NORMAN, Okla – The University of Oklahoma men's and women's track and field teams added eight entries for the NCAA Midwest Regional in Austin, Texas, at the Bobby Lane Arlington Invitational Saturday, April 1.
The Sooners continued to pick up steam as they rolled through the second meet of the outdoor season hosted by the University of Texas-Arlington.
Oklahoma's men dominated the 110-meter high hurdles as senior Jason Stanley won the event in 13.98 seconds, sixth best on OU's all-time performance list. He was followed by Sooners Tony Francis (14.13) in third and Dermillo Wise (14.29) in fourth.
All three of Oklahoma's entrants in the event ran faster than the regional qualifying standard.
Freshman Leslie Cole punched two tickets for Austin after posting qualifying marks in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Cole sprinted to second place in the 100 with a time of 11.57, 10th best on OU's all-time performance chart.
The Idabel, Okla., native returned to the track running fourth in the 200 in 23.92.
Ronnie Pines bested the regional qualifying mark in the men's 100-meter dash by .01 seconds, finishing seventh in 10.49. It was the junior's, who owned the fastest collegiate indoor 60-meter mark for three weeks of 2006, first outdoor competition.
Marcus Pugh raced to third in the men's 200-meter dash, finishing with a regional qualifying mark of 21.11.
The men's 4x100-meter relay of Pines, Pugh, Frankie Wright and Josh Scott posted its first regional qualifying mark of the season en route to third place. The team finished in 40.45 seconds.
Freshman Katherine Johnson nearly managed her second consecutive high jump title after clearing 5-7.00 (1.70) for the second straight week, but deferred to North Dakota State's Halley Odegaard on attempts.
Junior Portia Nash also cleared 5-7.00 (1.70) in her first high jump competition of the year to place third on attempts.
The women's 4x100-meter relay posted a season best mark despite running without the Sooners' best sprinter Yolanda Goff. The team of Ashley Harris, Larica Urbina, Cole and Davene Findlay clocked in at 46.15.
All-American Scott Martin took third in the men's pole vault, clearing the identical height of 16-6.75 (5.05) he jumped in the season opener at Tulsa (March 25).