Completed Event: Track and Field at TCU Alumni Invitational on March 21, 2025 ,
Final
Track and Field
at TCU Alumni Invitational
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Thomas Completes Oklahoma Track and Field/Cross Country Staff
January 12, 2024 | Cross Country, Track and Field
NORMAN – New University of Oklahoma head track and field/cross country coach James Thomas announced Friday that he has completed his staff ahead of the 2024 season with the additions of Anna Bearss, Rakieem "Mookie" Salaam and Juanita Sanchez, and the promotion of Jay Weaver.
Weaver and Bearss will serve as the co-head cross country coaches and assistant track and field coaches for distance, Salaam will be assistant track and field coach for men's and women's sprints and Sanchez will serve as the program's director of operations.
"I am incredibly grateful to have this group of talented men and women with me as we begin this journey," said Thomas. "Each member brings their own unique set of skills to the table, and as a leader, my objective is to position them in roles where they can flourish the most. The student-athlete experience starts with our staff, and the amazing relationships and trust that have been cultivated between our returning staff and athletes have been truly remarkable. I aim to continue this trend and further improve the experience for everyone involved."
Weaver has been the director of operations, recruitment and staff development for the Oklahoma track and field program since January 2022. Before joining the Sooners, he spent three years at Utah State, where he served as the director of operations, recruiting coordinator and assistant cross country and track coach for both the men's and women's squads.
Prior to Utah State, Weaver served as the director of operations for the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs at Princeton University. He was also the assistant director of game operations and event management for Olympic sports at Appalachian State University, where he began his career as a volunteer coach for the cross country and track and field programs. An Appalachian State cross country alumnus, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in health and exercise psychology in 2012 and went on to earn a master's in higher education, university leadership and administration.
"Listening to the insights and perspectives shared by athletes, staff and administration made it clear that Jay possesses commendable qualities, which I have witnessed firsthand," said Thomas. "Jay has exhibited exceptional operations, leadership, recruiting and relationship-building skills. These attributes are crucial for achieving excellence and significantly impacting our sport."
Bearss (BAR-iss) spent the last two seasons at Drake University as the associate head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for distance events. In 2023, the women's cross country team notched its highest finish in program history at the NCAA Midwest Regionals. Bearss coached senior Brooke Mullins to a school record in the indoor mile and the outdoor 3000m steeplechase. During her first season, Bearss helped lead the women's cross country squad to third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, the program's best finish since 2000.
A year prior, Bearss spent one season at the University of Akron as the head women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach. Under her guidance, the Lady Zips finished third at the Mid-American Conference XC Championship, their best placing in over a decade, and won both the indoor and outdoor MAC Track and Field Championship titles.
From 2018-21, Bearss coached women's distance and middle-distance athletes at South Dakota State University, where her athletes earned league titles and honors, broke school records and qualified for NCAA West Prelims.
A native of Rochester, Ind., Bearss kickstarted her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Indiana State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in political science in 2018. She went on to earn a master's in sociology from South Dakota State in 2021.
"Anna brings a unique blend of enthusiasm, excitement and competitive drive that is both infectious and inspiring," noted Thomas. "I am confident that her positive influence will resonate deeply with our current team and future recruits. Her leadership and drive in nurturing cross country and distance runners are essential to our immediate and future goals."
Salaam (first name pronounced ruh-KEEM and last name suh-LAHM) returns to Oklahoma after serving as the head track and field/cross country coach at Niagara University in New York since July 2022. A native of Edmond, Okla., Salaam is one of the most decorated sprinters in Oklahoma track and field history. A seven-time All-American and a five-time Big 12 champion, he was named the 2011 Big 12 Track Athlete of the Year and Midwest Region Athlete of the Year. He currently holds Oklahoma's indoor 60m (6.54) and 200m (20.39) records and outdoor 100m (9.97) and 200m (20.05) records.
Prior to Niagara, Salaam's Oklahoma roots led him to coach at Southmoore High School in 2022 and Broken Arrow High School in 2019. His athletes earned state, conference and regional titles while breaking school and state records. In 2021, Salaam coached current OU sprinter Jada Atkinson to Oklahoma Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors, as well as to state titles in the 100m and 200m dash.
