OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma city track and field team performed well over the weekend as the Stars competed in three different spots including the John Jacobs Invitational, Wichita State KT Woodman Classic and the Bryan Clay Invitational seeing five top-10 finishers over the three events.
Wichita State KT Woodman Classic
Beckam Hartis led OCU's efforts in Wichita with a third place finish in the 10,000 meters with a career-best time of 30:56.92 meeting the NAIA-A standard. In the same event, David Boulanger followed right behind Hartis with a B standard time of 31:00.39, which solidifies a personal best for Boulanger in the 10,000 meters. Wrapping up the race, Ayenew Devany took eighth place to round out the top 10 as Devany finished with a time of 31:32.50.
Elijah White saw himself as top-10 finisher for the Stars in the KT Woodman Classic as the freshman came in ninth place in the 5000 meters at a time of 15:12.74.
John Jacobs Invitational
In Norman, Tate Smithhart shined as the top runner for Oklahoma City placing fifth out of 52 runners in the 800 meter race with a time of 1:53.89.
On the field side, Ethan Vandevier placed 11th in the high jump at 1.90 meters making him the top finisher in the field events for OCU. The freshman also competed in the javelin throw for the first time this season setting a personal best 33.77 meters on his throw for a 16th place finish.
For the OCU women, Fiona Wilson shined as the top field athlete for Oklahoma City placing 14th of 24 in the javelin at a mark of 34.96. Wilson set a personal record with her throwing distance.
Coming off a SAC Athlete of the Week selection two weeks ago, Vanessa Perez competed in two events in the John Jacobs Invitational seeing a 49th place finish out of 77 runners in the 200 meters and a 32nd place bid out of 61 competitors in the 400.
Bryan Clay Invitational
Brendan Robeaux was the only Star on the men's side to make the trip to Azusa, California to compete in the 2024 Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Azusa Pacific. Robeaux ran in the 1500 meters where came in 84th overall out of 132 runners finishing with a time of 3:55.22.
Cailen Jolley and Louise Cocking were the two Stars on the women's side to travel to California to compete in the Bryan Clay Invitational where Jolley saw a large amount of success setting a NAIA A standard time of 2:12.87 in the 800 meters where the senior not only set a personal best in the event but set a program record with her finish coming in 81st out of 238 runners competing.
Cocking competed in the 5000 meter race where the junior secured the NAIA A standard of 17:25.43 as Cocking competed in the event for the first time since the NAIA outdoor championships last season. Cocking set a personal record in the event where she improved her time from a season ago by 17 seconds as she came in 15th overall out of 87.
NEXT UP
Oklahoma City will turn its attention to the SAC Championships Apr. 26-27 in Siloam Springs, Ark.
