No. 7/8 Track & Field Claims 16 Victories at Home

NORMAN – The Oklahoma men’s and women’s track and field team closed out the John Jacobs Invitational late Thursday night, held at the John Jacobs Track & Field Complex. The Sooners capped senior day with 16 event titles. 
 
The team’s first victory of the day came from Nicholas Young in the 1,500-meter run. The senior clocked 3:52.57 to take first in the event. Abby Jepchirchir followed with a win of her own in the women’s 1,500m, recording a collegiate PR of 4:33.53.
 
Following the 1,500 races, Leah Jeruto found her stride in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. The freshman posted a John Jacobs Invitational record to win the event, clocking 10:01.10 for the second-best time in Oklahoma history. She notched the No. 1 position in the SEC and West Qualifying Region, as well as a No. 4-ranking in the NCAA.
 
In the midst of running events, Colton Rhodes cleared a season-best 5.30m (17’4.50″) in the pole vault for second place. His mark ranks No. 5 in the SEC and ties for the No. 16 spot in the NCAA.
 
Alexis Williams grabbed the Sooners’ next title with a 12.09 (-1.00) in the women’s 100-meter dash.
 
Improving on his season best, Kyren Washington cleared 2.17m (7’1.50″) in the men’s high jump for second overall and the best finish by a collegian. His mark ties for the No. 6 spot in the NCAA and No. 2-standing in the SEC so far this outdoor season.
 
For the throws group, Will Dibo secured a season-best 56.15-meter toss for first place in the discus. His mark ranks No. 9 in Oklahoma outdoor history and eighth in the SEC so far this season.
 
Freshman Samuel Toili added another win for OU with a 46.90 time in the men’s 400m. Jenna James followed up with the women’s 400-meter title, recording 55.09.
 
Securing her fourth-consecutive John Jacobs Invitational title, senior Olivia Lueking cleared 4.45m (14’7.25″) on her first attempt to win the event.
 
The Sooners took first in both the men’s and women’s shot put. Tuane Silver earned the women’s title with a season-best 16.35m toss and Tucker Smith grabbed the men’s with a 19.02m throw.
 
Two Sooners secured wins to wrap up individual running events for OU. Koryee Wyatt clocked 21.22 in the men’s 200m and Lily Baker finished first in the women’s 5,000-meter run with a career-best 16:53.18
 
The men’s 4×400-meter relay, consisting of Carlos Tello, Braden Parris, Gage Hensey and Samuel Toili finished first with a 3:14.83 time.
 
The Sooner men grabbed both horizontal jumps titles. Niqualas Chew leaped an outdoor all-conditions best of 7.33m (+2.2) for first in the long jump and Awakiwe Ndlovu took the win in the triple jump with a 15.13m mark.
 
Kennedy Clarke added another win with first place in the women’s hammer throw, registering 62.89m.
 
The team rounded out the night with wins in both men’s and women’s javelin. Henry Martin, posting a career-high 66.86m throw, won for the men. With this mark, he climbs to No. 9 on OU’s all-time outdoor list. Kassidy Sani secured the women’s title with a 47.55m toss.
 
UP NEXT
The Oklahoma men’s and women’s track and field team take a week off before splitting into select groups April 16-19, traveling to the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., Michael Johnson Invitational in Waco, Texas, and Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
 
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