Sinclaire Johnson Sets NCAA Lead, School Record on Way to Austin

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Oklahoma State University

NCAA West Regionals

Sinclaire Johnson Sets NCAA Lead, School Record on Way to Austin

May 26, 2019 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

SACRAMENTO—Sinclaire Johnson ran the NCAA's best time of the year and the school record in the 1,500 meters for the Oklahoma State track and field teams on the final day of the West Regional.

Johnson went wire-to-wire and won the women's 1,500 meters with a time of 4:09.50. Her time took over the NCAA lead this year and surpassed Natlja Piliusina's school record by .01 seconds.

Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Dave Smith said he thinks Johnson emerged as one of the country's best in the event with her performance.

"Sinclaire (Johnson) looked like a million bucks," Smith said. "She's been chomping at the bit to run hard, and we've been holding back the reins, and today she jerked free of the reins. Natalja Piliusina was one of the best we ever had, so for her to beat that record is really impressive."

Two other Cowgirls made it through to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Molly Sughroue and Jenny Martinez (Celis) advanced, but did so in different ways.

Sughroue finished fifth in the second heat, which earned her an automatic spot to the championship round. She ran a time of 4:15.52, which was three seconds off her personal best.

Martinez qualified based on her time of 4:12.92, which earned her a sixth-place finish in heat one. Martinez's time was a personal best and beat out her previous mark by over five seconds.

Smith said the middle distance women have been the heart and soul of the women's program.

"Jenny (Martinez) and Molly (Sughroue), two fifth-year seniors, came in and worked their tails off," Smith said. "They have done so much for this program over the years, and I'm really happy to see them go through. Jenny's five-second personal best is unheard of this time of year, and Molly was steady as always."

With three more Cowgirls punching their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, the total for OSU stands at eight athletes.

Johnson, Sughroue and Martinez (Celis) joined Ryan Smeeton, Hassan Abdi, Ashton Hicks, Jacob Fincham-Dukes and Aaliyah Birmingham as qualifiers for the final meet of the year.

Johnson and Smeeton both head to Austin with NCAA-leading times. Johnson leads the women's 1,500 meters and Smeeton is on top of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase list.

The NCAA Outdoor Championships start June 5 and go until June 8 in Austin, Texas.

Men's Individual Results

4X400-Meter Relay
18. Hicks, Newsome, Cotton, Mays – 3:10.22

Women's Individual Results

1,500 Meters
1. Sinclaire Johnson – 4:09.50Q
7. Jenny Martinez (Celis) – 4:12.92q
12. Molly Sughroue – 4:15.52
17. Ariane Ballner – 4:19.92

4X400-Meter Relay
16. Birmingham, Dixon, L. Smith, Coleman – 3:38.09

Triple Jump
38. Ryan Roane – 12.10m/39-8.5