NORMAN, Okla. - High jumper Laila Ahmed opened Oklahoma Christian's 2026 season with a bang after claiming a provisional mark as OC competed at the OU Winter Field Fest Friday, Dec. 5.

The sophomore from Durant, Okla., finished tied for second with a pair of Oklahoma Sooner competitors in the high jump, reaching a height of 1.69 meters (5-6.54 feet). The five-and-a-half foot mark makes Ahmed eligible for national championship consideration.

True freshman Kate Hollingsworth, after placing fifth in the 60m hurdle prelims, bested her time by 37 hundredths of a second to place fourth in her first ever collegiate race with a time of 10.29.

On the men's side, fellow true freshman hurdler AJ Gaye took third in the 60m hurdles, finishing in 8.85 seconds. Lone Star Conference Preseason Field Athlete to Watch Phil Lawrence saw the next-best OC finish for the men with a pair of fourth-place throws in the shot put (14.38m - 47-2.14ft) and weight throw (15.86m - 52-0.4ft).

After a group of Eagles competed in Norman Friday, another group of OC athletes will head to Pittsburg, Kan. for the Crimson and Gold Invitational hosted by Pittsburg State Saturday, Dec. 6 beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT.