Photo by: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Outdoor Season A Chance For Redemption
03/22/18 | Track and Field, @GoDucksMoseley
Disappointed at their results indoors, the UO track and field programs look to get back to "The Oregon Way" during an outdoor season that begins this weekend in San Diego.
The NCAA Indoor track and field championships provided several moments of pride for Oregon coach Robert Johnson.
The UO women won a distance-medley relay title, and Sabrina Southerland took first in the 800 meters. The Men of Oregon had three all-Americans in the middle distances.
In the final analysis, though, the Ducks came up short over the winter. In the team standings, the UO women were fifth — one place short of a team trophy — and the men were 13th. Just mentioning those placings brings a grimace to Johnson's face.
"It breaks my heart to say those numbers," he said. "Those are really big numbers."
There are reasons that help explain Oregon's shortcomings in the indoor season. The likes of Raevyn Rogers, Devon Allen and Deajah Stevens could still be competing as Ducks right now, had not the professional ranks justifiably come calling. Various circumstances denied Oregon points by Katie Rainsberger on the women's side, and Damarcus Simpson on the men's.
The 2017-18 roster features more newcomers than any before in Johnson's six seasons as head coach. In a perfect world, they'd have been allowed a chance to develop while being groomed by those stars listed above. That they weren't does not excuse the Ducks' indoor finishes, Johnson said.
He compared his program with the golfer Tiger Woods, who is attempting a comeback on the PGA Tour. Woods may be trying to rebuild his career after experiencing personal adversity, but his expectations are no different.
"And the Ducks have that same mentality: to win," Johnson said. "We go into these championships to put our best foot forward, and win. That's what kids come here to do, and be a part of that winning tradition."
Johnson and Oregon will take that mentality into the NCAA Outdoor season, which begins for the Ducks this weekend. UO sprinters, jumpers and throwers will be in action at the SDSU Aztec Invitational in San Diego, while the distance runners — including Rainsberger making her return to competition in the 10,000 meters — will kick off their outdoor season next week at Stanford.
Johnson spent the entire indoor season imploring his young team to meet his level of expectations. If words didn't get that message across, perhaps the Ducks' poor showing at NCAA Indoors did.
"I think it was eye-opening," Johnson said. "I think they have a better expectation and better idea of what it takes, having been there. They definitely understand what it takes, and now they get what we're saying when we say, 'We've gotta take this thing up another notch.' "
The critical eye Johnson and his staff are taking begins with a look in the mirror. They recruited Oregon's roster to compete for national championships, and intend to get back to doing so this spring.
The coaches aren't demanding a quick fix. Early meets, including the SDSU Aztec Invitational, remain a training ground, as the Ducks build toward the championship season. But there's a mentality Johnson wants to see, in workouts and competition, beginning this week.
"I think we have the personnel; I think we have the lineup," Johnson said. "People talk about 'bullets' going into a meet; I think we have the 'bullets' here. Just, what maturity level are some of those bullets? …
"They gotta grow up, probably quicker than we would like them to. But the circumstances and situation dictate that."
The UO women won a distance-medley relay title, and Sabrina Southerland took first in the 800 meters. The Men of Oregon had three all-Americans in the middle distances.
In the final analysis, though, the Ducks came up short over the winter. In the team standings, the UO women were fifth — one place short of a team trophy — and the men were 13th. Just mentioning those placings brings a grimace to Johnson's face.
"It breaks my heart to say those numbers," he said. "Those are really big numbers."
There are reasons that help explain Oregon's shortcomings in the indoor season. The likes of Raevyn Rogers, Devon Allen and Deajah Stevens could still be competing as Ducks right now, had not the professional ranks justifiably come calling. Various circumstances denied Oregon points by Katie Rainsberger on the women's side, and Damarcus Simpson on the men's.
The 2017-18 roster features more newcomers than any before in Johnson's six seasons as head coach. In a perfect world, they'd have been allowed a chance to develop while being groomed by those stars listed above. That they weren't does not excuse the Ducks' indoor finishes, Johnson said.
He compared his program with the golfer Tiger Woods, who is attempting a comeback on the PGA Tour. Woods may be trying to rebuild his career after experiencing personal adversity, but his expectations are no different.
"And the Ducks have that same mentality: to win," Johnson said. "We go into these championships to put our best foot forward, and win. That's what kids come here to do, and be a part of that winning tradition."
Johnson and Oregon will take that mentality into the NCAA Outdoor season, which begins for the Ducks this weekend. UO sprinters, jumpers and throwers will be in action at the SDSU Aztec Invitational in San Diego, while the distance runners — including Rainsberger making her return to competition in the 10,000 meters — will kick off their outdoor season next week at Stanford.
Johnson spent the entire indoor season imploring his young team to meet his level of expectations. If words didn't get that message across, perhaps the Ducks' poor showing at NCAA Indoors did.
"I think it was eye-opening," Johnson said. "I think they have a better expectation and better idea of what it takes, having been there. They definitely understand what it takes, and now they get what we're saying when we say, 'We've gotta take this thing up another notch.' "
The critical eye Johnson and his staff are taking begins with a look in the mirror. They recruited Oregon's roster to compete for national championships, and intend to get back to doing so this spring.
The coaches aren't demanding a quick fix. Early meets, including the SDSU Aztec Invitational, remain a training ground, as the Ducks build toward the championship season. But there's a mentality Johnson wants to see, in workouts and competition, beginning this week.
"I think we have the personnel; I think we have the lineup," Johnson said. "People talk about 'bullets' going into a meet; I think we have the 'bullets' here. Just, what maturity level are some of those bullets? …
"They gotta grow up, probably quicker than we would like them to. But the circumstances and situation dictate that."
Players Mentioned
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