OU Opens Outdoor Season in Sunny Arizona

March 17, 2016 | Track and Field

By: Akilah Laster

TEMPE, Ariz. - Spring break for most is the chance for rest and relaxation or a sun-filled vacation.

For the Oklahoma track and field teams, it marks the opening of the outdoor season.

Keeping the spring break vibe in mind however, the Sooners traveled to Tempe, Ariz., earlier in the week to kick off outdoor competition under the desert sun at the Baldy Castillo Invitational.

The meet, scheduled to begin Friday at 4 p.m. (CT) and continue through Saturday, features 12 teams. More than 50 Sooner entries will be contending in 27 events across the two-day competition.

The Sooners have participated in the Arizona State-hosted invitational for the last three years as the location provides a unique opportunity for OU teams to continue training and competition in a vacation-like atmosphere.

The meet is also the first opportunity for outdoor-only event members to compete after being cooped up and patiently waiting through the two-month indoor season for a taste of action.

Competition opens with the women's hammer throw on Friday and will feature Sarah Tolson, Ashley Bryant and Julia Reedy. Reedy, OU's program record holder, returns as a first team All-American after finishing fifth at the NCAA Championship last season. The men's weight throw, featuring Charles Nguyen, will follow at the conclusion of the women's competition.

The Sooners end the first day of the meet in the 1,500-meter races for both the men and women. Brittany Tretbar, Elena Arriaza, Belle Wallace, Kelsey McKee and Sarah Scott will represent OU in the women's race while Eric Alldritt, Dylan Blankenbaker, Will Hogston, Zac Randall, Dan Schubert and Blake Yount will compete for the men. Wallace was a Big 12 scorer in the event in 2015.

Two-time All-American Liz Herrs opens her 2016 season on Saturday in the javelin.

Action resumes Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT) with women's discus and it will feature a trio of Sooners - Kate Foster, Jenny Carmichael and Jess Woodard. Woodard finished 17th in the discus at the national meet last season as a RS freshman.

Field events continue throughout the day with a must-see javelin competition slated for a 4 p.m. start. The seven-member Sooner javelin group boasts a couple All-American returnees, Big 12 champs and scorers. The women's division will feature Makayala Stephens, Liz Herrs and Avione Allgood. Herrs is a two-time All-American in the event, finishing third (first team) at the NCAAs in 2015 and 10th (second team) in 2014. Allgood, who redshirted last season with an injury, was the 2014 national runner up and also holds a first-team honor.

The men return the 2015 Big 12 champion and program record-holder Garrett Snow in addition to regional qualifiers and conference scorers Tyler Renton and T.J. Noonan. Steven Jazdyk, a combined-event athlete will also compete in the javelin.

Running events begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday as well with the women's 4x100-meter relay. OU's 4x100 qualified for the 2015 NCAA meet and returns three of its 2015 members - Ama Pipi, Daye Shon Roberson and Leya Buchanan. Bianca Brazil will be new to the lineup. Roberson and Pipi were also part of the national-qualifying 4x400-meter relay group and will also compete in that race at 6:45 p.m. Saturday with returnee Daunicia Demerson and last year's alternate Mia Mukes.

Sooners Trae Armstrong and Bennie Wesley will compete in the 4x100-meter relay, 100-meter dash and Wesley will also run in the 200-meter race.

Live results will be available at Finished Timing with a full recap after each day of the meet available on SoonerSports.com.