A two-time Olympic Trials qualifier (2012, 2016) and a silver medalist in the 4x100m relay at the 2013 World Championships, Salaam ran professionally for Adidas from 2011-17 as a member of Team USA.
"One of my primary goals at Oklahoma is to create a lifelong home for current and former Sooners," explained Thomas. "Mookie's return to Norman will be crucial in achieving this promise and our broader team objectives. Mookie is taking on one of the sport's most challenging and most competitive roles. I have never seen anyone so eager and motivated to do such a tall task. He has already been a champion in the Crimson and Cream, and I am confident he will lead, guide and develop future champions at OU."
Sanchez joins the OU staff after a year-long stint at the University of Illinois as the director of operations for track and field/cross country. The Fighting Illini's season was highlighted by a standout performance from junior Olivia Howell, who claimed the 2023 NCAA indoor mile title and the Big Ten indoor and outdoor mile crown. During outdoor season, Illinois qualified 22 for the NCAA West Prelims and five for the NCAA Championships.
Before arriving at Illinois, Sanchez spent one season at Iowa State, serving as the director of operations for track and field/cross country. She oversaw four home meets for ISU, including the 2022 Big 12 Indoor Championship. In addition to her meet organization duties, she was responsible for all budgeting and external and internal logistics for the 2021-22 school year.
Sanchez worked under Thomas at Texas Tech from 2019-21 as a volunteer coach/operations personnel. She organized all home meets for the 2020 and 2021 indoor season in this role, including the 2021 Big 12 Indoor Championship.
During the 2018-19 season, Sanchez served as the assistant coach for sprints and jumps at West Virginia Wesleyan College, managing travel arrangements and fundraising initiatives and leading recruitment efforts alongside her coaching responsibilities.
Sanchez launched her professional career as a graduate assistant at Mississippi College, where she obtained her master's degree in athletic administration. She also holds a bachelor's degree in sports administration from Belhaven University.
"Juanita's enthusiasm and relentlessness in running and organizing track meets, daily operations, travel, recruiting and all other things related to the sport are unmatched in my experience," said Thomas. "I enjoyed watching her evolution from a coaching role to an operations role when she was my volunteer assistant coach at Texas Tech years ago. I have no doubt that she has the skills, knowledge and passion to take on this role."
The OU staff and 2024 team look to build off a successful 2022-23 season that resulted in one individual national title, 14 All-Americans, 13 Big 12 titles and numerous school and career records.
Weaver and Bearss will serve as the co-head cross country coaches and assistant track and field coaches for distance, Salaam will be assistant track and field coach for men's and women's sprints and Sanchez will serve as the program's director of operations.
"I am incredibly grateful to have this group of talented men and women with me as we begin this journey," said Thomas. "Each member brings their own unique set of skills to the table, and as a leader, my objective is to position them in roles where they can flourish the most. The student-athlete experience starts with our staff, and the amazing relationships and trust that have been cultivated between our returning staff and athletes have been truly remarkable. I aim to continue this trend and further improve the experience for everyone involved."
Weaver has been the director of operations, recruitment and staff development for the Oklahoma track and field program since January 2022. Before joining the Sooners, he spent three years at Utah State, where he served as the director of operations, recruiting coordinator and assistant cross country and track coach for both the men's and women's squads.
Prior to Utah State, Weaver served as the director of operations for the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs at Princeton University. He was also the assistant director of game operations and event management for Olympic sports at Appalachian State University, where he began his career as a volunteer coach for the cross country and track and field programs. An Appalachian State cross country alumnus, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in health and exercise psychology in 2012 and went on to earn a master's in higher education, university leadership and administration.
"Listening to the insights and perspectives shared by athletes, staff and administration made it clear that Jay possesses commendable qualities, which I have witnessed firsthand," said Thomas. "Jay has exhibited exceptional operations, leadership, recruiting and relationship-building skills. These attributes are crucial for achieving excellence and significantly impacting our sport."
Bearss (BAR-iss) spent the last two seasons at Drake University as the associate head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach for distance events. In 2023, the women's cross country team notched its highest finish in program history at the NCAA Midwest Regionals. Bearss coached senior Brooke Mullins to a school record in the indoor mile and the outdoor 3000m steeplechase. During her first season, Bearss helped lead the women's cross country squad to third place in the Missouri Valley Conference, the program's best finish since 2000.
