Roberson Finishes Third in 400

EUGENE, Ore. - The University of Oklahoma track and field team congregated during the late morning on Saturday.

The atmosphere was celebratory. Three Sooners had become first-team All-Americans over the last three days. However, the team's job was not yet done. The Sooners still had two women -- Daye Shon Roberson and Jess Woodard -- left to compete on the final day of NCAA Outdoor Track and field Championships.

The message for these first-time national qualifiers was simple-"do your best as the others have done." The duo took those words to heart.

I think we've established a group of team leaders who have gotten a lot of experience at this meet and can lead us next year. Hopefully, we can bring in more people that can compete at this level.
Jim VanHootegem, head coach

Roberson cruised her way to the All-America team after she finished third in the 400-meter final Saturday. She finished behind Kala Funderburk of Florida State (51.67) and Kendall Baisden of Texas (51.739). Roberson's 51.74 is her fourth sub 52-second time since May 16..

“Third place at the NCAA championships is phenomenal,” said head coach Jim VanHootegem. “We knew she would be one of five who had a chance to win it. She raced her heart out.”

She has become a productive 400-meter runner during her second year, finishing second on OU's all-time list. Last season she did not record an individual time in the 400 during the outdoor season, as she focused her efforts on the 1600-meter relay.

Roberson dropped more than two seconds this season running an initial time of 53.86 at the Baylor Invitational in early April. She left that in the dust as she climbed the podium to receive the fourth award for the OU squad this weekend.

She and Woodard have shared impressive seasons.“We're very proud of her,” VanHootegem said. “She closed out the team effort with a strong race.”

Woodard made a strong effort on the final day of the meet with a 167-5.00 mark to finish eighth in her flight. The top 9 of 24 competitors advanced to a final round and Woodard was 17th overall.

“The opportunity to make it to the nationals in the discus is tremendous,” the head coach said. “There was no problem with her energy or effort today, but we were maybe chasing a few things technically.”

Though the redshirt freshman's season fell short of her expectation, she made significant strides that leave her confident heading into the summer break. Woodard was the youngest of the throwing squad to be a national qualifier. She also improved her initial mark, a 158-02.00 at the Baldy Castillo Invitational in March, nearly 20 feet this season to end with a career best 176-8.00. That number ranks fourth in program history.

Woodard is in rare company as she competes in weight throw, hammer throw, shot put and discus throughout the year. She qualified for the NCAA West preliminaries in multiple throwing events - the shot put (45-9.25) and the discus (176-8.00), ultimately advancing in the discus on a PR. Teammate Chase Sammons was the only other Sooner thrower competing in multiple events during prelims.

“She is an all-around thrower and she's learning the combination,” VanHootegem said. “As she gains more experience in her events, she's going to be back and doing really well.”

The OU women finsihed in a tie for 15th with 16 points. The Sooners were the third best performing Big 12 team based on points scored. The Sooner men scored five points and were tied for 44th overall.

The track and field team concludes the 2015 season with a lot of momentum. The Sooners advanced 11 student-athletes to nationals, improved from six in 2014, and all but one return next year. Erin Jones is the lone senior among the qualifiers.

The team leaves Eugene, Ore.,with four first team All-Americans, three with first time honors. That quartet includes Roberson, Brandon Doughty (3,000-meter steeplechase), Liz Herrs, javelin, and Julia Reedy, hammer. In 2014, two Sooner, Doughty (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Avione Allgood (javelin) earned those honors.

“I think we've established a group of team leaders who have gotten a lot of experience at this meet and can lead us next year,” said VanHootegem.. “Hopefully, we can bring more people that can compete at this level.”

In this moment, however, the Sooners will end the day and the season in the same way it began, celebrating.

Players Mentioned

Avione Allgood

Avione Allgood

Brandon Doughty

Erin Jones

Julia Reedy

Daye Shon Roberson

Chase Sammons

Jess Woodard

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics