University of Oregon
UCLA
Field Helps Ducks Track Down UCLA
04/17/10 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. -- No. 3 Oregon won six of the eight field events, including sweeps in hammer and javelin, to defeat UCLA 92-71 in a dual meet Saturday before 5,209 fans at Historic Hayward Field. It was the third straight year the Ducks have prevailed against the Bruins.
"I like how the team competed," said Oregon Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna. "They showed me today that they are a championship caliber team."
The Ducks established a lead early in the hammer and javelin and steadily built on it throughout the meet.
Jordan Stray led the sweep in the hammer with a personal-best throw of 217-5. That bumped the junior from Centralia, Wash., to No. 8 on the UO top 10. Junior Scott Penny was second with a lifetime-best throw of 197-2.
"I am happy because I got a PR on my second throw, and then PRed again," said Stray. "I am excited for the rest of the season and I want to get even better."
Shortly after, a pair of Oregon javelin throwers hit PRs to lead an Oregon sweep. Junior Alex Wolff went 240-8 on his third attempt to win the event, while senior Mike Simmons was second at 234-0. Sophomore Britton Nelson was third at 207-4 to complete the sweep.
Wolff, from Newberg, Ore., had a four-foot PR to jump to No. 4 on Oregon's career list. Simmons' effort was even more impressive, as he was throwing for the first time in two years after sitting out the 2009 season with an injury. His throw Saturday was more than a seven-foot PR, and moved the Happy Valley, Ore., native to No. 6 on the Ducks' top 10.
"It's fun being out here with the crowd and all," said Wolff. "Having (Mike) Simmons back is definitely a push, it's awesome to have him out here. He started throwing well and it just gets those butterflies inside you and makes you want to throw well. It definitely pushed me over. I've been trying to hit 240 for a long time, I was happy to do it today."
David Klech, who transferred to Oregon from UCLA in 2007, notched his collegiate best in the high jump in winning at 7-0.5. That mark was tied for seventh on the Ducks' career top-10, and was just a quarter inch off his PR set in high school.
Sophomore Danny Marconi nearly made it two Ducks over the bar at 7-0 before settling for second at 6-11.5 to match his all-conditions PR.
"Anything to help out the team is great," said Klech. "It was good for Danny (Marconi) and I to go one and two. It is great to have someone pushing you.
"Being here and putting out all our efforts is good on a day like this when our team needed it," said Klech.
The Ducks also saw an unexpected win from Colin Witter-Tilton in the pole vault. The senior from Oro Valley, Ariz., set an outdoor PR by clearing the bar at 17-1.5.
"It feels really good," said Witter-Tilton. "You know last year I didn't do too well. Last year I think I got third place and so it was nice to finally win and beat the guys who beat me last year."
Oregon also took both horizontal jumps. Junior Vernell Warren won the long jump with a season-best leap of 24-0.25, while sophomore Brian Schaudt matched his season best in winning the triple jump in 47-8.5.
The Bruins tried to keep the meet close with sweeps in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, the shot put and the discus.
But then Oregon's Ashton Eaton removed any doubt with impressive wins in the 100 and 200 meters.
The Ducks' do-it-all senior from Bend, Ore., took the 100 meters in 10.52 seconds that was just .05 off the meet record, before coming back later in the meet to capture the 200 in a personal-best 21.03. That time ranks as the eighth-fastest at Oregon.
"It felt good," said the world record-holder in the indoor heptathlon. "I love sprints. I love the multis, but if I could have equal success in something else, I would do that."
Football's LaMichael James was third in the 100 in 10.90.
Oregon also received a much-needed sweep in the 110 meter hurdles, with sophomore Eric Hersey winning in 14.39, junior Justin Cross second in 14.81 and senior Marshall Ackley third in 14.96.
The Ducks were further boosted by a one-two finish by a pair of San Diego natives in the 1,500 meters early in the meet. Freshman Mac Fleet ran a PR of 3:46.62 to win, with junior A.J. Acosta was right behind in 3:47.44.
Senior Chad Barlow captured the 400 meters in a season-best 47.33.
Oregon added to its winning total with second-place finishes in the 800 meters from junior Travis Thompson in a season-best 1:49.54 and junior Danny Mercado in the 5,000 meters in 14:16.14. Freshman Elijah Greer was third in the 800 in 1:50.62.
The Ducks capped the day by taking the 4x400 meter relay in a meet-record 3:10.94 with a team consisting of sophomore Matt Butcher, Thompson, Klech and Barlow.
"Whether it's here or in Los Angeles or wherever, I think coach Lananna has the right idea to revive interest in track and field," said UCLA coach Mike Maynard. "I'm completely and fully committed to the dual and triangular, quad type scoring format and meet and loved this crowd.
"It's exciting to bring our team in here and let them see what track and field can be like," said Maynard.
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