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June 27, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. --  Toni Smith leapt a personal best in the women's triple jump to advance to the event's finals, Friday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.  With the jump, the second best of the prelims, Smith advances to event's finals on Sunday in hopes of qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games.

An Oklahoma program record holder, Smith blasted off for a jump of 45 feet and 10.75 inches (13.99) in her third and final attempt of the prelims.  Shani Marks sits in first with a jump of 47-0.75 (14.34).  Smith's jump is just off Olympic Games "B" standard of 45-11.25 (14.00).

With only two competitors in the field, Marks and Erica McLain, having previously reached an Olympic "A" standard of 46-7.25 (14.20), Smith still has a chance to make the U.S. Olympic Team. Smith will need to record a top-three finish with a "B" standard on Sunday while holding off all other competitors besides Marks and McLain to advance to Beijing.

Smith concluded her collegiate career this past season as OU's premier women's triple jumper with a program-record mark of 44-8.75 (13.63).

U.S. Olympic Team Trials Headquarters | U.S. Live Results | Jamaican Live Results

Scottesha Miller failed to advance in the women's 100-meter dash, recording a time of 11.62 to finish 31st.  The Port Orange, Fla., native holds the Oklahoma school record in the event with a time of 11.21 at this year's Big 12 Outdoor Championships but is coming off a hamstring injury suffered at the NCAA Midwest Regional on May 30. Marshevet Hooker ran the fastest time of the prelims, 10.94.

The sophomore will now turn her focus to the 200-meter dash at the trials, beginning with the event's prelims Friday, July 4.

Competition continues Saturday beginning with the women's javelin at 12:45 p.m. PST featuring OU's Amy Backel. 

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KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Oklahoma alums Michael Blackwood, Danny McFarlane and Aldwyn Sappleton advanced in their respective events at the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association National Championships in their continued quest for third straight Olympic appearance.

McFarlane posted the third-fastest time in the prelims of the men’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 49.54 to advance to tomorrow’s finals.  The 36-year old entered the meet with the fastest qualifying time of the field, 48.58.

Sappleton qualified for Sunday’s finals in the 800-meter dash with fastest time of the event’s prelims, running 1:51.06.  Second place Andrae Drummond was two seconds behind with a time of 1:53.45.

Action continues Saturday with McFarlane in the 400-meter hurdles finals.  OU athletes Latoya Greaves and Sheldon Leith compete Sunday in the women’s 100-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles, respectively, along with Sappleton in the 800.