University of Oregon
New Balance Collegiate Invitational
Baker, Purvis, DMR Break School Records with NCAA Marks at the Armory
02/07/09 | Track and Field
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Junior Keshia Baker broke her own school record in the preliminaries of the women's 400 meters and then came back to help Oregon set the school's women's distance medley record Friday at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory.
The women's distance medley team, Nicole Blood, Baker, Zoe Buckman and Alexandra Kosinski, ran in one of the fastest races of the night to break the old school mark by more than :05 seconds. The Ducks turned in an 11:05.08 to break the record, 11:10.48, set last season.
Baker, from Sacramento, Calif., won her preliminary 400 meters round in 53.49. Not only did Baker advance to Saturday's final and lower her mark from a year ago, 53.52, but she also posted an NCAA provisional-qualifying time. Redshirt freshman Brianne Theisen won her 400 heat in 56.06.
Amber Purvis broke the school record at 60 meters for the second straight week. The nation's fastest freshman sprinter improved her NCAA provisional qualifying time with a run of 7.34 seconds in heat four. Purvis went on to finish fourth in the finals in 7.36. Sophomore Mandy White also set a PR in the 60 meters, running 7.60, No. 2 all-time for the Ducks, while sophomore Jamesha Youngblood won her preliminary heat, running 7.67 seconds.
Junior Ashton Eaton advanced to the final of the men's 400 meters by winning his heat in 47.80. Chad Barlow won his heat in 48.10.
Sophomore Melissa Gergel matched her personal best in the women's pole vault, clearing 13-9.25 on Friday, which was already an NCAA automatic qualifying mark.
In other events on Friday, freshman Lindsay Pearson set a personal best in the women's 60 meter hurdles, running 8.79. That was .04 better than her previous best and ranks third on the UO indoor lists.
Sophomore Eric Hersey set a PR in the men's 60 meter hurdles, running 8.18.
Sophomore Vernell Warren set a PR in the men's long jump with a leap of 24-5.5.
Freshman Danny Staats cleared a college-best 6-9.75 to place second in the college division of the men's high jump.
The New Balance Collegiate Invitational continues at 6 a.m. (PST) Saturday morning.
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