Track & Field 1/11/2025 8:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Picks Up Four Wins In Return To Indoor Season

Central Oklahoma Has Strong Showing At Friend's University's First Chance Qualifier Saturday In Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. – Four wins highlighted Central Oklahoma's returns to Indoor season Saturday at Friends University's First Chance Qualifier.

Sai Brookins-Fleming won the 400 meters, Genevieve Young won the 600 meters, the combination of Brookins-Fleming, Treasure Vallerie, Deriayah Lee, and Kerrigan Huynh won the 4x400 relay, and Abigail Kelly won the shot put to lead the way for the Bronchos, who turned in 11 top five finishes on Saturday.

"It was a good day for us all around," third-year head UCO women's track & field coach Gus Schmader said. "We were excited to be back and this was a good meet for us. We were tested in some areas and learned where we stand as we really get the season going now."

UCO had one meet in December and returns to action Friday morning at OU. Saturday in Wichita, Central was in contention in every event.

Brookins-Fleming won the 400m with a time of 59.68 seconds. She was joined by Huynh, who finished second with a time of 59.96 seconds. Lee was third at 1:02.12, and newcomer Faith Millner was seventh at 1:03.74.

Young won the 600m with a time of 1:42.52. The cross country standout, who serves in most distance races, turned to sprints on Saturday and also finished 11th in the 60 meters with a finals time of 8:15, marginally off her 8.13 time in the prelims.

The relay team of Brookins-Fleming, Vallerie, Lee, and Huynh raced to a first-place finish in the 4x400 with a time of 4:05.03 Saturday. UCO had a second relay team finish fourth in the event. Young, Millner, Tyana Hymes, and Reta Ojene raced to a 4:18.89 finish.

Kelly earned her first career victory with an 11.91-meter hurl in the shot put. The sophomore hit that mark on her third toss Saturday and set a new personal record with the throw.

Brookins-Fleming also ran the 60 meters on Saturday and finished second in her prelim section with a personal best 7.79 seconds. She would finish sixth in the finals with 7.87 seconds.

Huynh also ran a personal record in the 60 meters on her sprint in the final. The sophomore ran 7.89 seconds to qualify, then a 7.87 for a fourth-place finish and the PR.

Lee also competed in the 60-meter hurdles Saturday. In the prelims, she finished sixth (9.21 seconds) behind five Wichita State Shockers. She still qualified for the final, and finished fifth behind four WSU sprinters with a time of 9.30 seconds.

Mikayla Stephenson finished 13th in the 60-meter prelims with a time of 8.23 seconds and then 12th in the finals with a time of 8.29 seconds. Karly Clemons also competed in the prelims and clocked an 8.61-second mark. Mattison Thetford, a junior pole vaulter, made her sprints debut with an 8.71-second race.

Ojene and Hymes also ran the 400 and clocked times of 1:04.10 and 1:05.11 respectively.

Asia Williams was the only Broncho in the 1-mile race and she finished fourth with a time of 5:55.41. Ariane Williams finished fourth in the 3,000 meters (12:09.52) with Kylee Smith adding a seventh-place finish at 13:54.39.

UCO had a pair of pole vaulters compete Saturday. Thetford finished eighth at 3.05 meters and Talyn Been finished ninth at 2.90 meters.

Central Oklahoma will continue its early Indoor season Friday morning at OU with the Owen Hewett Invitationals at the Mosier Indoor Track Facility in Norman.

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Players Mentioned

Talyn Been: Pole Vault; Junior

Sai Brookins-Fleming: Sprints; Sophomore

Karly Clemons: Sprints; Sophomore

Kerrigan Huynh: Sprints; Sophomore

Abigail Kelly: Throws; Sophomore

Deriayah Lee: Hurdles; 5' 3"; Sophomore

Reta Ojene: Sprints; Junior

Kylee Smith: Distance; Junior

Mikayla Stephenson: Sprints; 5' 5"; Sophomore

Mattison Thetford: Pole Vault; Junior

Players Mentioned

Talyn Been
: Junior
: Pole Vault

Sai Brookins-Fleming
: Sophomore
: Sprints

Karly Clemons
: Sophomore
: Sprints

Kerrigan Huynh
: Sophomore
: Sprints

Abigail Kelly
: Sophomore
: Throws

Deriayah Lee
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: Hurdles

Reta Ojene
: Junior
: Sprints

Kylee Smith
: Junior
: Distance

Mikayla Stephenson
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: Sprints

Mattison Thetford
: Junior
: Pole Vault