Off Track Connections Lead to Success

NORMAN -- Walking into the door of Mosier Indoor Track Facility, you're met by six women. They are the members of the 400- and 1600-meter relays for the University of Oklahoma track and field team. They're laughing as they gather around the black iridescent mannequins clad with OU track apparel. They engage in some lighthearted banter as they compare their athletic-toned frames to the manufactured figures of the mannequins.

Two more individuals walk in, joining in the laughter — the coaches. They shake their heads approvingly at this group and their light-hearted exchanges. The coaches keep walking toward the door without anything more than a teasing “you guys are silly.” But that signal is enough as the six ease their way over to the glass doors where their crimson backpacks are strewn over the tile floors. It's time to head to their athletic sanctuary. The smiles become a little less intense and the bright-eyed women become fiercely focused. It's time. The fun doesn't stop exactly, it transforms into purpose.

The time outside of the red-clay colored track is just as important as the drills and mechanics that take place on it. In fact, it has been the delicate balance of fierce competitor and free-spirited friendship that has transformed this sprint group into national competitors in less than a year.

“That trust factor is huge and just spending time with each other helped build the chemistry,” said assistant coach of sprints Natasha Harvey. “From them spending time with each other and getting to know each other instead of letting their differences — whether it's race, socioeconomic, nationality —deter you from connecting, it's bonded us in a way.

“We have a very unique group and Coach (Kevin) Tyler and I are very intentional in the way we communicate with the group,” Harvey added. “We've had some meals at his house, we have group meetings after every team meeting. Just that time of communing with each other has made our group dynamic so much stronger.”

The trust and chemistry has made all of the difference. The sprinters know it as well, evidenced by the improvement in their times throughout the season. The 4x400 relay, made up of Ama Pipi, Daye Shon Roberson, Daunicia Demerson, and Payton Baker, has improved its time in nearly every meet with a current best of 3:33.33. Ranked 19th heading into the meet with that time, the time also ranks fourth on OU's all-time list.

“I always know they are going to go out there and run their best. No one is going to go out there and run half-hearted,” said Demerson, who runs the third leg of the 4x4. “Consistency and chemistry are important. I think it would be harder running with a bunch of people you did not like. Because we like each other, it makes it easier. We all just kind of click, even though we're so different.”

“I hope they say that about me,” she added with a quick laugh.

Disenchantment within a relay can be crippling, something that the coaches say they feel very fortunate not to have.

“I think the 4x4 team had that trust established earlier because they've had a longer history together. There was only one change to that group,” said Tyler, assistant coach of sprints. “Those shared experiences were really important for what we were doing this year. We spent a lot of time talking about what was possible and helping them to understand that we have the talent here to be successful.”

That one change was Pipi, who is the opening leg for both the 400- and 1600- relays. Only a freshman, Pipi sets the tone for both races. In the 4x4 group, she is among two sophomores (Baker and Roberson) and a junior (Demerson) who have worked together for a year. Though each relay presents a different physical challenge, Pipi has done her best to ensure a successful outcome for both groups.

“It's kind of nerve wrecking because running the open leg is really, really scary,” said Pipi, from London, England. “It builds a lot of confidence for me to be involved in both relays. It's a different environment for both of them. The 4x4 is bit more relaxed and 4x1 is more intense. It's like 'I got to go! I got to go!' It's a different experience.”

Roberson, like Pipi, runs on both relays and is leg two in the 4x4. Roberson enters the meet ranked fourth in the 400-meter dash with a career-best 51.37, earned during NCAA West prelims, and has advanced to nationals in that event as well. Her confidence and success have put the rest of the relay members at ease.

“Daye Shon brings a lot of energy so it's good to have her around,” said Baker, the anchor of the 1600-meter relay. “She's very upbeat and keeps everybody motivated. To be able to have somebody like that with her kind of energy to pump everybody up for the race is great.”

The coaches agree.

“In Daye Shon's case, she has true range,” said Tyler. “She can be highly competitive across the 100, the 200, and the 400 meter. For her, it's a natural fit. What's a bit of a challenge for her is that she has a really good shot individually in the 400, but she's got to run two relays before she gets to the 400 finals. She has done the work and has the ability so she can manage it.”

Roberson is the third leg in the 4x100, a group that found its groove late in the season. Challenges caused by dropped batons and disqualifications early pushed the foursome — Pipi, Roberson, Erin Jones, and Leya Buchanan — closer to each other to overcome those issues. To make it to nationals after a season best of 44.02, a time that ranks fifth in program history and 10^th heading into the meet, is all the sweeter.

“It's just really nice, especially with the 4x1,” said Harvey. “Anybody who's been following our season knows we didn't complete in about half of the races that we entered. After each of those races, we just went back to work at it on Monday. It's a true testament to perseverance.”

This is the first season that Pipi, Roberson, Jones, and Buchanan have run together. Buchanan is also a freshman and Jones, the lone senior in the bunch, redshirted last season.

“Ultimately, I think the 4x1 has come a long way. They never really truly showed their potential most of the season,” Tyler said. “They have a really good chance of making the finals at NCAAs. They have seconds they can still drop off, so I'm excited for them. They have responded really well this year.”

The final trip of the season to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships on June 10-13 is particularly special for Jones, who has been campaigning for a return trip to nationals. She has become the “big sister” of the sprint group and is excited about sharing her final collegiate moments with her teammates.

“It's even better to make it with your team because everybody gets to go,” Jones said. “I was so excited (when I realized we advanced). I immediately looked for Ama and we just hugged. We were both so happy. It's definitely exciting because it's my last year.”

The foursome's journey to nationals has made the women even more confident.

“Even though our relay wasn't that great at the beginning of the season, we couldn't get down. We still stuck to it and we made it happen,” Buchanan said. “It is a very big accomplishment and I know it's going to be a lot of fun. We're just getting in the groove.”

The relays have hit their stride at the right time after both groups earned second-place finishes at the Big 12 Championship. The 400 relay finished third and 1600 meter finished seventh in regional prelims to advance to the championship. The momentum is building and, if history is any indicator of future successes, both groups have a strong chance to score at nationals.

“We play the underdog card with 'you're young, people don't expect anything of you, this a good chance for you to come out of the shadows,'” said Tyler. “I know people are kind of surprised to see both of our teams qualify. It's been a long time for Oklahoma.”

Those doubters mean little to Roberson, who is elated to share the glory with her teammates. She recognizes the unique position she is in and how her individual accomplishments have inspired her teammates.

“I enjoy relays because they're an opportunity for other people,” Roberson said. “Everything is just coming together. We've made it so far and now it's like all we have to do is run.

“It's getting to a point where everyone's confident,” she added. “With confidence comes prosperity.”

Wise words, and perhaps prophetic. The group is very confident, a confidence that has been earned through disappointments, success and hard work. Their expectation is nothing short of earning All-America status, a real possibility.

The next time they congregate at Mosier they will laugh, smile and compare. However, their focus may not be on plastic replicas, but perhaps on their own photos as part of the display of Sooner All-Americans featured on the wall. They will be among other Sooner track and field legends and rightfully so. That will be the ultimate bonding moment.

By: Akilah Laster, Athletics Communications Graduate Assistant