OSU Track and Field Makes Short Trip to Norman

Jocelen Ruth at Arkansas Invitational 2019

January 17, 2019 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

Meet Information
• Event – Sooner Challenge
• Times - Field events begin at 10 a.m.; Track events begin at Noon
• Facility – Mosier Indoor Athletic Facility
Meet Notes

The Basics
The Oklahoma State track and field team makes a short trip to Norman on Saturday for the Sooner Challenge.
Kurtis Cotton comes off a top-10 performance in school history in the 60 meters. He returns to the track Saturday.
In the throwing events, Jocelen Ruth comes off her season debuts in which Ruth won the weight throw. Teammate Baylor Nelson and Ruth impressed coaches with their competitiveness and technical changes throughout the meet.

Follow the Meet
            Fans can follow the action live on Twitter by following @run4okstate for updates. Final results will be published on www.okstate.com, along with a recap of OSU's day on the course.

Throws/Multis/Pole Vault Coach Josh Langley on the Meet
On the advantages of an in-state meet
"For the in-state kids, it's a chance to get in front of their friends and family. They're going to be a little more excited. They have a chance to get in front of people they know. Any time you can do that, it's a little more exciting. While it might be a low key meet, it'll be especially nice for those kids. As far as the travel goes, it's easier on the body. It's a lot easier mentally too. They won't miss any classes in the first week and going to all of their classes in the first week is crucial."

Record Setters
               Last week at the Arkansas Invitational, the OSU track and field teams saw two school records fall.
               Aaliyah Birmingham broke the women's 60-meter dash record in her first race as a Cowgirl. Her time of 7.42 broke the 19-year-old record of LaToyia Hinds, whose time of 7.52 was the 10th oldest Cowgirl record.
               The Tulsa transfer has impressed sprints coach Giles McDonnell and she is primed to play a key role in the success of Cowgirl sprinting not only in short sprints, but also as a member of the 4X400-meter relay team.
               Jacob Fincham-Dukes already had two school records under his belt, but he added a third one in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
               The long jumper ran the 60-meter hurdles at the Arkansas Invitational and set the school's record in the event. His time of 8.32 bested Donovan Nunley's time of 8.37, whcih he set in 2017.
               Fincham-Dukes also owns OSU's indoor and outdoor long jump records. He utilizes the hurdles to help his rhythm in jumping, but now his hurdling skills earned him a third school record.