Marble Falls graduate O’Riley looks to make international debut

CAPTION: Marble Falls graduate Kason O’Riley helps the University of Arkansas win the NCAA Division I men’s Indoor national championship. Now he aims for a spot on Team USA to compete internationally. Photo by Adriana Kitchen/University of Arkansas Athletics

Marble Falls High School graduate Kason O’Riley will compete at the U.S. Track and Field Outdoor Championships Sunday, July 9, at Eugene, Oregon.

The 2021 Class 5A state champion high jumper has a chance to represent the U.S. at the World Athletics Championships Aug. 19-27 at Budapest and at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association Games for athletes ages 23 and younger July 21-23 in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Fans can watch O’Riley high jump at 7:05 p.m. Sunday, July 9, on CNBC and USATF.TV. To compete at the U.S. Outdoor Championships, high jumpers have to be ranked in the top 16.

“I got my foot in the door,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for me to get my name out there. I have to jump higher to go pro. I want to represent my country, that would be cool for me.”

He endured a tough first year competing for the University of Arkansas during the 2022-23 school year, a year after transferring from the University of Oklahoma.

He called finishing fourth at the Southeastern Conference’s Indoor Championships “OK” after clearing 7 feet and 1.75 inches en route to helping the Razorbacks win the national title.

But during the outdoor season, he suffered a leg injury and a sprained ankle leading up to the SEC Track and Field Outdoor Championships.

“I wasn’t hardly healthy enough,” he said. “There’s quality athletes in every event. We won the indoor title. Florida won the outdoor by one event on the last event.”

Though he didn’t get the results during the collegiate season he wanted, O’Riley is far from discouraged.

“The SEC was a dream come true,” he said. “At the highest level of competition, you get the best athletes in the world.”

He found his footing at the Trackwired Arkansas Grand Prix June 23 when he cleared 7-1 inch to win the event.

“That set me up for success going into this upcoming summer,” he said.

O’Riley knows the competition awaiting him at Oregon won’t make earning a spot easy. His former University of Oklahoma teammate and close friend, Vernon Turner, is among the favorites to make the team and compete at the World Championships. O’Riley said high jumpers will clear 7-7.5 to make the team. The top three high jumpers will represent the U.S.

“We’re good friends, old Vernon Turner and I,” the Mustang said with a laugh. “He’s trying to qualify for the World Championships. He’s clearing 7-6.5. That puts him in a really good spot. There are guys who are jumping 7-7.”

O’Riley’s odds of representing the U.S. increase when examining the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association Games.

“I have to beat out two other guys,” he said. “I’m more excited to be out there with athletes of that high level. You feel like you’re an elite athlete.”

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