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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Honor Seniors at John Jacobs Meet
April 19, 2015 | Track and Field
NORMAN – They arrived at a variety of points in their collegiate careers. Some started as true freshmen and others started at the junior college level. Another transferred to OU from another four-year university. Some have been here five years while another is in his first and only year at OU. What they share in common is that each is a senior for the University of Oklahoma track and field program.
Part of the tradition of the John Jacobs Invitational is honoring OU's seniors and that happened once again during the 46th meet on Saturday. Honored by their coaches and teammates were Alex Deir, a distance runner from Lima, N.Y.; Erin Jones, a sprinter from Flower Mound, Texas; Hunter Heaton, a middle distance runner from Medina, Ohio; Alexandra Morgan, a discus thrower from Ventura, Calif.; Landon Sharp, a high jumper from Piedmont, Okla.; Abbabiya Simbassa, a distance runner from Asela, Ethiopia, Malcolm Wankel, a middle distance runner from Bloomer, Wisc.
Deir transferred to OU from Iowa Central Community College before the 2013-14 academic year. He he has competed in multiple distance events, including the indoor mile and the 3,000-meter and the outdoor 1,500 and 3,000-meter steeplechase. He is a four-time All-Big 12 honoree on the track and was an NCAA finalist in the steeplechase, earning second team All-America honors in the steeplechase in 2104. He owns the third best steeplechase time in school history and also ranks in the top 10 in both the 1500 and the mile. He has also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors in cross country and track and field. He will graduate with a degree in communications.
Another transfer, Jones came to OU from the University of Iowa. She has been a sprinter and relay specialist for the Sooners. She is a four-time All-Big 12 honoree with current personal bests of 7.43 in the 60 meter, 11.42 in the 100 meter and 23.75 in the 200 meters. Her 60 and 100 times are ranked in the all-time Sooner top 10. She will graduate with a degree in multidisciplinary studies.
Yet another transfer, Heaton started his career at Rend Lake College before receiving his associate's degree from Cuyahoga Community College. In this his only year at OU, he has competed in the indoor 600 and 800 and the outdoor 800 in addition to running relays for OU. He owns a personal best in the 800 of 1:53.85 and plans to graduate with a degree in sociology.
Morgan started her Sooner career competing in the shot put and discus before deciding to specialize in the discus. In a dream final home meet, she won her event and set a personal best with a 173-9. She has the fourth best mark in the discus on the all-time Sooner top 10 list. She has earned All-Big 12 honors once and will be a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree before her Sooner career ends. She will graduate with a degree in psychology.
During his time at OU, Sharp has competed in the high jump where he has recorded a PR of 6-11. He earned All-Big 12 honors in the high jump as a junior and has made a courageous comeback from a serious injury to complete his career. He plans to graduate with a degree in film and video studies.
Simbassa started his collegiate career at Iowa Central Community College before transferring to OU before his junior year. He owns the second best 10,000-meter time in school history and ranks among the all-time top 10 in the indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter events. He is a four-time All-Big 12 honoree on the track and experienced much success on the cross country course. He was the 2013 cross country newcomer of the year, then claimed Big 12 runner-up honors last fall. He is a two-time All-Big 12 honoree in cross country and has been named to the All-Midwest Region team twice. He will graduate with a degree in planned programs with an emphasis in athletic administration and coaching.
An extremely versatile middle distance runner, Wankel has competed at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships and has run legs on OU's 4x400-meter relay. He was an NCAA first-round qualifier in the 800 in 2014 and has a PR in that race of 1:49.58. He ranks 10th on the all-time OU list and is a five-time All-Big 12 honoree. During his time at OU, Wankel earned second team All-America honors as a member of the distance medley relay, was a member of the 2013 Big 12 champion distance medley relay and is a member of the school record distance medley relay. He will graduate with a degree in planned programs with an emphasis in cultural diversity and leadership.
Seniors are always a key part of building a successful team. When there is a coaching change, like the one that happened at OU over the summer of 2013, the leaders of the team are crucial in helping with that transition. This group was part of that success. These seven student-athletes have left their marks on the Sooner program. Just look at the All-American, All-Big 12 and all-time top 10 lists for proof.
From the seniors:
On being honored at John Jacobs as a senior:
“It's a special event. I wish I could have run in the meet. To get recognized like that in front of everybody was pretty special.”
On overall experience at OU
“It was an awesome experience. All of the people and coaches I've met since I've been here have made it easy to transition from junior college to here.”
Message to team:
“Live in the moment. Take it day by day and just enjoy the process.”
On final home meet:
“Unfortunately, I didn't get to run my final home meet. Being out here and being able to watch everyone makes it easier. It's sad because it's my last home meet. But I'll be back competing next week.”
Message to team:
“Stay positive. Sometimes you think that if your season's going bad, it's the end. In one day, you can run an amazing time, so it's not the end.”
On future:
“I'm going to get my master's here at OU. I don't know if I'll keep running, but we'll see how this year pans out.”
On his senior year:
“Just to be here is a blessing. I was a college dropout actually and just trained by myself for two and a half years. Putting on a jersey again with the name on it means so much. To race here at home is a blessing.”
On dropping out:
“I was at Rend Lake Junior College. I was there only track season and then I took some time off, about seven months. Then I went to a community college and that's when I found a guy whose son I raced against in middle school. He decided to coach me. He actually coached Coach Dunn in high school.”
Message to team:
“Even if you have a bad race, never give up. Just keep going. I like to look at things like 'even if I win or lose, only take 24 hours' and the next day get right back to the grind.”
Alex Morgan
On overall experience:
“It's kind of bittersweet ending here today because this is where it all begin, freshman year, four years ago. It also makes me excited to go on to the next chapter of my life, to see what grad school and post collegiate training brings me.”
On Coach Blu, through her tears:
“Overall, Coach Blu is a father figure to me. All of us are from different states and, without him, I don't think any of us would be where we are today.”
On ending on a PR:
“It was great ending on a PR. I haven't ever had a great experience throwing at home. To have the best series of my life here and to also end on a PR is probably the best thing I could accomplish my senior year.”
On message to team/Coach Blu:
“Thank you for a great four years and I will never forget it.”
On this being the last home meet:
“It definitely didn't end the way I wanted it to end. I'm glad that I was able to come back from such a serious injury and do my best. I couldn't be happier with the people I met and the staff here. I'm really happy that I got this opportunity to be a five-year athlete here at the university.
Message to teammates:
“Work hard. Cherish every day because it flies by. I never thought five years would fly by this fast. Appreciate each day.”
On being a part of the last home meet:
“It means so much to me to be a senior and get it done. It's kind of sad at the same time to move on.”
On being a part of the OU program:
“I'd would say it was a very good experience to run with a good program and compete at a high level and (receive) coaching by good coaches. It means a lot to me and I learned a lot from it. I'm glad I'm here and run for OU.”
On future:
“I'd like to continue running if something comes up. I'll definitely keep running. I don't know after that.”
On overall experience and being a senior:
“As a senior, it's kind of a bittersweet moment that it's all going away. But I've made some great friends along the way and had some good competitions. I'm glad I stuck it out here for five years at OU.”
On coaches:
“As a new coaching staff from two years ago, I feel like everyone was really supportive of everybody. It's going to be a sad moment when I leave.”
On future:
“Boomer Sooner”
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
HJ
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
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