Doughty's Goals Make Him a Champion

NORMAN -- Nothing stands between a true champion and his trophy.

Brandon Doughty proved that once again during his race at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championship in mid May.

Doughty, a redshirt junior distance runner for the University of Oklahoma, quieted those who believed that one could not win consecutive Big 12 titles, especially in the challenging steeplechase. As Doughty stood atop of the winner's podium in Ames, Iowa, he claimed his second conference title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

“It's awesome and means a lot to me,” Doughty said. “It's really cool to have a teammate (Dylan Blankenbaker) get third and be right behind you in the same race.”

Doughty began running in sixth grade at the suggestion of his mother who enrolled him in cross country and he has been running ever since.

“I was kind of good at it so I just kept going with it,” said Doughty, who joined the Sooner squad in 2012. “I got here my freshman year and the coach at the time noticed I was decently athletic and he was just like 'oh we're going to try you in the steeple' and it just worked out.”

Races of 3,000 meters have been his forte since his collegiate career began. Doughty owns the 2015 conference title in the indoor 3000-meter run and is the program record holder (8:41.65) in the steeplechase. He was also a member of the 2014 distance medley relay that earned a conference title. Since his arrival, Doughty has been a conference scorer or title holder every season, except during the 2012 outdoor, when he redshirted.

“It's just been the consistency of my training, the coaching I've had, and my teammates support,” Doughty said. “And always knowing that God's got a plan and just following that with everything I can."

His seven-lap race in the steeplechase requires him to jump over barriers and careen into water pits no matter the weather.

“That one is the easiest technically to do because all you have to do is push off the barrier and just jump out of the water, but people think too hard on it,” Doughty said. “I keep telling myself I'm tougher than the other guys and sometimes that pays off.”

As the end of the outdoor season draws near with NCAA West prelims meet to begin Thursday, the focus becomes more individualized. Doughty, however, still keeps his teammates' support with him. All of his previous accolades become secondary to his ultimate goal, an NCAA title.

“Regionals is not as much of a team atmosphere as conference, so there's not as much motivation from that end,” Doughty said. “But I'm still hearing my teammates the entire time 'Boomer-Sooner' cheering so it's super exciting. It's what keeps me going.”

On the path that Doughty is running, not much can stop him.

By Akilah Laster, OU Athletics Communications GA