Six Sooners Hit Season Bests at NYC
— The women’s sprints and jumps group from the Oklahoma Track and Field program were in action Friday at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York City and responded with six season bests. Along with the three top-three finishes, including a 500-meter dash win by Shelleyeka Rolle, the group also made their mark on the Oklahoma record books.
A first-year Sooner, Rolle won her first collegiate title as a Sooner as she took first in the collegiate division of the women’s 500-meter dash with a time of 1:14.84. Running in the sixth heat, Rolle held off the second-place time, 1:15.56, of Columbia’s Laura Vogel.
Two Sooners qualified and ran top-five Oklahoma times in the finals of the 60-meter dash inside the Armory Track Building. Candyce McGrone finished sixth overall with a time of 7.29, the third-fastest time in Oklahoma history and the fastest by an OU athlete this year. McGrone’s performance Saturday lowered her season time in the event by a tenth of a second.
Shawna Anderson ran the fifth-fastest 60-meter dash in Oklahoma history as she finished behind McGrone in 10th with a time of 7.33. The time marks the second fastest by an OU athlete this season behind McGrone’s time. McGrone advanced to the finals with a time of 7.33 in the event’s prelims, while Anderson ran a time of 7.39.
TI’Anca Mock improved her season mark in the long jump as she finished second overall and first among collegiate athletes. Mock’s jump of 20-8.00 (6.30) is the sixth longest in the this season and just over three inches away from the automatic qualifying mark in the evennt of 20-11.25 (6.38). Mock entered the meet with three straight wins in the event and has not lost to a collegiate athlete in the last four meets.
The women’s high jump saw Chenale Smith equal her personal best as she cleared a height of 5-8.75 (1.75) although the sophomore was unable to continue her three-meet win streak in the event. Hampton’s Claudia Calder won the event with a height of 5-10.00 (1.78).
Oklahoma Final Results:
Women’s 60-Meter Run: 6. Candyce McGrone 7.29; 10. Shawna Anderson 7.33
Women’s 500-Meter Dash: 1. Shelleyeka Rolle 1:14.84
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles: 35. Jesica Ejesieme 8.79
Women’s High Jump: 2. Chenale Smith 5-8.75 (1.75); 7. Kristen Rice 5-5.00 (1.65)
Women’s Long Jump: 2. Ti’Anca Mock 20-8.00 (6.30)
Updated 02-05-2011
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