Photo by: Josh Phillips/GoDucks.com
More Mature Ducks Competing With Sense of Urgency
02/08/19 | Track and Field, @GoDucksMoseley
The Oregon track and field program competes at two meets this weekend, bringing to them a heightened focus compared to a year ago.
The 2017-18 track and field roster was the youngest of UO coach Robert Johnson's tenure in Eugene, and it showed.
Johnson, now in his seventh year with the Ducks, spent all of last winter trying to instill a sense of urgency in his team. The indoor season features precious few chances to earn qualifying marks for the NCAA championship meet, something that young UO roster struggled to grasp.
Oregon's contingent of men at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships numbered just six individuals. The women's contingent was larger, but finished a frustrating fifth, one spot off the podium. All of that left a sour taste in Johnson's mouth.
Fast forward a year, and Johnson isn't counting any ducklings before they hatch. But after an encouraging debut meet last month in Seattle followed by some big-time performances two weeks ago at Arkansas, Johnson hasn't had to work quite so hard to hammer home a message of urgency this winter.
"Those kids are a year older, so that helps," the UO coach said Tuesday. "But it's still some of that same message, because we have such an influx of newcomers to our team. I don't know if that message ever really wanes."
The Ducks will compete this week at meets in Seattle and New Mexico. A group of sprinters and jumpers is in Albuquerque for the Don Kirby Invite, with the rest of this week's UO competitors in Washington for the Husky Classic.
Oregon's indoor season began with a rust-buster hosted by UW, before the team closed out January with a big performance at Arkansas. That meet featured school records by Chaquinn Cook in the triple jump and Jessica Hull in the mile, and a sub-4-minute mile for Cooper Teare on the men's side.
All of those marks rank in the top 10 nationally, in position to be in the top 16 at season's end and earn a spot in the national meet. Another belongs to junior Hannah Waller, whose 400 time of 52.54 ranked second nationally entering this week — and was just off her PR of 52.44.
And Waller isn't looking to rest on that laurel this week in New Mexico, where she'll run in two events.
"I do want to PR again," she said. "I want to PR in both the 200 and the 400. And I want to see my teammates PR too, more than anything. Because it starts with one, and it's the domino effect."
That attitude must be music to Johnson's ears, after last season's frustrations. He craves championships above all else, but also personal records from athletes seeking constant improvement.
Waller said the depth of the competition at the Razorback Invitational added to the sense of urgency Johnson has worked to instill.
"Going there was a great way to wake us up and realize, OK, yeah, we do need to jump on it right away," Waller said. "The quicker the better, because the sooner you have that qualifying mark, you can work to fix the little things. And when you put the pieces together, you'll have a great race at the end of the season."
On the men's side, Blake Haney said he isn't as worried about a PR when he toes the line for his first mile of the season, this weekend in Seattle. But he wants to post a qualifying time for the NCAA meet even though there would remain a couple more chances later in the season to do so.
There's no time like the present, as the Ducks learned the hard way last winter.
"You really don't get many chances in the indoor season," Haney said. "So if you're not urgent right now, it's a little too late. We're going in focused and ready to race."
Johnson, now in his seventh year with the Ducks, spent all of last winter trying to instill a sense of urgency in his team. The indoor season features precious few chances to earn qualifying marks for the NCAA championship meet, something that young UO roster struggled to grasp.
Oregon's contingent of men at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships numbered just six individuals. The women's contingent was larger, but finished a frustrating fifth, one spot off the podium. All of that left a sour taste in Johnson's mouth.
Fast forward a year, and Johnson isn't counting any ducklings before they hatch. But after an encouraging debut meet last month in Seattle followed by some big-time performances two weeks ago at Arkansas, Johnson hasn't had to work quite so hard to hammer home a message of urgency this winter.
"Those kids are a year older, so that helps," the UO coach said Tuesday. "But it's still some of that same message, because we have such an influx of newcomers to our team. I don't know if that message ever really wanes."
The Ducks will compete this week at meets in Seattle and New Mexico. A group of sprinters and jumpers is in Albuquerque for the Don Kirby Invite, with the rest of this week's UO competitors in Washington for the Husky Classic.
Oregon's indoor season began with a rust-buster hosted by UW, before the team closed out January with a big performance at Arkansas. That meet featured school records by Chaquinn Cook in the triple jump and Jessica Hull in the mile, and a sub-4-minute mile for Cooper Teare on the men's side.
All of those marks rank in the top 10 nationally, in position to be in the top 16 at season's end and earn a spot in the national meet. Another belongs to junior Hannah Waller, whose 400 time of 52.54 ranked second nationally entering this week — and was just off her PR of 52.44.
And Waller isn't looking to rest on that laurel this week in New Mexico, where she'll run in two events.
"I do want to PR again," she said. "I want to PR in both the 200 and the 400. And I want to see my teammates PR too, more than anything. Because it starts with one, and it's the domino effect."
That attitude must be music to Johnson's ears, after last season's frustrations. He craves championships above all else, but also personal records from athletes seeking constant improvement.
Waller said the depth of the competition at the Razorback Invitational added to the sense of urgency Johnson has worked to instill.
"Going there was a great way to wake us up and realize, OK, yeah, we do need to jump on it right away," Waller said. "The quicker the better, because the sooner you have that qualifying mark, you can work to fix the little things. And when you put the pieces together, you'll have a great race at the end of the season."
On the men's side, Blake Haney said he isn't as worried about a PR when he toes the line for his first mile of the season, this weekend in Seattle. But he wants to post a qualifying time for the NCAA meet even though there would remain a couple more chances later in the season to do so.
There's no time like the present, as the Ducks learned the hard way last winter.
"You really don't get many chances in the indoor season," Haney said. "So if you're not urgent right now, it's a little too late. We're going in focused and ready to race."
Players Mentioned
J
/ Track and Field
MD
/ Track and Field
MD
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
SP
/ Track and FieldB1G Sweep: Oregon Cross Country Conference Champions Cinematic Recap
Wednesday, November 12
Aaliyah McCormick | NCAA 100M Hurdles National Champion
Thursday, June 19
Matti Erickson | NCAA 800M Runner Up
Saturday, June 14
Hayward Field History
Thursday, June 12
