Men's Track & Field Outlook - 2003
February 1, 2003
After jumping three places in the Pac-10 ranks last season to second, the 'Men of Oregon' will aim high again in 2003. Six NCAA veterans, nine All-Americans and 11 conference scorers headline this year's squad that also features a talented class of 20 newcomers.
In 2002, fifth-year men's head coach Martin Smith directed the Ducks to a second-place Pac-10 finish outdoors and a league-high five individual titles. At the national level, the Ducks scored a best-ever ninth-place NCAA effort indoors, then sent seven individuals to the outdoor collegiate finale - their most since 1996 - and added two more All-America honors.
Leading the way in 2003, a pair of NCAA champions return after missing last season because of injuries - javelin thrower John Stiegeler and decathlete Santiago Lorenzo - and are joined by three other track All-Americans - senior Samie Parker (60) and juniors Jason Hartmann (10,000) and Trevor Woods (pole vault). In cross country last fall, Hartmann earned his third All-America on the trails and was one of four Duck honorees with redshirt junior Ryan Andrus, and redshirt sophomores Brett Holts and Eric Logsdon.
At the conference level, the Ducks feature four returning track and field champions - senior Adam Kriz (hammer) and junior Brandon Holliday (400 hurdles) from 2002, and Lorenzo and Stiegeler from 2001 - to go along with two other runners-up from last season - Hartmann (10,000) and senior Foluso Akinradewo (triple jump).
The Ducks should also again flex their traditional depth with Pac-10 qualifiers or scorers back in 14 of 19 individual outdoor events, and NCAA provisional or automatic qualifiers in seven different events outdoors and four events indoors. Balancing the cast of returnees is a crowded class of 20 newcomers - most of which are capable of Pac-10 qualifying marks immediately.
"This should be an exciting year since we have a large group of student-athletes who are beginning to reap the fruits of their hard work," Oregon men's head coach Martin Smith said. "We have several key seniors with big goals leading the way, who will start to pass the baton to a great class of newcomers. Our mission has always been to field a deep and diverse squad committed to excelling against the nation's best, and academically off the track. We enjoyed a fair share of success last season, and we have similar ambitions again in 2003. Our success will rely on how quickly we mature, and we'll rely heavily on our youth at the Pac-10 level."
Looking ahead to action on the oval, All-America senior Samie Parker paces a freshman-heavy sprint crew that features three additions with sub-48.00 second personal bests in the 400. In the 400 hurdles, junior Brandon Holliday will defend his Pac-10 title, and freshman Eric Mitchum ranked seventh among preps in the 110 hurdles last season. Assistant coach Steve Silvey has also worked hard to rebuild the middle distance unit and welcomes four 800 newcomers ready to challenge for Pac-10 invites. Two-time All-American and junior Jason Hartmann anchors a long distance unit that is capable of points in every distance race, including returning league scorers Brett Holts (steeple) and Eric Logsdon (5K).
The field events will again prove critical to the team's conference and championship fortunes. In the league finale last year, the corps scored 58 points and claimed three Pac-10 titles, and featured two NCAA participants indoors and four outdoors. Returning 2001 NCAA champions and seniors John Stiegeler and Santiago Lorenzo will again be collegiate favorites in the javelin and decathlon, respectively. All-American and junior pole vaulter Trevor Woods took third in the NCAA indoor finale and then cracked the 18-foot barrier outdoors. Senior hammer thrower Adam Kriz emerged as one of the nation's most improved hammer throwers in 2002 and begins his first season of work with assistant coach and Olympic silver medalist Lance Deal.
The schedule looks familiar with the Ducks hosting four meets - the Oregon Preview (3/22), the Pepsi Team Invitational with Colorado, Minnesota and Washington (4/12), the Oregon Invitational (4/26), and the Oregon Twilight (5/3). The squad will also face the nation's best in regular season stops in the Stanford Invitational and Texas Relays. During the postseason slate, the West Coast welcomes all of the nation's premier contests with the Pacific-10 Conference Championships at USC, the NCAA Championships at Cal State Sacramento, and the USA Championships at Stanford.
