Following Roe clocking 15:12.71 in 5,000, she anchors 10:47.20 effort in NCAA preview at TRACK at New Balance, with Jepkirui leading off relay after 4:29.64 mile victory; Oregon’s Ayyildiz wins 3,000 in 8:56.60 and Oklahoma State’s Maier triumphs in 7:43.22, with Bii triple jumping 45-0.25 (13.72m)

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos courtesy of Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State moved closer to its goal of achieving both collegiate indoor distance medley relay records Saturday at the Boston College Eagle Elite Invitational at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston.

With the Cowboys already boasting the men’s all-time DMR mark of 9:16.40 last year at the Arkansas Qualifier at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Oklahoma State provided a preview of what the Division 1 Indoor Championships could showcase March 8 with the women’s lineup dominating a deep field at the same venue that is hosting the NCAA final.

Billah Jepkirui, Tamara Woodley, Gabija Galvydyte of Lithuania and Taylor Roe ran 10:47.20 to achieve the No. 2 all-time collegiate indoor performance.

Washington, which is No. 2 in NCAA men’s indoor DMR history at 9:16.65, still holds the women’s collegiate record at 10:46.62 from last year at Boston University.

Harvard ascended to No. 11 all-time on a 200-meter track by clocking 10:52.07, with Virginia climbing to No. 13 at 10:52.22 and Boston College elevating to No. 20 with its 10:54.89 effort.

North Carolina State finished fifth in the race at 10:55.91, but the Wolfpack still remains the No. 12 all-time program at 10:52.16 from last season.

Roe’s 4:34.58 anchor leg for Oklahoma State came after she ran the fourth-fastest collegiate 5,000 on any indoor surface by clocking 15:12.71 in a solo performance.

Jepkirui, a Kenyan athlete, prevailed Friday in the mile in 4:29.64, with Oregon athletes Klaudia Kazimierska of Poland placing second in 4:30.33, Silan Ayyildiz taking third in 4:30.38, Dalia Frias finishing fifth in 4:34.26 and Mia Barnett securing sixth in 4:35.03.

Kate Mitchell of New Balance Boston, a former Boston College standout, was fourth in 4:33.13.

Ayyildiz, a Turkish competitor, clocked 8:56.60 to win the women’s 3,000 on Saturday, with Frias securing second in 9:04.20.

Oklahoma State’s Alex Maier (7:43.22) and Kenyan athlete Denis Kipngetich (7:44.78) took the top two spots Saturday in the men’s 3,000, with Arkansas athlete Ben Shearer taking third in 7:46.96.

Oregon’s quartet of Matthew Erickson, Kojo Manu, James Harding and Tomas Palfrey won the men’s DMR on Saturday in 9:35.90.

Aurora Rynda, a former Michigan standout representing Canada, won the women’s 800 in 2:03.78 on Friday, holding off North Carolina’s Makayla Paige in 2:03.92 and UCLA’s Kate Jendrezak in 2:03.93.

Penn State’s Handal Roban won the men’s 800 in 1:47.10, then returned Saturday to compete again at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University and took third in 1:46.81.

UCLA’s Angus Harrington placed second Friday in 1:47.86.

North Carolina’s Ethan Strand prevailed Friday by a 3:54.62 to 3:54.73 margin against Virginia’s Gary Martin in the men’s mile.

Harvard’s Ben Rosa triumphed Friday in the men’s 5,000 in 13:57.66.

USC freshman Madison Whyte won the women’s 200 on Saturday in 22.96.

Justin Braun led a USC sweep of the top three spots in the men’s 200 by clocking 20.92, followed by Johnnie Blockburger in 20.94 and Max Thomas running 21.00.

USC also held off Texas by a 3:03.13 to 3:03.94 margin Saturday in the men’s 4x400 relay.

Texas triumphed in the women’s 4x400 relay Saturday in 3:29.80, with UCLA placing second in 3:31.32.

Oklahoma State’s Winny Bii, representing Kenya, prevailed Saturday in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 45-0.25 (13.72m), with British athlete Temitope Ojora of USC finishing second at 44-5.25 (13.54m).

German competitor Nina Ndubuisi of Texas won the women’s shot put with a mark of 58-8 (17.88m) and Louisville’s Jayden Ulrich was second at 58-1 (17.70m).

Patrick Piperi helped the Longhorns sweep both shot put competitions, achieving a 59-3.50 (18.07m) performance.

Villanova’s Roschell Clayton, a Jamaican competitor, cleared 6-2 (1.88m) to triumph in the women’s high jump.

Kelsey Daniel of Texas, representing Trinidad and Tobago, secured victory in the men’s triple jump with a 52-8.75 (16.07m) effort.

USC sophomore Elias Gerald cleared 7-1 (2.16m) to prevail in the men’s high jump.

JC Stevenson added another win for USC in the men’s long jump with a leap of 25-7.50 (7.81m).

Harvard’s Kenneth Ikeji, a British competitor and the reigning NCAA Division 1 men’s hammer throw champion, triumphed in the weight throw with a 75-1 (22.89m) performance.

Zoe Yeast of Louisville won the women’s weight throw with a 63-1 (19.23m) effort.

A’liyah Thomas from Connecticut was victorious in the women’s long jump with a mark of 20-5.25 (6.23m), edging Aaliyah Foster of Texas at 20-4.50 (6.21m). Bii took third at 20-0.25 (6.10m).

Former Louisville star and NCAA Division 1 outdoor champion Gabriela Leon, a PUMA professional athlete, cleared 14-10.25 (4.53m) to win the women’s pole vault in her final tuneup for the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

Louisville’s Cade DeWitt secured victory in the men’s pole vault with a 17-5.50 (5.32m) clearance.