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
Saturday, May 30
Austin, Texas
TBA
University of Oklahoma
at
NCAA West Region Prelims
Steady Sooners Pick Up Six More Qualifiers
May 31, 2015 | Track and Field
AUSTIN, Texas — The weather was unpredictable, but the Sooners remained consistent on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West prelims in Austin. As a result, six more student-athletes will be heading to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 10-13.
Despite the on and off gray skies and a one-hour lightning delay, University of Oklahoma entries stayed focused. The noteworthy performances increased the travel roster for nationals to 11, nearly double the total in 2014. Last season, OU took six entries to Eugene.
“Last year we put six people on the airplane, so for us to travel 11, that's making progress,” said head coach Jim VanHootegem. “We had more regional and national qualifiers this year which says that we're continuing to grow as a program. We want to be a national level program.”
The Sooners' success came in the first event on the track after the delay, the next to last event of the meet and from the arm of Liz Herrs, who waited the longest for the weather to clear. Originally scheduled for 5 p.m., the women's javelin didn't start until after 7 p.m. and Herrs had to wait for the third of three sections to begin competing.
Once competition began for the junior, she wasted no time as her best throw, a 169-3.00, was her first. She ranked second until early in the second round of throws and ultimately held onto the fourth spot throughout the third round of throws.
Herrs, who entered prelim competition with the best mark in the West, returns to nationals for the second consecutive year after finishing 10th in Eugene last season. She earned second team All-America honors as a sophomore with a 166-0.00. She also became the fourth thrower to advance to nationals for the Sooners this weekend.
Since the day I got to OU, I've been emphasizing a team concept. Having relays be a true team within a team is very symbolic of what we're trying to do.
Jim VanHootegem, head coach
“Liz has had a habit of making steps,” VanHootegem said. “She's been a lot of different competitions now. She's experienced at this level.
“There's a probably a couple of technical things she wants to clean up as she moves in, but she's certainly very capable,” he added.
The women's 400- and 1600-meter relay groups also showed their ability to compete this weekend with both squads advancing to the championship meet.
Pipi and Roberson then joined Daunicia Demerson and Payton Baker in the next to last event on the track, the 4x400-meter relay, and took care of business once again. OU finished second in the first heat of the event with a 3:33.33. That finish, like the 400-meter relay, gave the Sooners an automatic ticket into the championship as the top three in each heat automatically advanced. The time was the seventh best in the meet and moves the foursome up to fourth on OU's all-time list.
“Since the day I got to OU, I've been emphasizing a team concept,” VanHootegem said. “Having relays be a true team within a team is very symbolic of what we're trying to do.
“Those are big steps,” he added. “Last year, we didn't even qualify for the regional round in the relays. To come in and get automatic spots is a big improvement in a year and it shows the type of things we want to do as a program.”
Other OU competitors on the final day of the meet included Trae Armstrong who had a 21.43 in the men's 200; the men's javelin competitors, Tyler Renton, 13th with a 218-11; Garrett Snow, 17th with a 215-7 and T.J. Noonan, who had a 202-10; Jess Woodard, who had a 45-9.25 in the shot put; and Hayden McClain with a 49-5.75 in the triple jump.
The Sooners have used each of the postseason meets to date – the Big 12 Championship and the NCAA West prelims – to measure the improvement made since 2014 when VanHootegem's watch began. In just over 10 days, OU will have one more opportunity on the biggest stage possible in collegiate track and field to continue to show that improvement. Competition begins in Eugene on June 10 and runs through June 13.
OU NATIONAL QUALIFIERS (EVENT, PRELIM MARK, FINISH)
Brandon Doughty - 3000-Meter Steeplechase, 8:47.30, seventh
Liz Herrs – Javelin, 169-3.00, fourth
Julia Reedy, Hammer Throw, 203-6.00, ninth
Daye Shon Roberson, 400, 51:37, second
Chase Sammons – Shot Put, 61-3.50, 11th
Jessica Woodard – Discus Throw, 176-8.00, 11th
Ama Pipi, Erin Jones, Daye Shon Roberson, Leya Buchanan - 4x100, 44.02, third
Ama Pipi, Daye Shon Roberson, Daunicia Demerson, Payton Baker - 4x400, 3:33.33, seventh
(Mia Mukes will go as the alternate for the relays)
Players Mentioned
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Distance
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Friday, June 12
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
