The Oklahoma Baptist University women's track team is in third place after two days of action, but positioned well to make a run at its first NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
OBU claimed two wins and a second-place finish, including a meet record in the 100 meters.
Jura Levy broke an 11-year-old national record in the 100 meters, taking the national title in 11.35 seconds and giving the Lady Bison their first event victory.
"The remarkable thing about that is that her best challenger had false started in the prelims and there wasn't anyone to challenge her," said OBU Coach Ford Mastin. "She won that by seven meters and had enough pride in herself to push herself to a record."
Later in the day, Nikita Tracey, Halie Herbert, Shondia Drew and Hannah Helker won the 4x800 relay in 8:52.49. Tracey was coming off a heat victory in the 400 hurdles, moving into the finals with a 1:00.01 in that event.
"We only gave ourselves eight points for the 4x800 when we were figuring scoring before the meet, so we're now just a couple of points off of where we thought we'd be," said Mastin.
OBU also got eight points in 100 meter hurdles from Verone Chambers, who placed second only to an NAIA record. Chambers took second at 13.86 seconds.
There also were no lapses in other events for the Lady Bison. The 4x400 relay team moved into the finals with a time of 3:42.59.
Chambers and Stacy Warrior, as expected, moved into the 400 meter finals, each winning their heat. Chambers won in 53.76 and Warrior won in 55.19.
Aspen Marical just missed giving the Lady Bison a shot at unexpected points in the 100 hurdles at 14.72 and missing the finals by one spot.
Helker had the top time in the 800 meter semifinals at 2:12.17 and advanced to the finals.
The 4x100 relay advanced to the finals in 45.85.
Saturday's events involving OBU also include the high jump and the marathon where ninth-seeded Kenney Meigs (jump) and 10th-seeded Aubrie Dolliver could give the team a pleasant surprise by scoring unexpected points.
"We look good going into tomorrow, but can't afford any huge mishaps," Mastin said.
OBU is in third with 35 points and trails Azusa Pacific (44) and Concordia of Oregon (39).
The OBU men got on the scoreboard with a third-place finish in the 4x800 relay with Jory Custar, Rah'Man Byrd, Cody Camacho and Adam Godwin finishing in 7:32.48.
Ross Harlan advanced to the finals for the 400 hurdles with a 52.22 in the semifinals.
The 13th-seeded 4x400 relay produced the third-best time in the semifinals with a strong 3:12.39 to reach the finals with Travis Hinton, Justin Frye, Travis Bish and Harlan posting the best time of the season for OBU.
"They made the finals and really ran well," Mastin said. "A good day tomorrow could get our guys fourth place and that would be great."
Airick Johnson finished 10th in the 110 high hurdles in the semifinals at 14.62, less than a tenth of a second from ninth and a place in the finals.
Caleb Neal placed 12th in his first national decathlon. He scored 6096 points with his best events being the 100 meters and 110 high hurdles.
OBU's Friday Finals
WOMEN
100 Meters - National Champion Jura Levy, 11.35, NAIA Meet Record
4x800 - National Champions (Nikita Tracey, Halie Herbert, Shondia Drew, Hannah Helker), 8:52.49
100 Hurdles - 2. Verone Chambers, 13.86
MEN
4x800 Relay - 3. (Jory Custar, Rah'man Byrd, Cody Camacho, Adam Godwin) 7:32.48
Decathlon - 12. Caleb Neal, 6096
Saturday's Schedule
6 a.m. - Marathon men and women FINAL (Cordell Baker, Nathan Ellis, Aubrie Dolliver)
1 p.m. - Men's Pole Vault FINAL (Blaine Bassler, Andy Peffer)
1:30 p.m. - Men's Triple Jump FINAL (Ty Scarborough)
2 p.m. - Women's High Jump FINAL (Kenney Meigs)
2:40 p.m. - Women's 4x100 FINAL (Chelsea Abinah, Verone Chambers, Uniqua Cooper, Jura Levy, Stacy Warrior)
3:10 p.m. - Men's 1500M FINAL (Adam Godwin)
3:20 p.m. - Women's 200M semifinal (Jura Levy)
3:30 p.m. - Men's 200M semifinal (Justin Frye)
3:50 p.m. - Women's 400H FINAL (Nikita Tracey)
4 p.m. - Men's 400H FINAL (Ross Harlan)
4:10 p.m. - Women's 400M FINAL (Verone Chambers, Stacy Warrior)
4:30 p.m. - Women's 800M FINAL (Hannah Helker)
4:50 p.m. - Women's 200M FINAL (Levy)
5 p.m. - Men's 200M FINAL (Frye)
5:55 p.m. - Women's 4x400 Relay FINAL (Chambers, Levy, Taylor Moore, Tracey, Warrior)
6:05 p.m. - Men's 4x400 Relay FINAL (Bish, Caster, Frye, Harlan, Travis Hinton)
