Blankenbaker Advances to Sunday Final

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Dylan Blankenbaker has perfected the art of advancing. He demonstrated that once again Friday night at the United States Track and Field Association's national championship, finishing ninth overall to take the final qualifying spot in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. His time, 8:37.94, advanced him to Sunday's final.

Blankenbaker was fourth initially, then slipped back into the pack in his heat. That heat produced nine of the 14 qualifiers. The top five in each of two heats earned the auto qualifying spots. The next four fastest times completed the field for the final.

Another former Sooner, Brandon Doughty, unfortunately ran in the first heat and finished sixth, .30 behind the fifth-place finisher. He and Blankenbaker have owned the school record for the steeplechase for the last three seasons.

Former Sooner Will Claye was close to perfect in the triple jump, winning the event with a 58-9.25. He had five legal jumps, then passed on his sixth attempt. Claye took control of the event from his first jump and never let go. Hayden McClain, who recently completed his OU career, had fouls on his first two attempts, then posted a 51-9.75 to finish 10th. He missed advancing to the final eight by by just over 12 inches.

In the final event of the day, the men's 5,000-meter, Riley Masters, running for NIKE, finished ninth with a 14:40.15. He opened the first lap in second, then fell back into the pack. He stayed in eighth or ninth for the rest of the race. Biya Simbassa, who finished fourth in the 10,000 Thursday, was scheduled to run the 5,000 did not start the race.

On Saturday, Candyce McGrone is entered in the first round of the 200 and runs at 2:15 p.m. McGrone did not advance to the semifinals in the 100 after the first round on Thursday. Jess Woodard, after finishing 11th in the discus Thursday, has the shot put at 2:30 p.m. and Baileh Simms will compete in the triple jump at 2:45 p.m. final

On Sunday, Claye is scheduled for the long jump at 2:10 p.m. The semifinal for the women's 200 is at 2:20 p.m. and the final is set for 4:43 p.m. The men's steeplechase final is scheduled for 4:16 p.m. Because of excessive heat in the Sacramento area, times are subject to change

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Players Mentioned

Dylan Blankenbaker

Dylan Blankenbaker

Brandon Doughty

Brandon Doughty

Hayden McClain

Hayden McClain

Baileh Simms

Baileh Simms

Jess Woodard

Jess Woodard

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