Six Sooner Track and Field Athletes @ NCAA Indoor Championships

[OUBeliever56A]

The Oklahoma Sooners Men's and Women's Track & Field Teams have qualified six athletes for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, March 8-9.

Representing Oklahoma on the women's side will be Pippi Lotta Enok, Angel Richmore, Olivia Lueking and Paige Low. Junior Nikaoli Williams and sophomore BJ Green will compete for the men's squad. Each athlete garnered a top-16 national mark during the 2023-24 indoor season to qualify for the championships.

• Pippi Lotta Enok earned her second-straight trip to the championships after recording 4,281 points in the pentathlon at the Razorback Invitational Jan. 26, the No. 5 score in the NCAA this season. She is the reigning outdoor national champion and school record holder in the heptathlon. Enok secured a bronze medal in the pentathlon at the 2023 indoor championships where she grabbed First-Team All-American honors and an indoor school record with 4,400 points.

• BJ Green punched his ticket to the championships in the triple jump at the Razorback Invitational Jan. 27. His career-best 16.62 (54-6.5) mark is the fourth best in the NCAA and No. 2 jump in Oklahoma indoor history. Green earned the Big 12 triple jump title and two more first-place finishes this season.

• Paige Low visits the indoor championships for the first time in her collegiate career to throw in the women's shot put. After grabbing a personal-best 17.17 (56-4) mark at the Windy City Invite Feb. 10, she sits at No. 16 in the NCAA and No. 5 in Oklahoma indoor history.

• Olivia Lueking returns to the indoor championships for the third consecutive season to compete in the pole vault. She currently holds the ninth best mark in the NCAA this season after recording a 4.44 (14-6.75) jump at the Windy City Invite, Feb 9. Lueking grabbed fourth at the Big 12 Championship and earned three titles during the regular season. She was the runner-up at last year's meet, grabbing First-Team All-American honors and a school record with a 4.45 (14-7.25) mark. Lueking took fourth place in her freshman debut at the indoor championships, earning First-Team All-American.

• Angel Richmore joined the Sooners in January after transferring from Stephen F. Austin and quickly cemented a spot in the indoor championships. Her qualifying mark came at the Big 12 Championship on Feb. 23, registering a career-best 4,262 points for second place and the sixth-best score in the NCAA this season. Last season, Richmore earned 14th at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the heptathlon with 5,636 points for Second-Team All-American honors.

• Nikaoli Williams returns to the championships for a second time to compete in the men's long jump. His qualifying mark came on Jan. 27 at the Razorback Invitational. He earned first with a 7.84 (25-8.75) mark, the No. 16 jump in the NCAA this season. The only Sooner to ever surpass the eight-meter mark in indoor long jump history, Williams grabbed eleventh at last year's indoor championships for Second-Team All-American honors.

It would be nice if the Sooner Track and Field athletes got a bit more recognition as a whole. In particular, this six athletes are at the top of the events in the country. Congratulations to them in every way on their entries to the NCAA Indoors Championships.

Here is the Sooner staff writers article about the meet in Boston.

https://soonersports.com/news/2024/3/7/ ... mpionships

The meet is scheduled to begin Friday with the men's heptathlon at 9:30 a.m. ET followed by field events at 2 p.m. ET and running events at 4 p.m. ET. On Saturday, field events will begin at 1 p.m. ET and running events are set for 4 p.m. ET.

There are links in the article to watch and listen the action is desired. The championship will air on ESPN+ starting at 9:30 a.m. ET on Friday and 10:30 a.m. ET on Saturday.

Good luck to the six Sooner athletes this weekend.

Boomer Sooner!

[OUBeliever56A]

Three Sooners on Women’s Side Earn All-America Honors

Three Oklahoma Sooners placed high enough in the NCAA's to make All-American Status in early action on Friday.

C

• ombined events team of Angel Richmore and Pippi Lotta Enok recorded top-nine finishes in the pentathlon for All-America honors.

• Paige Lueking finished fifth in the pole vault to earn a first-team All-America award for the third consecutive season.

"Our women did an incredible job today. This is the momentum we want to build heading into day two," said head coach James Thomas. "Angel will forever be remembered as my first All-American as an OU head coach. Olivia has battled all season and it was great to watch her get another top-five finish in a highly competitive pole vault competition."

Two Sooners are set to compete Saturday evening on day two of the championships. BJ Green jumps at 2:30 p.m. CT and Paige Low will throw at 4:45 p.m. CT.

Here is the Sooner staff writers article about the early Friday results.

https://soonersports.com/news/2024/3/8/ ... omens-side

Congratulations to the three Sooner Women.

Boomer Sooner!

[OUBeliever56A]

Two more Sooners earned All-American honors at the NCAA Indoors on Saturday as BJ Green and Paige Low placed well in the Indoor Final. Here is the Sooner staff writers article about Saturday's action.

https://soonersports.com/news/2024/3/9/ ... mpionships

• BJ Green finalized his stellar indoor season with sixth place in the men's triple jump for first-team All-America status. The Big 12 champion leaped to 16.15 (53-0) on his second jump, securing a spot in finals and three more attempts to seal a TJ title. On his final leap, Green would record his best mark on the night, measuring in at 16.41 (53-10.25).

• Paige Low entered the NCAA Indoor Championships shot put arena for the first time in her career Saturday night. Low's first attempt was her best throw on the night, registering 16.23 (53-3) to earn second-team All-America honors.

After the meet, Head Coach James Thomas commented."We did not bring many athletes to Boston, but every single one of them made an impact on this meet and our program. One senior, two sophomores and three juniors will be returning to Norman as All-Americans. That is important for our upcoming outdoor season and future seasons."

Congratulations to all of the Sooners who were at the NCAA Indoor Finals.

Boomer Sooner!