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University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Adds to NCAA Top-16 List, Women Rise in Rankings
February 04, 2016 | Track and Field
NORMAN - As the weeks keep rolling along, so does the indoor season for Oklahoma track and field teams.
After a weekend of competition against top-ranked teams at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., the Sooners have posted new NCAA qualifying marks in multiple events. The women's team also climbed the USTFCCCA Team Computer Rankings by nine spots to No. 44 nationally, the first time either team has made an indoor top-50 appearance since the 2015 preseason ranking when the women were No. 32.
"We certainly have more performances in the top 20 or 30 in the nation at this point in time in the season than the last two years," said head coach Jim VanHootegem. "It shows progress in what we're doing. Of course, we'd like to start off a little higher at some point in the future, but it's good to be moving up."
Daye Shon Roberson cruised to a top-three national spot in the 200-meter dash after recording a 23.14 at the Razorback Invitational on Jan. 29.
Daye Shon Roberson has contributed significantly to the rise of the women's team after recording another top-three world, national, and collegiate time over the weekend. She recorded a 23.14 in the 200-meter dash in her first race this season at the distance. The performance came against opponents from top-ranked Arkansas, then-No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Florida, No. 18 LSU and No. 20 Texas A&M. It also came just a week after Roberson ran the then-top 400-meter time in the world.
Roberson's 52.62 in the 400 on Jan. 23 was beaten last weekend by Arkansas' Taylor Ellis-Watson, who ran a 52.26. The duo has a history in the 400 as Roberson edged her Razorback competitor to finish third at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"Sometimes you're a little worried after a breakthrough performance that an athlete might exhale a little bit too much," VanHootegem said. "I just don't get that sense from her right now. I feel like she's pretty focused. She comes back to the track on Monday and knows that she has things to work on.
"Coach (Ronnye) Harrison puts the athletes in a good position where they have a chance to get better in practice," he added. "She's still focused on improving and getting better. She's certainly proven her range from 60 to 400 meters this season and she's setting a good tone for the team."
Roberson is not alone as other Sooner women remain highly ranked on the national qualifying list. Freshman pole vaulter Mackenzie Shell (14-0.50) dropped to 11th and Jess Woodard (54-6.00) is now 14th in the shot put after the first three weeks of competition. Shell and Woodard entered the qualifying list at sixth and seventh, respectively.
Avione Allgood improved to fourth all-time at OU after throwing a career best in the shot put at the Razorback Invitational. Her 54-1.75 mark is 20th in the NCAA, currently.
The OU women were also sparked by other noteworthy field performances at the Razorback Invitational. Baileh Simms posted a career best in the long jump with a 20-5.00 mark to land at No. 19 on the NCAA list. Simms, a Portland State transfer, is a 2015 All-American in the outdoor long jump. Her recent mark ranks third all-time at OU.
Avione Allgood, the 2014 NCAA runner-up in the javelin throw, approached the qualifying mark (top 16) after recording a 54-1.75 PR in the shot put. She is currently 20th on the NCAA list and her performance moved her up to fourth in program history.
"Avione is almost two different athletes where she is an All-American in the javelin and she's consistently getting better and better in the shot put," the third year head coach said. "Her abilities are there and I think there's even more that she can do.
"Baileh's intensity level and focus level are there," VanHootegem continued. "I think there's a point in time where you want to see athletes taking chances and going for it. Beyond just the jump that counted, her body now knows what it feels like to jump far and that's going to continue to move her forward."
Thomas Cheval set a program record on his way to a fourth-place finish in the heptathlon at the Razorback Invitational on Jan. 30. His 5,671 point total is currently 10th in the NCAA.
The Sooner men also saw some movement on the NCAA qualifying list after the weekend. Thomas Cheval and Jacob Burcham opened in top-15 positions in the heptathlon and the mile run, respectively. Cheval, No. 10 on the chart, broke a 15-year program record in his first heptathlon of the season. He scored 5,671 points to bypass former record-holder Justin Conkling, who set the previous record in 2001.
"With Thomas, we are very pleased with where he's at this time in the season," said the head coach. "His next chance to compete will be at Big 12s and that's very competitive. That's going to be the most intense and important level of competition for us as a group. Hopefully, he'll go out and have another great effort.
"Jacob's a great example of someone taking more ownership of his running," said the head coach. "The higher level competitor is the one taking the responsibility for training. Even though that was a PR for him and placed him at that position nationally (15th), we're not even sure if he got a true chance to show what he's capable of. We certainly think there's more there."
Chase Sammons and Hayden McClain remain in the top-16 after the third week of indoor competition. McClain (52-7.50) held his seventh-place mark in the triple jump for consecutive weeks and Sammons moved back into qualifying range at 12th after a 61-7-00 performance in the shot put at the Razorback Invitational.
The distance medley relay improved to ninth in the NCAA after improving its time by 19 seconds to 9:37.28 at the Razorback Invitational on Jan. 29. Allen Eke, the opening leg of the relay foursome, pictured.
The men's distance medley relay, previously 12th nationally, improved to ninth after running a 9:37.28. The foursome of Allen Eke, Trae Armstrong, Jacob Goldberg, and Burcham improved the time for the relay by 19 seconds to move up.
OU will take a break from competition this weekend after three consecutive weeks of competing. Action will resume on Feb. 12 as the team splits for the first and only time during the indoor season. The majority of the Sooners head to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Don Kirby Elite Invitational while a group of entries, primarily distance runners, will head to Seattle for the Husky Classic.
To keep up with the Sooners follow them on Twitter at OU_Track, Facebook at OUTrackandXC, and on SoonerSports.com.
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