OU Opens Outdoor Slate in Tulsa
Coming off an indoor season that saw the men’s team win the Big 12 title and eight individuals receive All-America honors, the University of Oklahoma Track and Field program opens up the 2010 outdoor season this weekend in Tulsa at the Tulsa Duels. The group of 11 throwers open with the men’s hammer throw Friday in Stillwater, Okla., before the remainder of the meet is contested at the Hurricane Track/Soccer Stadium in Tulsa.
Luke Bryant, the 2009 Big 12 champion in the discus, will see his first action of the 2010 season as he takes the first steps in attempting to defend his conference crown.
An All-American in the javelin in 2008, Amy Backel will get to return to the event this weekend after an elbow injury in 2009 limited the senior to just the shot put. Joining Backel in the javelin will be sophomore Katelyn Penner, who earned All-Big 12 honors in the event last season. The 2010 Big 12 indoor champion in the shot put, Karen Shump will try her hand at discus this weekend where she will be joined by Brittany Borman who will also be competing in the shot put.
The weekend’s competition will also mark the Oklahoma debut for the 2007 javelin champion, Chad Radgowski, as well as the holder of the third-best U.S. high school throw in history, Justin Shirk. Radgowski, a senior from Liberty, Pa., transferred to OU from following the 2008 season and redshirted during the 2009 campaign. Shirk, also from the state of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, Pa.), holds his state record and owns the third-best throw in U.S. high school history, with a toss of 235-3 (71.70).
Fresh off a Big 12 indoor title in the weight throw, K.P. Singh will take to the throws ring in the discus, an event that Colin Quirke will also compete in. Quirke holds the Irish Junior National record in the event and earned All-Big 12 honors in 2009. Conrad Aaron (shot put), Holden Mitchell (hammer throw) and Curtis Mulkey (discus) rounds out contingent of Oklahoma men in the event.
Updated 03-19-2010
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