A year prior, Bearss spent one season at the University of Akron as the head women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach. Under her guidance, the Lady Zips finished third at the Mid-American Conference XC Championship, their best placing in over a decade, and won both the indoor and outdoor MAC Track and Field Championship titles.
From 2018-21, Bearss coached women's distance and middle-distance athletes at South Dakota State University, where her athletes earned league titles and honors, broke school records and qualified for NCAA West Prelims.
A native of Rochester, Ind., Bearss kickstarted her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Indiana State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in political science in 2018. She went on to earn a master's in sociology from South Dakota State in 2021.
"Anna brings a unique blend of enthusiasm, excitement and competitive drive that is both infectious and inspiring," noted Thomas. "I am confident that her positive influence will resonate deeply with our current team and future recruits. Her leadership and drive in nurturing cross country and distance runners are essential to our immediate and future goals."
Salaam (first name pronounced ruh-KEEM and last name suh-LAHM) returns to Oklahoma after serving as the head track and field/cross country coach at Niagara University in New York since July 2022. A native of Edmond, Okla., Salaam is one of the most decorated sprinters in Oklahoma track and field history. A seven-time All-American and a five-time Big 12 champion, he was named the 2011 Big 12 Track Athlete of the Year and Midwest Region Athlete of the Year. He currently holds Oklahoma's indoor 60m (6.54) and 200m (20.39) records and outdoor 100m (9.97) and 200m (20.05) records.
Prior to Niagara, Salaam's Oklahoma roots led him to coach at Southmoore High School in 2022 and Broken Arrow High School in 2019. His athletes earned state, conference and regional titles while breaking school and state records. In 2021, Salaam coached current OU sprinter Jada Atkinson to Oklahoma Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors, as well as to state titles in the 100m and 200m dash.
A two-time Olympic Trials qualifier (2012, 2016) and a silver medalist in the 4x100m relay at the 2013 World Championships, Salaam ran professionally for Adidas from 2011-17 as a member of Team USA.
"One of my primary goals at Oklahoma is to create a lifelong home for current and former Sooners," explained Thomas. "Mookie's return to Norman will be crucial in achieving this promise and our broader team objectives. Mookie is taking on one of the sport's most challenging and most competitive roles. I have never seen anyone so eager and motivated to do such a tall task. He has already been a champion in the Crimson and Cream, and I am confident he will lead, guide and develop future champions at OU."
Sanchez joins the OU staff after a year-long stint at the University of Illinois as the director of operations for track and field/cross country. The Fighting Illini's season was highlighted by a standout performance from junior Olivia Howell, who claimed the 2023 NCAA indoor mile title and the Big Ten indoor and outdoor mile crown. During outdoor season, Illinois qualified 22 for the NCAA West Prelims and five for the NCAA Championships.
Before arriving at Illinois, Sanchez spent one season at Iowa State, serving as the director of operations for track and field/cross country. She oversaw four home meets for ISU, including the 2022 Big 12 Indoor Championship. In addition to her meet organization duties, she was responsible for all budgeting and external and internal logistics for the 2021-22 school year.
Sanchez worked under Thomas at Texas Tech from 2019-21 as a volunteer coach/operations personnel. She organized all home meets for the 2020 and 2021 indoor season in this role, including the 2021 Big 12 Indoor Championship.
During the 2018-19 season, Sanchez served as the assistant coach for sprints and jumps at West Virginia Wesleyan College, managing travel arrangements and fundraising initiatives and leading recruitment efforts alongside her coaching responsibilities.
Sanchez launched her professional career as a graduate assistant at Mississippi College, where she obtained her master's degree in athletic administration. She also holds a bachelor's degree in sports administration from Belhaven University.
"Juanita's enthusiasm and relentlessness in running and organizing track meets, daily operations, travel, recruiting and all other things related to the sport are unmatched in my experience," said Thomas. "I enjoyed watching her evolution from a coaching role to an operations role when she was my volunteer assistant coach at Texas Tech years ago. I have no doubt that she has the skills, knowledge and passion to take on this role."
The OU staff and 2024 team look to build off a successful 2022-23 season that resulted in one individual national title, 14 All-Americans, 13 Big 12 titles and numerous school and career records.
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