Sooners Earn Seven NCAA Bids Despite Delays

Friday, May 27

Lawrence, Kan.

12:00 PM

University of Oklahoma

NCAA West Preliminary Round

Sooners Earn Seven NCAA Bids Despite Delays

May 27, 2016 | Track and Field

By: Akilah Laster

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The ability to handle adverse and unfavorable circumstances reveals the heart of an athlete.

Several Sooners proved that, regardless of suspended competition or torrential weather, they could get the job done. Both of those circumstances occurred on Thursday and Friday at the NCAA West Prelims in Lawrence, Kan, and the Sooners prevailed.

On Friday, the first full day of competition, seven members of the Oklahoma track and field teams earned a seat on the plane to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 8-11. It will be the 14th year the national meet is hosted in Track Town USA, the city's moniker.

A veteran group of Sooners return to the big meet and they will be joined by several first-timers. Two-time All-American Liz Herrs earned her third consecutive bid in the javelin on a 172-10.00 effort. She placed fourth overall in Lawrence.

Daye Shon Roberson and Julia Reedy, both All-Americans, will make back-to-back appearances at the outdoor national in the 400 and hammer, respectively.

Roberson also contended at the 2016 indoor national meet in the 200. On Friday, she won her 400 heat with a time of 52.46 to get an automatic bid. Reedy finished in third with a mark of 215-1.00 to advance. The top-12 competitors for each event move on to Eugene.

"I really like the idea that we're meeting the form chart," said head coach Jim VanHootegem. "I think we've set ourselves up with an attitude during the entire season where we know how to repeat strong performances consistently. It'd be nice to get a few more people to step up and get themselves in as well."

Ashley Bryant (203-2.00) finished eighth in the hammer to qualify for her first national competition. The sophomore jumped to the 11th spot on her second attempt, but dropped slightly, headed into the final round. She held onto 12th place and, despite a nearly four-hour weather delay before her final attempt, threw a huge PR to move into the top 10. Bryant's performance also moves her to second all-time at OU.

Ashley Bryant earned an NCAA berth after throwing a PR 203-2.00 on her final attempt. That mark moves her to second all-time at OU.

Senior Sarah Tolson participated in her final competition as a Sooner, finishing 22nd in the hammer. Tolson leaves OU as the third best in program history (202-2.00) and is OU's record holder in the weight throw (63-9.50), an indoor event.

Tyler Renton extended his collegiate career for two more weeks, earning his first national bid in the javelin. The senior threw a 231-8.00 in the first round to earn his trip west.

Teammate and another senior Garrett Snow (219-8.00) did not advance, finishing 13th, just shy of a top-12 position. He finishes as the second-best javelin thrower in OU history (241-6.00). Renton owns the program record 252-2.00.

Dylan Blankenbaker also will make his national debut after an impressive 3,000-meter steeplechase. The junior remained in the top half and edged his way to the front on the final straightaway. He threw his hands up as he crossed the finish line, a less painful display than his head-first dive across the tape during the Big 12 Championship. His 8:44.11 was the fourth-best time.

Despite OU's success, weather delays again dampened the day and forced several field events inside. The pole vaulters were relocated indoors after Thursday, then the high jump competition and women's long jump moved as a precaution on Friday.

Baileh Simms capitalized on the change of scene and earned her second NCAA bid in the long jump, her first as a Sooner. She competed at the national meet last season for Portland State. Simms finished 10th on Friday with a mark of 19-9.50.

Pole vaulter Tanner Williams concluded his collegiate career as well on Friday.He cleared a 16-4.00 height, but did not advance to the national meet.

Freshmen pole vaulters Mackenzie Shell and Meagan Gray completed their first season as Sooners Friday. Shell's clearance of 13-6.25 and Gray's mark of 12-6.25 were not enough to advance to nationals.

Another round of heavy rain and nearby lightning ended the women's discus competition early. Sooner Jess Woodard will compete at 9 am tomorrow in the third and final flight. Kate Foster, who participated in flight two, currently sits in fourth with a 169-8.00 mark.

"Saturday is a big day with relays and a lot more individual events," VanHootegem said. "We have two people in the shot and discus who haven't gotten to throw in either, so we have a lot of stuff to do tomorrow. But getting seven people today is a number that looks good."

Joining Woodard in competition Saturday morning will be Hayden McClain and Marcus Mitchell in the men's triple jump at 9 a.m. and Chase Sammons in the discus, also at 9 a.m. Woodard will double up Saturday, competing in the women's shot put at 12:30 p.m. Sammons will also compete in the shot put at 3 p.m. to conclude field events.

Pipi will run in three events on Saturday - the 4x100 relay, the 200 and the 4x400 relay.

Running events open at 10 a.m. with the women's 4x100 relay. OU's quartet of Bianca Brazil, Ama Pipi, Roberson and Leya Buchanan will run in the third and final heat. The top three of each heat plus the next best three advance to Eugene.

The day ends for OU with the 4x400 relay under the same qualification guidelines. Pipi, Roberson, Daunicia Demerson and Payton Baker will contend for a consecutive national appearance in the event.

Pipi will have her plate full as she is also scheduled to run in the 200 at 12:30 p.m. Trae Armstrong will run in the men's division following at 12:55 p.m.

The women's 1500 begins at 10:30 a.m. and will include OU's Belle Wallace and Kelsey McKee. Jacob Burcham will compete in the men's section at 11 a.m.

In her regional debut, Olivia Haggerty will race in the 100-meter hurdles at 11:30 a.m.

"I think we're focused even though we're dealing with delays and different situations," the third-year head coach said. "You show up to check in for the long jump and find out you're jumping indoor - that requires adjustments. But, I think the Sooners are ready to do what it takes to move on."

Live results are available at Flash Results with a live stream to be broadcast through KU Athletics on Saturday at 10a.m. A full recap will be available after the end of competition on SoonerSports.com.