SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist men's track and field team turned heads at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., and at the Sooner Invitational in Norman, Okla., over the weekend.
OBU posted four NCAA DII qualifying marks, while a handful recorded personal bests.
Senior Maxamillian Wheeler clocked a personal-best time of 9:02.95 in the 3000m steeplechase to place 57th overall at the Bryan Clay Invitational. He was the lone Bison competing at the event.
Wheeler's time ranks as the 15th fastest time in Division II.
Aaryn Anderson earned two top-five finishes in the 110m (3rd) and 400m (5th) hurdles, recording times of 53.69 and 54.84, respectively. His 400m hurdle finish was a personal best.
Also competing in the 400m hurdles was Jentezen Smith, who crossed ahead of Anderson in third with a time of 53.69.
Freshmen Trey Bartholomew and Jonathan Elix placed second and third in the high jump. They charted clearances of 2.05m (6-8.75) to meet the NCAA DII Provisional standard.
Senior Anthony Phillips' 4.75m (15-7) mark in the pole vault earned a third-place finish, while Alexander Schovanec placed 6th in the shot put with a heave of 16.08m (52-9.25).
In the hammer throw, Matthew Higdon recorded the second-furthest hurl of his career to place fifth. Higdon's 59.12m (193-11) mark ranks 18th in the country.
Sloan Lewis represented the Bison in the decathlon with a third-place finish, accumulating a PR of 5,600 points over 10 events. Lewis won the 1500m in 4:29.37.
Oklahoma Baptist returns to Norman next weekend, April 21-22, for the John Jacobs Invitational.
