Completed Event: Track and Field at Battle on the Bayou on April 3, 2026 ,
Final
Track and Field
at Battle on the Bayou
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Count 36 for NCAA West Regional
May 19, 2016 | Track and Field
NORMAN - The numbers keep improving for the OU track and field teams.
On Thursday, the NCAA released the regional declaration lists for the upcoming NCAA West Preliminary championship on May 26-28 in Lawrence, Kan. A total of 36 Sooners (22 women, 14 men) have been accepted in 29 events, including two relays (the women's 4x100 and 4x400). The three-day meet is the final competition before the big meet on June 8-11 in Eugene, Ore.
To advance to regionals, competitors needed to post a top-48 mark or time in open events or a top-24 relay time by the May 15 deadline.
A season ago, 32 Sooners competed in 23 events at the regional meet with 11 competitors who went on to the NCAA Championships. Improved numbers for this year's regional come after a historic weekend at the Big 12 Championship for the Sooners. The OU women finished as conference runners-up, their best finish since the league began during the 1996-97 academic year.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Computer Rankings listed the OU women as the 13th-best Division I team in the country, its highest in-season ranking since 2012.
"Everybody is in good spirits and they can see all of the hard work is beginning to pay off," said head coach Jim VanHootegem. "This is the time of the year we've discussed all season. The athletes have realized that you need to be at this level throughout the year. You just can't wake up thinking 'the big meets are later' you have to perform at a high level at all of the meets in preparation for the later meets."
Among the 36 Sooners qualified, 16 posted top-15 regional marks or times with seven of that group holding top-five positions. On the women's team, Mackenzie Shell (pole vault - 14-5.50), Julia Reedy (hammer throw - 219-2.00) and Avione Allgood (javelin - 192-2.00) all rank third. Daye Shon Roberson (400 - 51.42) ranks fourth and Liz Herrs (javelin - 183-2.00) is fifth. Tyler Renton's program-record 252-2.00 ranks third in javelin and Hayden McClain (long jump - 52-10.00) ranks fourth in the men's division. Both women's relays rank 10th.
To qualify for the NCAA Championships, competitors have to post a top-12 performance in their region. While the Sooners are competing in Lawrence, the East preliminaries will be going on in Jacksonville, Fla., on the campus of the University of North Florida. If it's up to the Sooners, the numbers will continue to get better.
"We definitely are happy to improve," VanHootegem said. "This meet is all about going to the next meet. We want everyone going to see it for what it is - a qualifying round. We want to advance to nationals so that's our focus."
For more information on OU track and field follow the Sooners on Twitter @OU_Track, like the page OUTrackandXC on Facebook and check out SoonerSports.com.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints-Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
PV
/ Track and FieldSaturday, June 13
Friday, June 12
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
