Completed Event: Track and Field at Battle on the Bayou on April 3, 2026 ,
Final
Track and Field
at Battle on the Bayou
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Thursday, April 23
Philadelphia
9:00 AM
University of Oklahoma
at
Penn Relays
Relays Advance to Elite Finals at Penn
April 23, 2015 | Track and Field
PHILADELPHIA -- The “City of Brotherly Love” was not very welcoming weather wise as the University of Oklahoma opened its first day in the Penn Relay Carnival battling an 18 mile-an-hour wind and 48-degree temperature for most of the day.
Despite the frigid conditions, the women's 4x100 relay --- Ama Pipi, Erin Jones, Daye Shon Roberson, and Leya Buchanan --- was up to the challenge. The Sooners won their heat with a 46.20 and finished fourth overall. That time advanced the Sooners to the elite Championship of America final. The race today marked the first time this season for the foursome to register a time. The Sooners will get another chance for a time when they line up Friday at noon central time.
“It was a great start to the Penn Relays, but we still have some work to do,” said Kevin Tyler, assistant coach for sprints, hurdles and relays. “Tomorrow provides another opportunity to practice those skills in challenging conditions.”al time.
Later in the day, the women's 4x400 relay qualified for the Championship of America final in that event as well. Joining Pipi and Roberson, who qualified in the 4x100 earlier, were Daunicia Demerson, and Payton Baker. The Sooners finished third in their heat and fourth overall with a time of 3:41.77. The final will be held on Saturday at 5:50 p.m.
“They persevered through difficult conditions to secure the fourth spot on Saturday,” Tyler added. “This has been a very good day for the OU women sprinters.”
Jessica Woodard, the lone Sooner thrower competing in the meet, opened the day for OU early in the morning and was not surprised by the conditions.
“The Thursday of the Penn Relays has always been the gloomy and rainy day,” said Woodard, who has competed in the meet since her sophomore year in high school. “Definitely adapting to it in competition is hard because we've only gone to warm places (to compete). I'm sure it had an effect, but I can't let that be the blame of any of the outcomes today.”
They persevered through difficult conditions to secure the fourth spot on Saturday. This has been a very good day for the OU women sprinters.
Kevin Tyler, assistant coach
Woodard, whose hometown of Marlton, N.J. is a quick 30-minute drive to Philadelphia, had a supporting cast despite Brian Blutreich, assistant coach for throws, not being present.
“It's always great to have my family around and my friends that are out here because it just brings back so many good times,” Woodard said. “But you want Coach (Blutreich) to be there because he's such a good coach. He can correct things right on site. That can be the difference between throwing a PR and throwing pretty badly. Not having him here was kind of difficult, but you have to adjust.”
Woodard warmed things up for the Sooners with her third-place finish out of 25 competitors in the women's discus throw, recording a mark of 167-8.00. She was back in the cold later to finish the day in the hammer throw, taking seventh with a throw of 176-3.00.
Makayla Stephens also competed in two field events -- women's high jump and long jump. Stephens came in fifth out of 79 entries in the long jump with a mark of 18-10.75. She cleared a height of 5-4.5 to finish in a three-way tie for 18th out of 45 high jumpers.
“I thought today went pretty well,” said John Dagata, assistant coach for vertical jumps and multi events. “Makyala executed the things we have been working on.”
The boldest and coldest competitors of the day were likely the 3,000-meter steeplechasers who had to jump in a pit of water every lap in spite of dropping temperatures. OU assistant coach for distance events, Jason Dunn, was in a unique position as he cheered on two Sooners in the event - Bryce Perry and volunteer coach Ann Dunn, his wife, an event that didn't start until after 8 p.m. eastern time.
“It's fun (and) it's an interesting challenge sometimes,” said the assistant coach. “It's something that Ann's passionate about pursuing and it's fun to see her out there competing. She sets a really good example for the women on the team.”
The Sooner volunteer coach placed second in the women's Olympic Development section with a time of 10:25.63.
“It's just fun to see her doing well and, as long as she enjoys it, I'm just 'Mr. Supportive,'” Dunn added.
Perry finished her race with a time of 11:09.35.
“These are really tough conditions to run a steeple,” Dunn said. “Bryce gave it a good effort tonight and I'm sure it'll be something that'll spur her on for the next one.”
Elena Arriaza and Brittany Tretbar had a strong showing in their first 5,000-meter race of the outdoor season, achieving personal bests. Arriaza finished with a time of 16:43.85 and Tretbar came in with a 16:55.64. Tretbar joined Arriaza, who is eighth, on the OU all-time top-10 list in the ninth spot.
Eric Graf finished the day for the Sooners under the bright stadium lights as the wind increased to 22 miles per hour and the temperature continued to drop. Graf managed to finish 10th of 34 entries in the Olympic Development section of the men's 5,000-meter run with a time of 14:43.72.
The Sooners will participate in seven events throughout the day Friday. Garrison LeRock, Thomas Cheval and Shonderius Howard open day two of the relays with men's high jump at 9 a.m. central. The Sooners have five relay races on their schedule for Friday. The men run the 4x100 meter relay preliminaries at 11:35 a.m., the distance medley relay at 1:30 p.m., and the sprint medley at 5:45 p.m. In addition to the Championship of America final in the 4x100-meter relay, the women will race in the 800-meter relay preliminaries at 1 p.m.
With the temperatures expected to be similar on Friday, the Sooners are looking to generate their own heat once again.
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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