Doughty Finishes Fourth in Steeplechase

EUGENE, Ore. - Chase Sammons patted Brandon Doughty on the back as they entered historic Hayward Field on the third day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

It was perhaps a pre-congratulatory gesture. The gesture was well timed and proved to be well deserved.

Doughty lived up to the early celebration and all other expectations on Friday. He finished fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after finishing fifth in 2014. His 8:38.35 set a University of Oklahoma program record after a record-setting performance (8:41.26) during the semifinal race on Wednesday. Doughty's 8:41.65 during the 2014 final was a program record as well.

“He's just a big-time competitor,” said head coach Jim VanHootegem. “We've said it all along -- it's nice to have an undisputed leader on our teams.

“One of the guys this year said ?Brandon outdoes everybody in everything, not just at track meets,'” the coach added. “He does everything to the best of his ability and he gets the payoff.”

The payoff in 2015 resulted in another Big 12 Championship title and first-team All-America honors for the second consecutive year.

He's just a big-time competitor.?We've said it all along -- it's nice to have an undisputed leader on our teams.
Jim VanHootegem, head coach

Doughty finished behind three-time champion Anthony Rotich of UTEP (8:33.90), Stanley Kebenei of Arkansas (8:34.28), and Ole Hesselbjerg of Eastern Kentucky (8:36.09). That trio finished in the same order in 2014.

Doughty began the race one spot ahead of last place, but by lap three he was among the top five runners. He hovered between fourth and fifth, but eventually pushed ahead to challenge the top three competitors. He closed strong and ultimately finished fourth.

“The sign of confidence is people that can run patient races,” the second-year head coach said. “If you believe in yourself, make all the right moves and don't get panicked, you'll get there. He was always in it.”

Confidence will be beneficial for the final two competitions for the Sooners on Saturday.

Sooners Daye Shon Roberson and Jess Woodard close out their 2015 campaigns tomorrow afternoon, the final day of the meet. Woodard will open the competition for the Sooners in the discus at 1:35 p.m. (PDT). Roberson takes the track for the 400 at 3:05 p.m.

Roberson heads into the 400-meter dash final with the fifth-best semifinal time, a 51.76, on Thursday. After competing in the 400 and the 400-meter relay on Thursday, she is well rested. She has totaled four PRs in the event, including her career best of 51.37, run at NCAA West prelims, two weeks ago. The improvement might be hard to believe for this Sooner sophomore who competed on the relays a year ago.

Her PR trail started at the Baylor Invitational on April 3 when she recorded a 53.86. She dropped that to 53.10 at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational a week later. Her next PR went to 51.58 in the prelims at the Big 12 on May 16. On Saturday, she gets her chance to secure one more and do so with a trophy in hand.

“For Daye Shon, it's all about focus,” VanHootegem said. “She's been in a variety of different races. She just really needs to just get out and I think she's going to do really well.”

After supporting her teammates from the sidelines throughout the past three days of competition, Woodard is eager to step in the circle. She heads into the discus ranked 16th with her career-best mark of 176-8.00 recorded during the prelims two weeks ago. Each of the 24 competitors gets three attempts and, after that, the top nine advance to the final for three more throws.

“We talked about going out and doing her best. Hopefully, it's enough to make the finals,” said the head coach. “She's a freshman but, really not a freshman anymore because she's been through a whole collegiate season.”

A top-eight finish for Woodard on Saturday would ensure first-team All-America honors for the trio of Sooner women throwers. Teammates Liz Herrs and Julia Reedy finished third and fifth on Thursday, respectively. Herrs competed in the javelin and Reedy in the hammer throw.

“We're really excited for both Daye Shon and Jess tomorrow,” VanHootegem said. “We're emphasizing that we want every group on the team to contribute to one team effort.”

First-time NCAA qualifiers Roberson and Woodard are not letting that unnerve them. They have watched teammates compete with the best collegians in the country and wrap up that competition with a spot on the award stand. The duo is ready to take that same step and hold their own trophies on the final day of competition.

Live results will be available at Flash Results. Additional information about the NCAA Championships is available at the University of Oregon website. To watch the Championships, visit the ESPN site.