T&F Starts Season Strong at KSU

Saturday, December 5

Manhattan, KS

University of Oklahoma

Kansas State Winter Invitational

December 05, 2020 | Track and Field

Results

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The University of Oklahoma track and field team returned to action Saturday for the 2020-21 season opener in Manhattan, Kan., at the K-State Winter Invitational.

The Sooners collected a combined 11 victories on the day with six coming on the track and five in the field events.

"I was very excited to see what we were able to put together today," said OU head coach Tim Langford. "I felt like the team bounced back from the pandemic in a solid way. With a few weeks to prepare coming off thanksgiving and people being off campus, along with all the parameters that we've had to deal with, I think today was a success.

"I was really excited to get back in the swing of things. It was great to see track and field happening again." - Tim Langford

Senior Lauren Jones started the day strong for OU, collecting the first victory of the season in the women's weight throw with a PR mark of 67-3.5 (20.51m). Jones' throw ranks second in the OU indoor record books. Freshman Bailey Tilley recorded her own personal best with a fourth-place finish in the event (67-3.5 [20.51m]).

The throws squad continued their hot start in the men's weight throw and both men's and women's shot put.

Junior Bayley Campbell placed second in the men's weight throw with a toss of 63-7 (19.38m). In the women's shot put, junior transfer Payden Montana starter her Sooners career with a bang, throwing an indoor personal-best 53-5.75 (16.30m) to take the win. OU collected the top three spots in the event with sophomore Faith Ette (53-0.25 [16.16m]) placing second and junior Lauren Jones (51-7.75 [15.74m]) taking third.

Senior Cooper Campbell got his senior campaign started in a big way with a throw of 63-6.75 (19.37m) that brought home first out of collegiate completion and put him second in the indoor OU record books.

In the women's long jump, junior Symone Washington leapt 18-6 (5.64m) to claim second while senior transfer Helena McLeod began her OU career with a third-place finish with a jump of 18-3.25 (5.57m). Senior Rayvon Allen jumped 24-1.50 (7.35m) in the men's long jump to take first.

Jelaani Davis took the men's triple jump crown with a leap of 49-3.75 (15.03m). Kunle Akinlosotu (47-1.5 [14.36m]) and Tyler Hanks (46-8.75 [14.24m]) placed second and third. In the women's triple jump, Mikeisha Welcome lead the Sooners in fourth (41-8 [12.70m]), while Symone Washington (40-9 [12.42m]) and Allanah Lee (39-8.75 [12.11m]) came in fifth and sixth, respectively.

The men's and women's 60-meter competition saw plenty of Sooners collect top-five spots. On the women's side, junior transfer Deborah Giffard took the victory with a time of 7.58, just edging junior Kennedy Blackmon's second-place time. Ja'Leesa Giles (7.59) placed third in the dash, while Lilan Henderson (7.73), Grace Posey (7.74) and Helena McLeod (8.08) took sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

In the men's 60 meters, senior Demarius Smith placed first out of collegiate competition, crossing the line in 6.74 seconds. Senior transfer Jared Hayes took second in 6.78, while Quoi Ellis (6.79) and Alajuwan Robinson (6.92) took home respective spots of third and fourth.

It was an OU sweep of the 300-meter competition with Blackmon taking the women's victory in 39.07 seconds and freshman Salim Epps winning the men's 300 in 34.50 seconds to claim his first win as a Sooner. Epps time tied the school record in the men's 300 meters event.

The 60-meter hurdles action saw two Sooners collect top-three finishes. Senior Camri Austin clocked in at 8.50 seconds to place third on the women's side while junior Isaiah Levingston took second in the men's competition with a time of 8.15 seconds. Junior Allanah Lee (9.17) and freshman Destini Jeter (10.16) finished seventh and ninth, respectively, in the women's race.

In the 600-yard races, OU collected six top-five finishes across the men's and women's races. Levi Gladd (1:29.30) placed third to pace the OU women while Erin Weigel (1:29.78) and Hannah Turner (1:30.81) came in fourth and fifth. On the men's side, Johnelle Joe (1:14.61) led the Sooners with a second-place spot while Zac Tucker (1:16.31) and Sorre Bah (1:16.78) finished third and fourth.

Derek King collected his first win of the season in the men's 1,000 meters, finishing in 2:35.26 while fellow distance runners Graham Santilli (2:35.72) and Fernando Morales (2:36.56) came in right behind King in second and third, respectively. Junior Jordyn Kaplan ran in the 1,000 on the women's side, finishing fourth in 3:04.55.

The Sooners capped the meet with a first-place spot in the men's 4x400-meter relay. Demarius Smith, Isaiah Levingston, Salim Epps and Rayvon Allen teamed up to run a 3:18.84.

Oklahoma returns to the track Jan. 15 in Fayetteville, Ark., for the Arkansas Invitational.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma track and field, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Track) and like Oklahoma Sooners Track & Field and Cross Country on Facebook.