Oregon's leagues of track and field fans should note that the NCAA outdoor qualifying process has changed drastically with the addition of a new regional format. The U.S. Track Coaches Association prompted the NCAA to add four, two-day regionals held nationally at the end of May with the top-five placers from each event automatically advancing to the NCAA Championships two weeks later. The qualifying standards, which are very similar to the Pac-10 standards, are based on the 100th best performance from the previous year (with all conference champions automatically also invited to their regional). Besides the automatic advancers from each regional, an additional 6-8 athletes nationally per event will be invited to the NCAA Championships by the national committee based on a season performance list (in case of injury, illness, false-start/DQ, etc.) as long as the athlete competed in the regional.
Sprints
Returnees 100 200 400 Samie Parker, Sr. 10.61/10.41w/21.46w Santiago Lorenzo, RSr. 10.99 48.06 Jason Slye, RSr. 22.21w 49.04Newcomers 100 200 400 Jordan Kent, Fr. 10.54 21.08 47.22 Matthew Scherer, Fr. 10.5 21.81 46.87 Travis Anderson, Fr. 10.72 21.54 47.09 Marcus Benton, Fr. 10.8 21.64 48.74
Senior Samie Parker made Duck history in 2002 by claiming its first indoor sprint All-America honor (60, fourth, 6.67) after lowering his school record in the prelims (6.63). Outdoors, he balanced his spring football schedule with the team's fastest marks in the 100 (10.41w) and 200 (21.46w) and barely missed repeat points in the Pac-10 100.
A host of talented newcomers add instant ammunition in the 100, 200 and 400. Freshman Matthew Scherer was a 10-time Illinois state finalist and clocked his 400 personal best (46.67) as a junior. Freshman Travis Anderson was a Colorado state 400 champion as a sophomore and owns a best of 47.09. Freshman Marcus Benton from McMinnville, Ore., posted four, top-three honors in the 4A state 100, 200 and 400 as a junior and senior. Freshman Jordan Kent offers explosive sprint potential after winning state titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump, although his availability will be clearer once his Duck basketball commitments are completed in March.
During the regular season, Oregon's decathlete crew of NCAA champion Santiago Lorenzo, Doug Sells, Jason Slye and Andrew Young may also get the starting call depending on their multi-event training.
The Duck relays will have their deepest talent pools in recent memory. Parker will anchor the 4x100, and the remaining legs will rely heavily on freshmen Travis Anderson, Marcus Benton, Jordan Kent and Matthew Scherer, and freshman hurdlers Eric Mitchum and Samuel Hobbs. The 4x400 relay possibilities are lengthier thanks to a talented, young middle distance group that includes junior Adam Bailey and freshmen Tomas Finol, Ryan Flaherty, Jan Olszowy and Kyle Sunderland. Junior Brandon Holliday, the returning Pac-10 400-hurdle champion, and senior Santiago Lorenzo, a two-time league scorer in the same event, will get their chances to pass the baton, as could decathlete Gabriel LeMay, or others from the 4x100 relay.
Hurdles
Returnees 110H 400H Santiago Lorenzo, RSr. 15.00 51.70 Jason Slye, RSr. 15.00 Brandon Holliday, Jr. 50.73Newcomers 110H 300H/400H Eric Mitchum, Fr. 13.82 37.17/- Samuel Hobbs, Fr. 14.38 38.39 Adam Bailey, Jr. -/53.9
After lowering his 400 hurdle best by more than two seconds, junior Brandon Holliday capped last season with a Pac-10 title. In 2003, the Ducks' seventh-fastest hurdler all-time will aim for his first NCAA invite after missing by only .18 seconds in 2002. Senior Santiago Lorenzo, a Pac-10 scorer in the event in 2000 (fourth) and 2001 (fifth), may make his third league appearance, as could freshman Matthew Scherer who will add the intermediate hurdles to his repertoire.
In the 110 hurdles, freshman Eric Mitchum looms as the team's likely leader after ranking seventh nationally among preps as a senior (13.82) and was the Illinois state runner-up. Freshman Samuel Hobbs of Bend High School ran away with 4A state titles in the 110 and 300 hurdles last year, and decathletes Santiago Lorenzo, Doug Sells, Jason Slye and Andrew Young will make occasional appearances.
