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Aug. 3, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- Former Sooner Laverne Jones-Ferrette set a national record in her preliminary race at the 2012 Olympic Games Friday in London.

Representing the U.S. Virgin Islands for the third straight Olympics, Jones-Ferrette counted a personal best 11.07 seconds on a quick Olympic Stadium track. Her second place finish in the final heat of the women's 100-meter dash first round automatically qualified her for the semifinal rounds.

Jones-Ferrette competed for the Sooners in 2003 and 2004, earning six NCAA All-America honors.

Jones-Ferrette's time was the 11th fastest run in an evening that saw six sprinters under 11 seconds and the fastest first-round time ever run in an Olympics with the United States' Carmelita Jeter clocking 10.83.

Canadian Kerri Ann Mitchell ran 11.49 for sixth place in the first heat but failed to advance. It was the 29-year-old's first Olympic Games. The University of Oklahoma alum returned to the sport recently after a five-year layoff following her graduation in 2005.

The duo is part of five women with OU ties competing in the 2012 London Games. Jamaican Latoya Greaves takes to the track for the opening heats of the 100-meter hurdles and OU senior-to-be Tia Brooks in the field for shot put Monday. U.S. national champion Brittany Borman begins javelin throw qualifications Tuesday.

Semifinals of the women's 100-meter dash begin Saturday at 1:35 p.m. Central.