SHAWNEE – Valerie Olson,
Sophia Strange and
Altyn Bartley were all victorious in a few events over the weekend as the Oklahoma Baptist women's track and field team kicked off their indoor season at Pittsburg State and Washburn.
PSU's Boo Rogers Combined Events
Olson competed in the pentathlon at Harvey Dean Track on Dec. 6. She won the 800-meter run with a personal-best time of 2:22.63 before claiming runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles. In the 60, Olson clocked in at 8.98 seconds, another personal-record. Then in the shot put, she heaved 11.44 meters. That met NCAA standards.
By the end of all the events, Olson's 3,690 points were a career-best.
PSU's Crimson & Gold Invitational
It came as no surprise with her history in this event. Strange won the 5,000-meter run on Dec. 7 with a time of 16:47.40. That was not only a personal-record for Strange but it met NCAA provisional standards. Plus,
Jadyn Pavlik completed the long race with a PR of 18:35.87. That was good for 23rd place while
Jade Robinson took 21st (18:34.05).
OBU also earned a pair of third-place finishes from
Asia Foster and
Jamora Horace. In the 400-meter dash, Foster crossed the finish line in 55.33 seconds. That was a personal-record for Foster and met NCAA D2 provisional standards.
As for Horace, she earned provisional marks in the high jump, reaching 1.72 meters.
In relay competition, the Bison's 4x400 'A' team of
Delaney Riekert,
Mary McKey,
Kimberly McKinney and Foster dialed up another provisional mark for OBU. That group finished in 3:47.30 which was good for fifth place too.
Rounding out the Bison's top efforts at Pitt State, McKinney clocked a PR in the 800 with a mark of 2:14.70. That time was also slotted seventh. Plus,
Zoee Weaver also PR'd in the same race and followed a spot after McKinney with a time of 2:15.28.
Anisha Henderson added a top-ten finish in the long jump (5.61m) as well. Furthermore,
Kaylen King's performance in the 3,000 (10:46.56) was a personal-record.
Washburn Alumni Invite
Bartley, a sophomore, was sensational in the weight throw event at Washburn. The Dallas native took first with a throw of 17.13m (56-2.50). That not only was an OBU school record, besting a 2009 effort by Olivia Boisee (16.27m), but it met NCAA standards. Plus, it was a meet record as well.
She also later claimed third in the shot put with a heave of 13.09m (42-11.50).
OBU's next indoor meet will come in 2025. On Jan. 17, the team will take part in OU's Owen Hewett Invitational in Norman.
