University of Oregon
Husky Classic
Greer, Hasay Take National Leads
02/13/11 | Track and Field
SEATTLE, Wash. - Elijah Greer and Jordan Hasay ran nation-leading times in the men's 800 meters and women's mile, respectively, Saturday at the Husky Classic at the Dempsey Indoor Facility.
Greer moved to the national lead in the 800 meters by winning in a personal-best 1:47.02. He beat Cory Primm of UCLA, who was second in 1:47.31.
The sophomore from Lake Oswego, Ore., moved to No. 2 on the all-time Oregon list, trailing only Andrew Wheating's 1:46.36 from a year ago.
Hasay was brilliant in running the top time by a collegian this season and finishing a step behind professional Lauren Bonds, who won the women's mile in 4:34.65. Hasay was a tenth of a second behind in 4:34.75.
Brie Felnagle of adidas was third in 4:36.28, while Oregon's Anne Kesselring was fourth in 4:36.32, giving Oregon two of the top three women's collegiate mile times in the nation in 2011.
Hasay's time was the second-fastest in school history and inched the sophomore from Arroyo Grande, Calif., closer to the Oregon record of 4:33.26, set by Leann Warren in 1982. Kesselring's time moved the sophomore from Nurnberg, Germany to No. 3 on the Ducks' all-time list.
"Elijah Greer, Jordan Hasay and Anne Kesselring were outstanding on Saturday," said Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna. "With Matthew Centrowitz in the 3,000 and Alex Kosinski's and Bronwyn Crossman's 5,000 meters on Friday, I would call it a good meet in Seattle."
Matthew Centrowitz was the top collegian and third over in the men's 3,000 meters. He ran a five-second personal best of 7:50.59 in trailing only Tim Nelson of Nike, who won in 7:49.95, and Saucony's Garrett Heath (7:50.28).
Centrowitz's time ranks second in school history, trailing only Galen Rupp's 2009 American Collegiate record of 7:44.69. Only Indiana's Andrew Bayer (7:48.35) has run faster than the senior from Arnold, Md., this collegiate season.
"Centrowitz and coach Andy Powell developed a great strategy in a big 3,000 meters," said Lananna.
Ryan Hill of North Carolina State was fourth Saturday in 7:50.78 and Liberty's Sam Chelanga was fifth in 7:50.92.
Greer, Hasay, Kesselring and Centrowitz all ran NCAA Championships automatic qualifying times on Saturday.
Alexandria Davidson led the Oregon women's sprinters. She won the 200 meters in a personal-best 24.37. That was the fifth-fastest time in school history.
The sophomore from DuPont, Wash., also ran a personal-best 7.59 seconds to finish fourth in the final of the 60 meters. That time was the fifth-fastest in school history.
Oregon football players LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and Dior Mathis made their season debuts in the men's 60 meters. James won his preliminary heat in 6.87 seconds, while Mathis was second in his heat in 6.97 to advance to the finals. Barner just missed, running 7.09.
"To have LaMichael, Kenjon and Dior with us was very exciting," said Lananna. "They are a very important part of both our track and field team and our football team."
In the finals, James tied for second, running 6.88, while Mathis finished in 7.00.
In the men's 60 meter hurdles, senior Eric Hersey matched his PR by running 7.96 in the final to finish third overall.
Junior Camilla Dencer won the women's 400 meters in 55.70.
Senior Jordan Roskelley had a huge PR in the women's pole vault. The Spokane, Wash., native jumped six inches over her previous best in going 13-7.75/4.16m. That was third on Saturday and the fourth-best clearance in school history.
In the men's triple jump, Brian Schaudt was fourth with a personal-best leap of 50-4.5/15.35m. That mark tied the junior from Philomath, Ore., for fourth on the Oregon indoor list.
"Brian Shaudt had a great triple jump series and it was good to see him go over 50 feet for the first time in his career," said Lananna.
Senior Jordan Stray was fifth in the men's weight throw in a season best 60-9.25/18.52m.
TYSON INVITATIONAL
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Amber Purvis nearly broke her own school record in the women's 200 meters and anchored the fifth-fastest 4x400 meter relay time in UO history at the Tyson Invitational.
Purvis took second in her heat in 23.27, a time that was just .06 off her own school record. Her time was the fourth-fastest overall on Saturday.
The junior from Hercules, Calif., then came back and anchored the Ducks' 4x400 relay team that ran 3:36.77, the fifth-fastest in school history. Senior Jamesha Youngblood led off, followed by freshmen Chizoba Okodogbe and Laura Roesler and Purvis. Their time was third in their heat and seventh overall.
Senior Mandy White was second in her heat of the 200 meters in 24.42.
In the men's 200, freshman Mike Berry was sixth in his heat in 21.56.
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