Middle Distances
Newcomers 400 800 Jan Olszowy, Fr. 47.9 1:50.15 Ryan Flaherty, Fr. 48.85 1:52.19 Kyle Sunderland, Fr. 47.7 1:52.4 Tomas Finol, Fr. 48.15 1:52.59 Adam Bailey, Fr. 48.0 1:54
Middle distance coach Steve Silvey has quickly stockpiled a stable of high-caliber middle distance runners after graduating an All-American and a three-time Pac-10 scorer.
South Eugene High School product and freshman Jan Olszowy returns to Hayward Field as a collegian and should immediately contest for Pac-10 points. As a prep senior in 2001, he won the state 4A 800 title and ranked seventh overall on the U.S. prep list that season (PR 1:50.15). Freshman Ryan Flaherty from Bend, Ore., won the state 4A prep crown in 2002 (1:52.19) and was also a third-place state finisher in the 400. Freshman Tomas Finol arrives from Spring, Texas and sped to a 1:52.59 best in 2002 and placed third in the state final. Freshman Kyle Sunderland from Fontana, Calif, took fourth in the state 800 last May (1:52.62) and added a 400 best of 47.7. Junior Adam Bailey, a transfer from Lane Community College, travels crosstown to join the Ducks and could quickly rewrite his previous best of 1:54.
Distances
Returnees 1,500/Mile 3K/3KSt. 5K/10K Jason Hartmann, RJr. 14:05.72/28:46.76 Eric Logsdon, RSo. 3:49.66/- 8:10.66/- 14:04.85 John Lucas, RJr. 14:16.40/29:50.22 Erik Heinonen, RFr. 14:35.8/31:26.05 Noel Paulson, RSo. -/4:04.31 Brett Holts, RSo. 8:25.75/8:57.33 Ryan Andrus, RJr. 3:49.08/- 14:11.8Newcomers 800/1,500 3K/3,200 5K Shane Ahlers, Fr. -/9:30 Will Viviani, RFr. -/3:56.52 8:33.83/- 15:03.67
In his first two seasons as a Duck trackster, redshirt junior Jason Hartmann has quietly put together one of the nation's most impressive resumes. A three-time All-America honoree in cross country, and twice in the 10,000 on the track, he lowered his 25-lap best twice last year and now ranks fifth all-time for Oregon after last June's USA Championships (eighth, 28:46.76).
Redshirt junior Ryan Andrus looms as the distance corps' most improved athlete. Last fall in cross country, the Orem, Utah native earned All-America honors (34th) after top-six Pac-10 and Western Regional finishes (fifth/sixth). On the track, he will look to rewrite his personal bests in the 1,500 (3:46.5) and 5,000 (14:11.8) that date back to his freshman campaign for Wisconsin in 1998.
After an impressive Oregon prep career, redshirt sophomore Eric Logsdon is maturing into an equally formidable collegian. Last fall in cross country, he helped fuel the team to a fifth-place NCAA team showing with All-America reviews (41st). On the oval last May, he debuted in the 5,000 with an NCAA provisional time of 14:04.85 - the Ducks' fastest by a freshman since 1980 although he ran the final mile with only one shoe after the other was clipped off by another runner.
In his first season of steeplechase duty, redshirt sophomore Brett Holts quickly stepped up and reaped fourth in his Pac-10 debut. His personal best of 8:57.33 was three seconds away the NCAA provisional mark and led conference frosh, and last fall he claimed his first All-America honor in the NCAA Cross Country Championships (43rd).
Another member of the Ducks' deep distance brigade, redshirt junior John Lucas has progressively climbed the Pac-10 charts. Indoors in 2002, he shaved more than 30 seconds off his personal best in the 5,000 and met the NCAA provisional mark (14:16.40). Outdoors, he followed with his first Pac-10 appearance in the 10,000 (13th) and his best of 29:50.22 was five seconds shy of the NCAA provisional list.
