlete are in the field. From Alabama, Lakan Taylor, ranks No. 10, after clearing the bar at 14-0 at the Alabama vs. Mississippi Border Clash. Erika Guerrero from Central Oklahoma is ranked 14^th on the Division II qualifying list after a 12-1.50 performance at the OBU Outdoor Invitational.

In the women's long jump, Quanesha Burks from Alabama shot to No. 2 in the nation after setting a personal best of 21-4 at the Crimson Tide Invitational. In the triple jump, sophomore Jeremiah Green is ranked seventh after a leap of 53-0 at the Florida Relays.

In the discus throw, Alabama sophomores Hayden Reed and Joe Williams are ranked No. 5 and No. 15, respectively. Reed threw for 196-06 at the Alabama Relays and Williams threw for 191-2 at the Crimson Tide Invitational. OSU will have Chase Ealey, who is ranked sixth with a 55-3, in the women's shot put.

While protecting home is number one for the OU track and field group, these Sooners have an opportunity to win the meet in back-to-back seasons.

The first event on Saturday begins with the women's javelin at 10:30 a.m. Runnng events begin at 12:15 p.m. with the 3000-meter steeplechase. The start times may be adjusted in anticipation of inclement weather moving in. All updates will be posted to SoonerSports.com. Live results will be posted throughout the day at cfpitiming.com.

Women's 400-Meter Relay
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Pipi, Demerson, Baker, Roberson, OU	3:38.78	--	14

Women's 200-Meter Dash
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Dominique Kimpel, Alabama	23.25	19	6
Daye Shon Roberson, OU	23.55	--	19

Women's Javelin
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Elizabeth Herrs, OU	179-8	3	2

Men's Javelin
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Garrett Snow, OU	226-10	21	11

Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Dylan Blankenbaker, OU	8:52.41	14	9

Women's Discus
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Jess Woodard, OU	173-0	--	20
Alexandra Morgan, OU	171-9	--	24

Men's Shot Put
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Chase Sammons, OU	63-8.25	9	4

Women's 100-Meter Dash
Competitor	Mark	NCAA	Prelims
Remona Burchell, Alabama	11.04	1	1
Nikki Larch-Miller, Wichita State	11.44	11	7
Erin Jones, OU	11.48	22	11