University of Oklahoma track and field junior Kennedy Stringfellow earned the USTFCCCA Men's NCAA Division I National Athlete of the Week honor for his standout long jump at the Owen Hewett Invitational. The Mississippi native set a new school record and leads both the NCAA and world indoors with a leap of 8.29 meters. This marks the first such national recognition for an Oklahoma athlete this indoor season.
On January 16, at the Owen Hewett Invitational in Norman, Kennedy Stringfellow delivered a career-best performance in the long jump, soaring 8.29 meters (27 feet, 2.5 inches) to claim first place by a wide margin. The jump not only shattered the previous University of Oklahoma school record but also positioned him at the top of the NCAA and world indoor lists early in the season.
Stringfellow, a transfer from Mississippi State and a native of Brandon, Mississippi, has quickly made his mark in his second week with the Sooners. The announcement came on January 19 from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Head coach James Thomas praised the effort: "Kennedy's performance was special. It's the kind of jump you rarely see indoors, especially in January. What makes it even more exciting is how eager he is to get back to work with Coach Davis and keep pushing to unlock something truly special."
Assistant coach Austin Davis added: "I'm extremely proud of Kennedy's performance this past weekend. He's been working really hard on cleaning up some technical errors, and it's great to see that hard work pay off. Twenty-seven feet and an early world lead was a great early birthday jump for him."
This accolade highlights Stringfellow's rapid integration into the team and sets a strong tone for Oklahoma's indoor campaign. The Sooners next compete on January 23 at the Stan Scott Invitational in Lubbock, Texas, and the JD Martin Invitational in Norman.