Redshirt sophomore Noel Paulson joined the qualifying fray indoors, with an NCAA provisional mark in the mile (4:04.31), before his 2002 season was shortened outdoors by a foot injury. He returned in the fall to run top six in all four cross country races, and scored in the team's Pac-10 runner-up finish.
As he outdistances previous injuries, redshirt freshman Erik Heinonen is best known as the fastest prep nationally in 2001 in the 10,000 (31:26.05) and took fifth in the 2000 national prep harrier championships as a senior.
Several newcomers will add depth as they adjust to the nation's toughest distance conference that featured 10 cross country All-Americans last fall and eight on the oval outdoors in 2002. Redshirt freshman Will Vivani attended Oregon in 2001-02 but trained on his own and ran 3,000 and 5,000 bests of 8:33.83 and 15:03.67 locally. Freshman Shane Ahlers took 14th as a senior in the 2001 Midwest Footlocker Regional and was the South Dakota state champion in the 3,200 as a senior.
Jumps
Returnees HJ PV LJ TJ Trevor Woods, Jr. 18-0 1/2 Jason Slye, RSr. 17-3 1/2 Jon Derby, RFr. 15-11 3/4 Foluso Akinradewo, Sr. 21-11w 50-10 3/4w Derek Strubel, So. 49-1 1/2 Santiago Lorenzo, RSr. 6-4 1/4 16-0 3/4 23-5 1/2 Jesse Mays, RFr. 22-8 45-3 1/4 Andrew Young, RSo. 15-0 1/2Newcomers HJ PV LJ TJ Jeff Lindsey, Fr. 7-2 Teddy Davis, Fr. 6-11 21-7 44-7 Chad Clason, Fr. 6-10 1/4 Bobby Owen, Fr. 6-8 46-8 David Moore, Fr. 16-6 Jordan Kent, Fr. 25-1 1/4w
All-American and junior Trevor Woods is fast establishing himself as one of the nation's top up-and-coming pole vaulters. The Coos Bay, Ore., native upped his personal best another eight inches to 18-0 1/2, and now ranks fourth on Oregon's storied list and also claimed third in the NCAA indoor finale last March with an indoor best of 17-11 3/4.
Few athletes have blossomed as much under fourth-year coach Bill Lawson as redshirt senior Jason Slye. The Keizer, Ore., native has upped his personal best by more than a foot and was an NCAA provisional qualifier both indoors (17-0 3/4) and outdoors in 2002 (17-3 1/2) with more gains certainly possible in his last go-around.
Freshman David Moore paces pole vault newcomers after claiming prep All-America honors and the 2002 California state title (PR 16-6). Redshirt freshman Jon Derby will take aim at the Pac-10 qualifying mark (16-4 3/4), after clearing 15-11 3/4 as a redshirt. Decathletes Gabriel LeMay and Andy Young enter 2003 with personal bests of 15-0 and 15-0 1/2, respectively.
The vertical jumps feature a trio of talented freshmen ready to replace the graduation of All-American Jason Boness. Freshman Jeff Lindsey owns the highest best of the group (7-2) from his senior campaign and tied for fourth nationally on the 2002 U.S. prep list. Freshman Chad Clason won the state 4A title for Bend High School last year (PR 6-10 1/4), and White Salmon, Wash., native Teddy Davis was a three-time state champion and owned a 6-11 prep best.
In the long jump, redshirt senior Santiago Lorenzo returns for active duty after redshirting outdoors in 2002. The two-time All-America decathlete scored in the Pac-10 long jump in 2001 (seventh), and owns indoor and outdoor bests of 23-9 and 23-4 3/4, respectively.
In the triple jump, senior Foluso Akinradewo climbed the Pac-10 charts with a runner-up finish in 2002 - his third Pac-10 scoring honor. The Fresno, Calif., native enters 2003 tied for 10th on the Duck all-time list with his outdoor personal best from the Washington dual (50-4 1/2). Sophomore Derek Strubel missed points in his league debut by only two inches, and overall ranked second among Pac-10 freshmen (49-1 1/2).
