Sooners Remain Solid on Day 2 of Big 12

Saturday, May 16

Ames, Iowa

10:00 AM

University of Oklahoma

Big 12 Outdoor Championship

Sooners Remain Solid on Day 2 of Big 12

May 17, 2015 | Track and Field

By: Athletics Communications

AMES, Iowa – The Sooners took competition personally on day two of the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

The University of Oklahoma track and field competitors who competed on Saturday earned 20 personal bests (14 from the heptathlon and decathlon) and added seven conference scorers to the list before the day closed.

Taking it personally also helped the team scores as the OU men are in third behind Texas and Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have a 1.75 lead over the Sooners in the team standings. The Sooner women are fourth behind Texas Tech, Kansas State and Kansas. The difference between first and fourth for the women is just 14 points with less than half the events scored.

Heptathlon runner-up, Makayla Stephens, earned personal bests in javelin and the 800-meter run. Her 5,336 points in the event solidified her fifth-place ranking on OU's all-time list and was a PR in the event as well. Stephens shattered her previous best (103-2) in the javelin with a 111-5 effort. Her 2:24.95 time improved her previous 800-meter record (2:27.89) by nearly three seconds.

“Makayla getting runner-up in heptathlon was really big,” said head coach Jim VanHootegem. “Not only was it really big points for the team, but huge PRs for her. She's really new at this. For her to be doing that well this early is a good sign. We believe she's only going to get better.”

Thomas Cheval took fourth in the decathlon, moving onto OU's all-time list in the fifth spot with 7,187 points. Cheval also earned a PR in javelin with a 149-9 mark. Steven Jazdyk finished eighth with 6,533 points. It was the first time either completed the event.

“The guys coming back, scoring and getting some team points was big,” VanHootegem said. “We talk about it as a team -- that everybody fights for every point and that was a great example of that.”

Jessica Woodard made her second trip to the podium today after she placed sixth in shot put with a best of 50-10.75. That mark ranks eighth in program history.

Chase Sammons, Austin Perry, and Hayden McClain combined for 10 point in the field event finals OU had entries in on Saturday. Sammons finished third in the shot put with a 61-10.25 and Perry placed eighth with a 58-1. Through two days of competition and with two throwing events left, OU throwers remain perfect in top-eight finishes this weekend.

We talk about it as a team -- that everybody fights for every point.
Jim VanHootegem, head coach

McClain finished sixth in long jump with a 23-10.75 mark and will compete in triple jump Sunday. The Sooner sophomore has finished as the runner-up in the triple jump in each of the three Big 12 meets he has competed in since coming to OU.

“The other half of today was about qualifying,” the head coach said. “Everybody getting through to the finals in these conditions is a good sign. These are the things we're looking for.”

Daye Shon Roberson earned a trip to Sunday's final in the 400 with a 51.58 effort. Her time is the third best in program history and improved her PR by just over a second. It also would have ranked as the eighth best 400 time in the country heading into this final weekend of qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor. Led by Roberson's performance, the remaining 400-meter runners all earned career bests -- Ama Pipi, 54.32, Mia Mukes, 55.89, and Payton Baker, 55.95.

Trae Armstrong and Erin Jones will represent the Sooners in the 100-meter. Armstrong got a career best of 10.36, while Jones earned a season best with a prelim time of 11.45.

Leya Buchanan added to the efforts of the Sooner sprinters, earning a personal best of 23.91 in the 200-meter.

“We're proud of them,” said Kevin Tyler, assistant coach for sprints, hurdles and relays. “All of them stepped up with career bests. We're really happy with the progress. We're going to be competitive.”

Three Sooner entries in the 1500-meter run advanced to the Sunday finals. Belle Wallace will compete for the women after recording 4:22.81, a PR for the freshman and a mark that ranks sixth all-time for OU. Allen Eke (3:47.82) and Jacob Burcham (3:52.75) will represent the men in the 1500-meter final after placing third and sixth in the prelims.

Zac Randall (1:50.68) will compete in the 800-meter final tomorrow after finishing sixth in the prelims.

“They are just stepping up to the occasion,” VanHootegem added. “We're rising to the level of competition and that's when you see these big performances. The competition brings those out.”

The Sooners compete in 18 events Sunday and will have plenty of opportunities to go beyond their best.

The final day opens with Makayla Stephens representing OU in the high jump at noon. Running events begin at 3 p.m. with the women's 4x100-meter relay.

Live results will be available throughout the meet. There will be a live webcast provided at no cost via Big12Sports.com. Additional information on the championships is also available at Big12Sports.com Meet Central and via Cyclones.com. Following the conclusion of each day's competition, a recap on OU results will be available on SoonerSports.com.