Completed Event: Track and Field at Battle on the Bayou on April 3, 2026 ,
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Track and Field
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Compete at 121st Annual Penn Relays
April 22, 2015 | Track and Field
NORMAN -- The “city of brotherly love” will be overrun by more than 100 Division I track and field teams including the University of Oklahoma as the Sooners head to Philadelphia for the 121st Penn Relay Carnival. It marks OU's first trip to the Penn Relays since Jim VanHootegem became head coach and the first for the program since 2012.
“It's the granddaddy of all US track meets, the most athletes, biggest attendance, richest history, a venerable stadium. There's a lot of stuff going on and a lot of excitement, but this is where you want to be the last week in April.”
Jim VanHootegem, head coach
After coming off of a strong showing in their lone home meet of the outdoor season this past weekend, the Sooners are ready to embrace everything the city has to offer (save the infamous cheesesteak).
More than 22,000 athletes register for the Penn Relays annually, more athletes than will compete at the Olympics. With 425 races in 35 hours, the average is one race every five minutes.
One of three Big 12 teams to compete, joining West Virginia and Texas, the Sooners will have an opportunity to display their progress this season in the traditionally competitive and festive atmosphere for which the Penn Relays is known, according to head coach VanHootegem.
“It's the granddaddy of all US track meets, the most athletes, biggest attendance, richest history, a venerable stadium,” VanHootegem said. There's a lot of stuff going on and a lot of excitement, but this is where you want to be the last week in April.”
VanHootegem is particularly excited to see his women's 1600-meter relay squad perform in the meet after they have made noticeable improvements this season. The quartet, made up of Ama Pipi, Daye Shon Roberson, Daunicia Demerson and Payton Baker, had a breakout performance in the prestigious Texas Relays in March and have continued to improve since. On Saturday, at the John Jacobs Invitational, they ran a season best 3:35.57. That mark ranks them seventh on the all-time OU list and has them ranked 18th in the nation.
“That's been an event that has vastly improved from a year ago,” VanHootegem said. “What's really cool is there is only one new person (Pipi). It's not just an improvement by recruiting new runners. It's also about what we're doing out on the track and that's really a neat thing.”
Another group to watch will be the distance relay quartets, according to the head coach. The Penn Relays is one of the few places teams have the opportunity to run a unique set of races. The Sooners haven't run the distance medley relay outside since March. This weekend will give them a chance to reunite and go after the current season best, 9:44.54. A different foursome, Allen Eke, Brandon Doughty, Scott Petersen and Zac Randall, will run 1:30 p.m. CDT on Friday.
“The distances don't get to run relays week in and week out,” the head coach said. “I'm really excited about the distance medley relay and the 4xMile and watching the distance guys that get to go out there as a group.”
The men's 4xMile relay - Doughty, Jacob Burcham, Dylan Blankenbaker, Alex Deir - will compete in the elite Championship of America section Saturday at 12:15 p.m. central. Doughty will be a strong asset for the group as he is holding two national top-25 rankings in distance events (No. 6 – 5000m; No. 22 – 3000m steeple chase). It'll be the first time the Sooners have run this event this outdoor season.
“I told the team's somebody's got to figure out how to navigate the crowd, the officiating, the procedures and all that stuff that is really less than ideal,” VanHootegem said. “Someone is going to get it done that day, so let's be those people.”
In the field events, Hayden McClain will be representing for OU in the men's triple jump. McClain is currently ranked 10th in the nation and is coming off of a win at the John Jacobs Invitational. He recorded a season-best mark of 52-6.5. McClain's mark also qualified him for the Championship of America section Saturday at 1 p.m. He also will compete in the long jump on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
“He'll be competing against the several of the best jumpers in the country,” VanHootegem said. “He gets to compete against high level of performers and that's one of the next steps. He created his own atmosphere at the home meet and now it's going to be completely different.
“It's a matter of can he go out there and focus on what he does when he's competing against other top jumpers,” VanHootegem added.
There will be 31 Sooners competing throughout the weekend. Thrower Jessica Woodard will open the meet for the Sooners on Thursday at 8 a.m. central in the discus throw. Action runs throughout the day Thursday through Saturday. There will be multiple divisions.
Live results are available at PennRelaysOnline. Follow the relays on Twitter @pennrelays and on Facebook #Penn Relays. Live video coverage with be available through Flo Pro. A complete Sooner recap will be posted at the end of each day on SoonerSports.com.
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Friday, June 12
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