Among other horizontal jump additions, the Hayward Field faithful are eagerly anticipating the collegiate debut of freshman Jordan Kent. The Eugene product wowed the home crowd with state prep long jump titles in 2001 and 2002 and ranked ninth and 10th nationally, respectively, with yearly bests of 24-5 and 24-3 1/2. Redshirt freshman Jesse Mays could add duty in both horizontal jumps and owns prep bests of 22-8 and 44-3 1/4. Freshman Bobby Owen, a 6-8 high jumper and 46-8 triple jumper as a prep in Mansfield, Texas, may redshirt to boost his decathlon training.
Throws
Returnees SP DT HT JT James March, Sr. 53-5 166-6 131-11 Adam Kriz, RSr. 210-7 John Stiegeler, RSr. 252-10 Adam Jenkins, Jr. 218-5 Santiago Lorenzo, Sr. 45-2 1/2 137-11 202-5
In his first season as throws coach, Olympic silver medalist Lance Deal will mentor one Pac-10 champion and another likely qualifier among the shot put, discus and hammer disciplines, and Bill Lawson's javelin unit boasts NCAA champion John Stiegeler and two-time Pac-10 qualifier Adam Jenkins.
Senior James March stands as the team's top returnee in the shot put and discus, and claimed his first Pac-10 invite last year in the discus (166-6) after a six-foot improvement. In 2001, he missed a Pac-10 invite in the shot put by only four inches, and he will contend for league marks and valuable dual meet points in each.
In 2002, redshirt senior Adam Kriz added another chapter to Oregon's book of Cinderella stories in the hammer. The former walk-on upped his personal best by 15 feet and claimed Oregon's fifth Pac-10 title since 1984, to go along with his first NCAA invite.
The career of redshirt senior John Stiegeler took another dramatic turn in 2002 with an ACL knee ligament tear. However, the 2001 NCAA champion still ranked third in the U.S. based on his two appearances and is a prime contender for top collegiate honors again this season after seven of last year's top-10 collegiate qualifiers graduated, including the top two NCAA placers.
A two-time Pac-10 veteran, junior Adam Jenkins will look for his first league points after ninth- and 11th-place finishes in 2001 and 2002, respectively. His best of 218-5 dates back to his 2001 collegiate debut and ranks him 11th all-time for Oregon, while his prep best of 229-2 led the high school scene in 2000. Redshirt senior Santiago Lorenzo could add javelin duty, and threw a Pac-10 qualifier of 202-5 in the Texas Relays in 2001.
Decathlon
Returnees Points Santiago Lorenzo, RSr. 7,889 Jason Slye, RSr. 6,996 Doug Sells, RJr. 6,615Newcomer Points Gabriel LeMay, Jr. 6,832 Robert Owen, Fr. -
After missing the 2002 outdoor slate with a quad muscle injury, redshirt senior Santiago Lorenzo is ready to chase his third NCAA trip. In his last collegiate outdoor appearance he claimed the 2001 NCAA decathlon title thanks a personal best in the final event (1,500) in front of the Eugene homecrowd. He again stands as a top contender after the collegiate ranks graduated four of last year's top five NCAA qualifiers and 11 of the 19 NCAA entrants. Also watch for Lorenzo to suit up for the Ducks in several Pac-10 events - he has scored twice in the 400 hurdles and once in the long jump, and has also registered a qualifying mark in the javelin.
The decathlon is primed to add more points with two Pac-10 veterans back in 2003. Redshirt senior Jason Slye posted his first league points last May (fifth, PR 6,996) and could see continued gains, especially if he improves his throwing marks. A knee injury in last year's indoor debut sidelined redshirt junior Doug Sells, but the former prep All-American has worked hard during rehab after making his Pac-10 debut in 2000 (ninth, 6,615).
Redshirt junior transfer Gabriel LeMay stands as the next potential success story from the Duck decathlon rolls. The Lane Community College transfer registered his personal best of 6,832 points last spring in the NWAACC Championships and ranks fifth in LCC history behind several former Division 1 All-Americans.
Redshirt freshman Andrew Young trained with the Oregon decathletes last year and owns an extensive experience in the jumps and hurdles events. Freshman Bobby Owen may redshirt to ease the transition into the decathlon and owns a solid collection of prep marks in the high jump (6-8), triple jump (46-8) and 400 (50.21).
