Eight members of the OU track and field team are headed to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., Friday and Saturday.
Senior shot put thrower Bambi Carson, along with senior Alesha Peel, 60-meter hurdles; junior Ernest Lewis, 400-meter dash and 1600-meter relay; and freshman Leslie Dunlap, pole vault, are going to the championships for the first time.
Carson qualified for the championships after winning last week's NCAA qualifier meet at Iowa State with a personal best throw of 53-3. Carson said setting a career best gives her the confidence needed to conquer a tough field of competitors.
"I'm as ready as ever," Carson said. "We're all within a foot-and-a-half of each other, and it's going to come down to whoever does their best on Friday."
Lewis said he did not make it to the championships last year because of injury, but is ready to make a run for the gold this year.
"I feel good," Lewis said. "I expect better than second place from myself and the rest of the team."
The four members of the team making a return trip to the championships are sophomore Michael Westlund, pole vault; sophomore Moses Washington, 1600-meter relay; senior LaBoris Bean, 1600-meter relay; and junior Raoul Harvey, 1600-meter relay.
Washington said he is thrilled at the opportunity to run in the championships for the second consecutive year. Last year, Washington earned All-America honors in the indoor 1600-meter relay and the 800-meter run as a freshman.
"It's like another dream come true," Washington said. "We're going to go out and prove that we belong to be here."
OU track and field head coach Rodney Price said the team looks to be in good condition for the championship showdown this weekend.
"This is a mature group," Price said. "We have seasoned athletes like Moses and other members of the relay who have been here before and are used to big meets like this."
In last year's NCAA Indoor Championship, Westlund finished 12th in the men's pole vault with a vault of 17-4.5, and the men's 1600-meter relay team captured second place.
The Sooner women are ranked 26th in the nation, according to the U.S. Track Coaches Association power rankings.
The Sooner men are ranked 48th in the same poll.
For more information, go to www.soonersports.com.
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