Adamopoulou Breaks Indoor Pole Vault Record, Underclassmen Impress at Red Raider Invitational

Friday, January 24

Lubbock, TX

12:00 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

Red Raider Invitational

Adamopoulou Breaks Indoor Pole Vault Record, Underclassmen Impress at Red Raider Invitational

January 24, 2020 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

LUBBOCK – The Oklahoma State track and field teams wrapped up competition in Lubbock, Texas, at the Red Raider Invitational Friday after the day saw a plethora of strong performances from OSU underclassmen, including a school record-breaking performance for freshman Ariadni Adamopoulou in the pole vault.

"We're proud of Ariadni's performance today," coach Josh Langley said. "She brushed 13'5" on the way down and got a little 'bar love', but her jumps all day were impressive. There are bigger jumps coming and we are excited to see her start making her way up the rankings"

Adamopoulou, who previously broke the record last weekend at the Arkansas Invitational, broke her own record this morning with a vault of 4.11 meters in a fifth-place finish. The freshman from Athens, Greece, is off to a hot start in her Cowgirl career, now having logged three consecutive top-five finishes in the vault in her first three collegiate meets.

Looking to follow up her win at the Arkansas Invitational, Finnish freshman Saara Hakanen placed fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.71 meters, putting her third on the all-time OSU performance list. Ryan Roane also turned in a top-ten finish, placing seventh.

For the Cowboys, a trio of young sprinters had strong outings in the 600-yard race. Returning 400 meters All-American Ashton Hicks finished third with a time of 1:10.67, followed by freshman DeJuana McArthur in fourth and fellow sophomore LaKyron Mays rounded out the top five. All three Cowboy underclassmen cracked the top-10 on OSU's all-time performers list for the event.

"Honestly, freshman DeJuana McArthur really stood out. He just gets better each week," coach Giles McDonnell said. "I love his approach and attitude as it has been a major learning curve for him. His teammates, in particular LaKyron Mays, has taken him under his wing and helped him grow into a Big 12 caliber athlete."

The Cowgirls also had a strong showing in the 600-yard race. In her debut race in orange, freshman Gabija Galvydyte ran to a runner-up finish in 1:24.34, followed by fellow freshman Kalaya Ali in third and Christina Ollison who finished fourth.

"Knowing it was Gabby's first race at OSU and that Christina and Kalaya had never run anything above 400 meters, I came away excited," McDonnell said. "It was really less about time and more about competing and getting better moving forward. I was also excited for Michaela Travers with a solid PR in the event."

School-record holder Aaliyah Birmingham qualified for the 60 meters final by running the fastest overall preliminary time (7.39). In the finals, Birmingham improved her time in a runner-up finish, crossing the line in 7.36. Birmingham currently holds the second-fastest 60 meters time in the Big 12.

In the 4x400-meter relays, the Cowgirls and Cowboys both turned in top-five finishes. The Cowgirls' quartet of Ali, Birmingham, Nicolette Dixon and Ollison won its heat and finished fourth overall, running a time of 3:43.48 which clocked in at eighth on OSU's all-time list. The Cowboys finished fifth place as the team of Hicks, Justin Long, Andrew Merutka and Mays clocked in seventh-fastest on OSU's indoor record list with a time of 3:12.01.

Next weekend, the Pokes are back in action at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Events are scheduled to begin at noon on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Men's Individual Results

Shot Put
5. Torrey Hickel – 16.51m

Shot Put ('B' Section)
10. Jake Dyer – 13.83m

Pole Vault
-- Blake Scott – NH

Long Jump
16. Joshua Anadu – 6.73m

60 Meters
33. Wyatt Duvall – 6.99

600 Yards
3. Ashton Hicks – 1:10.67
4. DeJuana McArthur – 1:10.75
5. LaKyron Mays – 1:10.88
7. Justin Long – 1:11.22
9. Kobe Christiansen – 1:12.64

800 Meters
15. Tanner Blackmore – 1:55.38
18. Andrew Merutka – 1:56.20

4x400-Meter Relay
5. Oklahoma State 'A' – 3:12.01
(Ashton Hicks, Justin Long, Andrew Merutka, LaKyron Mays)
-- Oklahoma State 'B' – DNF
(Kobe Christiansen, DeJuana McArthur, Tanner Blackmore, Blake Scott)

Women's Individual Results

Weight Throw
('A' Section)
9. Jocelen Ruth – 15.51m
('B' Section)
5. Hannah Bradford – 15.45m
11. Baylor Nelson – 13.67m

Shot Put ('B' Section)
8. Jocelen Ruth – 11.51m
9. Hannah Bradford – 11.50m
14. Bailey Golden – 11.06m

Pole Vault
5. Ariadni Adamopoulou – 4.11m
13. Allie Stern – 3.81m

Triple Jump
4. Saara Hakanen – 12.71m
7. Ryan Roane – 12.26m

Long Jump
14. Sanye Ford – 5.35m
-- Megan Mann – NM

60 Meters
2. Aaliyah Birmingham – 7.36
15. Kira White – 7.66
23. Brooke Givens – 7.74
33. Sanye Ford – 7.84

60-Meter Hurdles
26. Bailey Golden – 9.00
27. Megan Mann – 9.03

600 Yards
2. Gabija Galvydyte – 1:24.34
3. Kalaya Ali – 1:24.47
4. Christina Ollison – 1:24.55
6. Michaela Travers – 1:24.79
8. Nicolette Dixon – 1:26.02

4x400-Meter Relay
4. Oklahoma State 'A' – 3:43.48
(Kalaya Ali, Aaliyah Birmingham, Nicolette Dixon, Christina Ollison)
-- Oklahoma State 'B' – DNF
(Brooke Givens, Gabija Galvydyte, Michaela Travers, Bailey Golden)