Roberson Tops Olympic Competition, Burcham Posts Top-5 NCAA Mark

Saturday, February 13

Albuquerque, N.M.

11:30 AM

University of Oklahoma

Don Kirby Elite Invitational

Roberson Tops Olympic Competition, Burcham Posts Top-5 NCAA Mark

February 13, 2016 | Track and Field

By: Akilah Laster

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- It is said that the measure of a person can be determined by how they stand up to challenges.

For Daye Shon Roberson, even an Olympic-sized challenge was not enough to unnerve her on the track.

In what has become a frequent race for the junior, Roberson edged Olympic hurdler Georganne Moline in the 400-meter dash to win the Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday. Roberson registered a 53.08 to outrun her competition.

The OU sprinter led the entire race, but almost fell behind as Moline stayed on her outside shoulder. Roberson powered just ahead of Moline (53.12) as they crossed the finish line. Moline competed for Team USA in the 2012 London Olympic Games where she finished fifth in the 400-hurdle finals.

"Daye Shon understands that she is at a high level," said Jim VanHootegem, the Sooners' head coach. "Georganne Moline is a great athlete, but she's a 400-hurdler and Daye Shon's a 400 runner. Daye Shon has to understand that she is at a level that she has to be a competitive person every week and go out and run her own race. Obviously, It is impressive that she beat an Olympic hurdler."

Roberson faced world-class competition earlier in the season when she beat World Championship medalist Shamier Little - also a hurdler- in the 400 at the Texas A&M Quadrangular. Roberson registered a career-best 52.62 that was then the fastest world time.

Mackenzie Shell finished third in the pole vault after clearing 14-0.00, just under her career best.

Including Roberson's finish, the team posted top-three performances in as many events on Saturday.

Thomas Cheval finished third in the collegiate division in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.18. He matched his career-best time of 8.15 in the semifinals to advance.

Mackenzie Shell challenged her career mark after she cleared a 14-0.00 in the pole vault, but fell short at 14-2.00 to surpass it. Shell holds the program record with a 14-0.50.

Thomas Cheval finished third in the collegiate competition in the 60-meter hurdles at the Don Kirby Elite.

"I think everybody always wants to do something further than what they've done or something better than what they've done," VanHootegem said. "Sometimes, you reach a level and then have to be consistent at that level. To have a big performance just once really doesn't do that much. Consistency at a high level is what's important and I thinks that's what both Thomas and Mackenzie display."

As a team, the Sooners showed consistency over the two-day meet as career and season bests continued to be set on Saturday.

Hayden McClain posted a PR in the men's triple jump to finish fifth. His 52-8.75 moves him to seventh on the NCAA qualifying list, up from eighth. McClain remains fifth all-time at OU as he replaces his previous-top mark, a 52-7.50.

"I saw an improved competitiveness in Hayden where he was able to improve in the third and fifth rounds," the third-year OU head coach said. "For him not to have the best start and to then get himself going in the competition was good to see."

Freshman Marcus Mitchell also posted a personal best in the triple jump, recording a 47-10.50.

Hayden McClain PRed in the triple jump at the Don Kirby Elite. He finished fifth with a mark of 52-8.75.

CeCe Jackson finished eighth in the women's division of the hurdles with an 8.49. A season-best 8.42 in the second round sent her to the finals.

Olivia Haggerty also competed in 60-meter hurdles and managed to record a career mark on an 8.54 effort during the semifinal, but her time fell short of advancement.

"A lot of people are getting better and are able to line up," said VanHootegem. "We were able to hold intensity levels throughout two days of competition. Sometimes, a race doesn't go off the way you thought it would and you just have to stay focused. The teams are at a good place heading into Big 12s."

Trae Armstrong (7.75) and Bennie Wesley (7.89) ran in the 60-meter semifinal, but did not advance to the finals. Armstrong missed qualification by .05 of a second.

Jess Woodard placed fifth in the shot put with a 52-8.00 and Avione Allgood followed in sixth with a 52-1.75. Chase Sammons finished sixth in the men's division with a 58-9.50.

The Sooners closed the day with a season-best performance by the women's 4x400 quartet. Ama Pipi, Daunicia Demerson, Mia Mukes and Payton Baker clocked a 3:47.15 to finish eighth overall.

BURCHAM CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY WITH A CAREER BEST IN THE MILE

Jacob Burcham got an inch of an opportunity and he took it to the mile.

He registered a career-best 3:57.46 at the Husky Classic in the men's mile Saturday to jump to fifth on the NCAA qualifying list. That effort also moved him to second all-time in OU history. All this, on his 21st birthday.

"That's a big-time performance for Jacob," said head coach Jim VanHootegem. "We now have six Sooners who have run under four minutes. The sub-four minute mile remains something special and it's tremendous for Jacob to join that club."

Heading into the weekend, Burcham was 23rd on the NCAA list. The top-16 times qualify for the national championship.

Career marks highlighted the day for the Sooners in Seattle.

Jacob Goldberg ran a career best in the 800 meter with a 1:51.66 to open the day for the distance runners, while Sarah Scott ran a new best in the mile. She outran more than 30 entries to finish 17th of 51 competitors with her 4:53.85.

Kelsey McKee finished with a time of 4:59.66 and Belle Wallace ran a 5:00.87 in the mile as well.

Allen Eke finished 23rd with a time of 1:51.96 in the 800 meter. Blake Yount ran a 1:54.45 and Zac Randall a 1:56.04 to round it out for the Sooner men.

The Sooners will send a distance medley relay team to the Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend, Ind., next Saturday. It will be the final outing for the team before the Big 12 Championship on Feb. 26-27.

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