Three Cowgirls Claim Titles on Final Day of Big 12 Championships

Sunday, May 12

Norman, Oklahoma

All Day

Oklahoma State University

Big 12 Outdoor Championships

Three Cowgirls Claim Titles on Final Day of Big 12 Championships

May 13, 2019 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

NORMAN, Oklahoma -Oklahoma State's Molly Sughroue, Aaliyah Birmingham and Sinclaire Johnson each claimed conference titles on the third and final day of the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at John Jacobs Track and Field Complex.

In the 1,500 meters, Sughroue captured her first outdoor Big 12 title and her sixth overall conference crown with a time of 4:18.57. Ariane Ballner and Jenny Martinez each earned All-Big 12 status as well, placing fifth and sixth respectively.

"Molly is just a tenacious, ferocious competitor," head coach Dave Smith said. "She was saying she wished she would have closed faster… she only closed in 63 (seconds). But I said, Molly, if someone was ahead of you and would have closed in 62, you would have closed in 61. It doesn't matter to her, she's just going to be better."

Birmingham put down a school-record breaking mark of 51.51 in the 400 meters to shatter a 33-year old school record previously held by former Cowgirl Leisa Davis-Knowles. Birmingham's time was also the fifth-fastest time in the nation for the event so far this season. It was also the first Big 12 title in the Tulsa transfer's career.

"Aaliyah is amazing," Smith said. "I think as she starts to figure this out and learn how to run the 400 (meters), she's going to be one of the best in the country, there's no doubt about it. She's someone who should be thinking about U.S. teams and even Olympic teams and those things in the future… we're excited to have her."

In the 800 meters, Johnson claimed the third Cowgirl conference title of the afternoon with her near personal-best mark of 2:04.79. It was the second overall Big 12 title for Johnson, who also won the Big 12 indoor mile earlier this season. Also scoring points for the Cowgirls in the 800 meters was Kaytlyn Larson with an eighth place finish.

"That was a really talented field in the 800 (meters) this weekend," Smith said. "Sinclaire looked pretty under control, pretty in command of the race from start to finish."

The women's 4x400 meters relay team of Birmingham, Nicolette Dixon, Latriceia Smith and Amira Coleman set a new school record in the event with a time of 3:35.85, marking the second consecutive year the Cowgirls have broken the record at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

Other notable performances included Calahan Newsome, who put down a new personal-best time in the 400-meter hurdles to earn All-Big 12 status and place fifth. The men's 4x400 meters relay team of KJ Cotton, Newsome, Tanner Green and LaKyron Mays turned in a fifth place finish, highlighted by a 45.6 split on the anchor leg by Mays.

The Cowboys finished the team race in seventh with 59.5 points. The Cowgirls ended the competition in eighth place with 48 points.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls await the announcement of the West Regional participants. The West Regional takes place May 23-25 in Sacramento, California.

Men's Results

400 Meters
6. Ashton Hicks - 46.19
8. LaKyron Mays - 47.12

1,500 Meters
4. Garrett Calhoun - 3:54.13
6. Isaiah Priddey - 3:54.55

5,000 Meters
7. Sukhi Khosla - 4:18.92
10. Noah Gade - 14:37.24
14. Bryce Quigley - 14:46.01
16. Alec Haines - 14:52.25
20. Adam Dayani - 15:06.96
DNF - Ayrton Ledesma Fuentes

400-Meter Hurdles
6. Calahan Newsome - 51.75

4x100 Meters Relay
7. Oklahoma State - 40.66

4x400 Meters Relay
5. Oklahoma State - 3:09.84

Pole Vault
5. Blake Scott - 5.25m/17-2.75
NH - Cole Verble

Discus Throw
10. Torrey Hickel - 50.70m/166-4

Women's Results

400 Meters
1. Aaliyah Birmingham - 51.51

800 Meters
1. Sinclaire Johnson - 2:04.79
8. Kaytlyn Larson - 2:10.80

1,500 Meters
1. Molly Sughroue - 4:18.57
5. Ariane Ballner - 4:20.75
6. Jenny Martinez - 4:21.31

4x100 Meters Relay
8. Oklahoma State - 46.04

4x400 Meters Relay
6. Oklahoma State - 3:35.85

Discus Throw
11. Baylor Nelson - 44.60m/146-4
12. Hannah Bradford - 41.65m/136-8
13. Natalie Manders - 41.05/134-8

Triple Jump
16. Ryan Roane - 12.37m/40-7