The Norman Transcript

Local news

June 30, 2009

Sooners complete Air Race Classic

The five women representing the University of Oklahoma in the Air Race Classic this past week finished 25th and 27th out of 34 teams.

"I think we did really good, being our first race and all," said Ashley Crawford, a member of the team that placed 27th. She and team members Lexi Taylor and Barb Mclurkin divided responsibilities on their plane, while Micah Doeden and Kiersten Orrick flew the other OU plane.

The women completed the four-day all-women air race Friday flying two aircraft about 2,700 miles. They competed against teams in other types of aircraft that were handicapped based different features. Crawford said their planes had high handicaps that were difficult to overcome.

Crawford said the women learned a lot during the grueling competition, and they also had a lot of fun.

"I think we did really good," she said. "We learned a lot, so I'm pleased with it actually."

Taylor said she and her team members learned a lot about flying, like how to decide when to keep going and when to stop because of bad weather. They also learned how to better communicate with air traffic control in all the different environments in which they flew, she said.

Although the Sooner teams did not win the competition, Taylor said the experience was a positive one for a first try.

"We tried really hard," she said. "We did our best. It was a good learning experience."

The hardest part was probably just flying for so long each day. None of the women had flown for more than six hours at a time before, Taylor said. Wednesday, the women flew about 11 hours.

"It was long and tiresome, but it was a good experience," Taylor said. She said the women hope to see at least one team from OU compete next year as well.

On the other team, Doeden said she was also challenged by the experience but remained "excited the whole time."

There was a lot of pressure on the Sooners who participated in the air race, most of whom were students. Doeden said they had to make tough decisions about whether or not to fly in potentially bad weather. As a student, she normally would just wait for better weather, but this time she didn't.

"In this race there was a lot of pressure to go," she said. "... We decided to go and it turned out fine."

Doeden said the women learned a lot at the race and developed good contacts with other women pilots.

"Obviously we had hoped to do better, but we think it was a good experience for our first effort," she said.

Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com

Text Only
Local news
  • Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director

    Nancy Coggins landed a job with a prestigious Oklahoma City advertising agency before the ink dried on her OU journalism diploma. The job was a first rung on her career ladder and she admits that it didn’t call for her creative talents. ...

    February 13, 2012

  • New jail to install curtains

    The F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center, though still in its infancy, is getting a facelift: new curtains....

    February 13, 2012

  • ValDay bouquet.JPG Businesses go the extra mile for Valentine’s Day

    Among the various images the phrase “Valentine’s Day” might conjure in one’s mind, probably the most immediate is the iconic dozen roses and heart-shaped box of chocolates....

    February 13, 2012 1 Photo

  • New rehabilitation, skilled care center will be next to HealthPlex

    StoneGate Senior Living President and CEO John F. Taylor announced Friday that his company has completed the purchase of approximately 6.7 acres of land in the Norman Regional Health System’s Medical Park West project at NW 36th Avenueand ...

    February 13, 2012

  • Mystery performance provides theatrical fatal attraction

    James Briggs has a pretty steady day job with the city parks department, doesn’t live anywhere near Little River and probably never owned or slept in a hatchback. He doesn’t usually wear sport coats that are two sizes too small, either ...

    February 13, 2012

  • GLO 2-12.jpg 'Get the Lead Out' annual children's art festival enters 10th year

    Longfellow Middle School had a special “GLO” about it Saturday morning....

    February 12, 2012 2 Photos

  • County prisoners moved to new jail

    Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....

    February 12, 2012

  • School board elections Tuesday

    Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...

    February 12, 2012

  • Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation

    WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....

    February 12, 2012

  • Darry Stacy seeking county commission seat

    Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....

    February 12, 2012

The Business Marquee
Facebook