University of Oregon
Arizona State Invitational
Javelin Throwers Rewrite Record Books
03/24/07 | Track and Field
TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of Oregon's throws unit logged several of its top all-time javelin performances Saturday night in second and final day track and field action in the Arizona State Invitational, held at Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium.
Sophomore All-American Rachel Yurkovich continued her strong early season run with a five-foot, five-inch javelin personal best and school record of 189-11 (57.90m) to easily win the competition over teammate Ashley McCrea who also scored a 10-foot collegiate best of her own (second, 166-8).
The Newberg, Ore., native Yurkovich tossed her new Duck record on her first throw, then followed with her best series ever that included a second throw of approximately 176 feet, two other throws in the upper 160-foot range, a fifth past the 180-foot line and a foul on her final attempt.
Yurkovich entered the competition with a previous best of 184-6 from the Oregon Preview last weekend that left her second all-time for UO, and within three feet of school record holder and recent NCAA runner-up Sarah Malone who threw the previous UO best and Hayward Field track record (186-10) to win the 2005 West Regional.
“It was a beautiful night to throw with great conditions and no breeze,” Yurkovich said. “I felt good coming in after last week so I knew it was possible. I'm completely turned around health-wise this year, and have been feeling great. It's also helped that I have two years of college training under my belt, with a full fall of preparation after I didn't play volleyball last fall. I also know that I'm stronger, and part of is probably because we've been able to get some extra conditioning in at the Cas Center with Coach Radcliffe.”
McCrea's mark Saturday also stood out and moved her up one place on the UO all-time list to sixth place. The North Bend, Ore., native owned a previous collegiate best of 156-8 from '06, while her previous overall best of 158-6 came during her senior prep season in '05.
“I was so happy when Ashley had her big throw,” Yurkovich continued. “I might have been more happy for her than she was. She's worked so hard to improve. It was awesome for her to get one out there, so she can continue to take it from there.”
On the men's side, senior Ryan Brandel also registered a notable javelin best Saturday – an 11-foot, four-inch best of 225-7 (68.77m) that won and moved him into the UO all-time top 10 for the first time at the sixth spot.
The Milwaukie, Ore., native opened with a first throw of approximately 213-2, added his best (225-7) on his second attempt, popped another 221-foot throw on his third attempt, then fouled his three attempts in the final.
“My throws felt really easy which is how I guess is how it's supposed to,” Brandel said. “I was a little cautious because of a minor injury so I might have held my position better and a little longer because of it. Technically, I was staying taller on the runway, I was a little slower on my approach, and got a cleaner throw. Or maybe, it was that I yelled a little louder (laughter). It was nice throwing under the lights, and it kind of brought back memories of high school football. Earlier in the evening, Rachel and Ashley had some big PR's so I guess I had to come out and do my part, too.”
Three other throwers added regional qualifying marks and season bests – senior hammer throwers Britney Henry (second, 206-3) and Brian Richotte (fourth, 209-0) and freshman Kara Meeuwsen (javelin, ninth, 144-10).
UO's women's sprinters continued to take aim at the school all-time lists. Junior Kavina Hall finished in the top-10 overall Saturday in the 200m (eighth, 24.93) and 400m (sixth, 54.81), and was in the neighborhood of UO's 10th-best all-time marks that are 24.15 and 54.56, respectively.
Freshman teammate Keshia Baker finished just ahead of Hall in the 200m by .01 seconds (seventh, 24.92), and ran with Hall on the 4x100m (eighth, 47.34).
Other available women's marks came from junior 400m hurdlers Amanda Santana (11th, 63.73) and Kasey Harwood (14th, 64.75) and freshman Emily Gillespie (high jump, sixth-tie, 5-3).
On the track in the 400m, freshman Chad Barlow (second, 47.25) ran a .89-second season best, and juniors Phil Alexander and Marcus Dillon made their season debuts in the 200m and finished fourth (21.33) and fifth (21.43), respectively.
In the 110m hurdles, sophomore Jared Huske had a .03-second personal best (sixth-tie, 14.32) and was only .02 seconds from the regional standard (14.30), and also ran on the 4x100m relay (fourth, 41.11).
Complete results will be posted later early Sunday morning at the www.thesundevils.com website and were unavailable as of midnight Saturday.
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