University of Oklahoma Sooners Claim Six Victories in Arkansas

Diego Trevino/Throws | University of Oklahoma

By Press release submission

Jan 18, 2023

The University of Oklahoma track and field team was back in action after a month-long break to compete at the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Sooners ended the day with six victories and a broken Arkansas Invitational record. In addition, three Sooners claimed the first, second, and fifth fastest 400-meter times so far this season in the NCAA Division I Indoor list.

The men's shot put group started out the day for OU, with all three competing Sooners finishing in the top-five. Junior Diego Trevino took second place with a throw of 60-10.5 (18.55m). Tucker Smith claimed fourth with 58-8.75 (17.90m) and junior Bryant Parlin snagged fifth place after throwing 54-6.75 (16.63m).

On the women's side of the shot put, senior Payden Montana broke her own meet record for the third year in a row after clearing 54-11.25 (16.74m). Paige Low finished third with 52-5.25 (15.98m) and senior Abby Moore placed fourth with 51-1 (15.57m).

In the women's long jump, sophomore Jasmine Akins snagged fourth place after jumping 195.5 (5.93m). Finishing close behind was Pippi Lotta Enok and Symone Washington, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Newcomer Nikaoli Williams leapt for first place and a personal-best in the men's long jump after clearing 25-9.5 (7.86), while Donovyn Fowler finished fifth with 23-9 (7.24m).

On the track, senior Ashonti Warner sprinted for eighth place and a personal-best in the women's 600-meter dash with a time of 1:33.28, while freshman Jenna James finished 10th at 1:33.96.

In the women's 300-meter dash, freshman Alyia Green brought home fifth place at 40.00 and Jada Atkinson followed in sixth place with a personal-best time of 40.16.

Junior Zarik Brown placed first and snagged a personal-best in the men's 400-meter dash with a time of 46.45, followed by junior Richard Kuykendoll in second (46.73), and senior Muzuri Mattar in third (47.06). These three finishes are ranked as the first, second, and fifth fastest 400-meter times this season for NCAA Division I Indoor.

Freshman Carter Cukerstein showed out in the men's 60-meter final, snagging a personal-best and placing second at 6.711. On the women's side of the 60-meter dash, sophomore Mikayla Hayes finished third after clocking a personal-best time of 7.40.

In the men's weight throw, sophomore Ben Ryer threw for 59-7.25 (18.17m) to take fifth place and earned a new personal-best.

Moore took home first place and a personal best in the women's weight throw after clearing 65-4.25 (19.92).

The women's triple jump was won by freshman Agur Dwol, who leapt for 42-8.25 (13.01). On the men's side of the triple jump, freshman Brandon Green Jr. claimed third place with 50-0.50 (15.25m).

Vernon Turner took home second place in the men's high jump with a leap of 6-11 (2.11m).

The men's 3,000-meter run saw Jordan Gledhill claim a personal best with a time of 8:16.16. On the women's side of the 3,000-meter run, sophomore Gabi Barrera finished seventh after crossing the finish line at 9:48.82.

Olivia Lueking placed first in the women's pole vault final, clearing an impressive 14-2.5 (4.33m).

The men's 4x400 relay squad (Richard Kuykendoll, Gage Hensey, Zarik Brown, Muzuri Mattar) sprinted for sixth place with a time of 3:14.78 to close out the Arkansas Invitational for the Sooners.