Courtney Okolo, Texas Sophomore, Sets New NCAA 400 Record Of 50.03 At Big 12 Meet
by LetsRun.com
May 18, 2014
Sophomore Courtney Okolo of the University of Texas set a new collegiate record today in the women’s 400 by running 50.03 at the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field meet today at Texas Tech.
The old record of 50.10 from 2005 belonged to UCLA’s Monique Henderson. In addition to being a new collegiate record, 50.03 is also the fastest time in the world this year (previous fastest was 50.24 by Francena McCorory.
The 20-year-old Okolo, who coming into the meet had a personal best of 51.04 from last year, set a new personal best in the prelims of 50.76 before nearly breaking 50.00 in the final. It’s worth noting that Texas Tech is located in Lubbock, Texas and the 3,281 feet of altitude is slightly beneficial to 400-meter runners. The NCAA’s altitude conversion program adds .11 to 400 times in Lubbock, TX but we believe it still will count as the collegiate record.
It’s also worth noting that 90 minutes after setting the 400 record, Okolo (who was fourth in the 400 at both the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships and 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships) ran the 200 final, where she was last in 23.33. Reason to be concerned? We’re not sure. It’s possible Okolo took it easy as the Longhorns have the team title wrapped up.
With the team title in hand, Texas didn’t even run a team in the women’s 4 x 400 relay, on which Okolo split a 49.7 at Penn Relays. We’ll update this article after that takes place.
Discuss this race on our message board: Courtney Okolo, Texas sophomore, Sets New NCAA 400 Record of 50.03 at Big 12 Meet.
Event 5 Women 400 Meter
=======================================================================
Collegiate: ^ 50.10 2005 Monique Henderson, UCLA
Big 12: # 50.76 5/17/2014 Courtney Okolo, Texas
Stadium: ! 50.76 5/17/2014 Courtney Okolo, Texas
Name Year School Finals Points
=======================================================================
Finals
1 Courtney Okolo SO Texas 50.03^ 10
2 Kendall Baisden FR Texas 50.46! 8
3 Briana Nelson SR Texas 51.22 6
4 Raena Rhone JR Baylor 52.67 4.50 52.662
4 Montenae Roye-Speight JR Texas Tech 52.67 4.50 52.662
6 Sonia Gaskin SO Kansas State 52.72 3
7 Briyanni Thomas SR TCU 52.86 2
8 Alyssa Nichols SR Baylor 53.55 1
Delta Timing Group - Contractor License 5/18/2014 - 8:29 PM
2014 Big 12 Outdoor
Track & Field Championships
Fuller Track Stadium - Lubbock, TX - 5/16/2014 to 5/18/2014
Event 3 Women 200 Meter
============================================================================
Collegiate: ^ 22.04 6/2/1989 Dawn Sowell, LSU
Big 12: # 22.29 2008 Porscha Lucas, Texas A&M
Stadium: ! 22.85 2009 Porscha Lucas, Texas
Name Year School Finals Wind Points
============================================================================
Finals
1 Morolake Akinosun SO Texas 22.17 4.3 10
2 Cierra White JR Texas Tech 22.61 4.3 8
3 Ashley Fields SO Baylor 22.63 4.3 6
4 Kendall Baisden FR Texas 23.01 4.3 5
5 Ashley Spencer JR Texas 23.07 4.3 4
6 Briana Nelson SR Texas 23.29 4.3 3
7 Christy Udoh SR Texas 23.31 4.3 2
8 Courtney Okolo SO Texas 23.33 4.3 1