Ducks Open Outdoor Season with the Oregon Preview
Oregon Preview
March 22, 2008. ? Hayward Field
Field Events 11:15 p.m. ? Running Events 12 Noon
Single Meet Tickets - Reserved $9; General Admission $6 Adults, $4 Children (17 years and younger).Promotions - Bi-Mart Family Day ($15 two adults, unlimited children by showing Bi-Mart card at Hayward Field ticket window). The Bi-Mart Fan Reward Card enables fans who attend every meet to receive a prize at the end of the year. Details can be found in Saturday’s meet program.Hayward Field Ticket Window - Opens at 10 a.m.Gates Open - 10:30 a.m.
OUTDOOR OPENER
The Road to Eugene ?08 begins the home stretch Saturday at historic Hayward Field as the University of Oregon opens one of its most intriguing home track schedules in recent memory that won’t end until the hosting of the facility’s fourth U.S. Olympic Trials - Track & Field June 27-July 6. Over 550 athletes from throughout the Pacific Northwest will be on display, as well as a refurbished Hayward Field that has undergone an approximate $8 million facelift in anticipation of one of the biggest summers ever. A mixture of the old (10 returning NCAA All-Americans and 20 Pac-10 scorers) and the new (11 true freshmen) will make their outdoor season debuts in a meet that will feature 36 events.
OFF-TRACK ACTIVITIES
For the third year in a row, the Starting Block will take place and is geared to get kids moving and staying active. The concept features a high-energy, dynamic space for youth designed for fun and interactive activities that offers youth a chance to practice their athletic skills and learn more about the sport. I’m a Track Fan will introduce youth to the world of track & field and encourage them to support athletes competing in the Olympic Trials.
SCHOOL RECORD-HOLDERS
The Ducks established school records in six events during the recently completed indoor season, with no fewer than eight athletes responsible for the record-breaking performances (including members of two relays) expected to take part Saturday. Senior Michael McGrath is entered in both the 800 and 1,500 meters, Chad Barlow is expected to run the 200, while decathlete Ashton Eaton is entered in the men’s 110-meter hurdles and long jump. On the women’s side Kavina Hall is entered in both the 200 and 400, freshman sprinter Mandy White will run the 400, Keshia Baker and Zoe Buckman are both entered in the 800, and Alexandra Kosinski will run in the 1,500.
LONG WAIT
For participants in events that aren’t contested indoors, it has been a long wait since they competed in front of crowds last spring and summer. That includes the javelin, where Oregonians Ashley McCrea (North Bend) and Kara Meeuwsen (Cornelius)are anxious to get underway. McCrea finished third in the last spring’s Pac-10 championships and fifth in the West Regional. Meeuwsen scored fifth a year ago as a freshman at the league level and was 18th in the regionals.
ON SABBATICAL
A pair of the Ducks’ elite performers, who have combined for 12 All-America awards, are not expected to compete in Oregon singlets this year. Galen Rupp is taking a break from collegiate competition while preparing for the Olympic Trials. Rebekah Noble is healing from sugery that may keep her on the sidelines in 2008.
SPRINTERS LOOK STRONG
Sophomore Keshia Baker looks to be a great place to start for the Ducks’ women as the 400-meter specialist remained unbeaten in the indoor season prior to her first taste of NCAA competition. The indoor school record-holder (53.52) advanced to the finals of last spring’s Pac-10 meet, along with teammate Irie Searcy. The addition of Lake Oswego freshman Mandy White should make an immediate impact as she surpassed the Ducks’ previous 60-meter school best. Returnees Kavina Hall, Leah Worthen and freshman horizontal jumper Jamesha Youngblood also could provide some clout.
HURDLES
As part of his training for the decathlon, Bend sophomore Ashton Eaton also has developed into the team’s top hurdler. He will be joined by Jared Huske and Zach Ancell.
Kasey Harwood, a 2006 NCAA qualifier in the 400 hurdles, will lead the way in the longer version after finishing third that season in the Pac-10 meet. She could be joined by sprinter Leah Worthen in the 400 hurdles, along with Jamesha Youngblood. The latter candidate brings with her California state 300 hurdles and long jump championships. Heptathlon candidates Kalindra McFadden and Brianne Theisen handling the shorter distance barriers.
JUMPS
Newcomers may make the biggest impact for the Ducks in the women’s jump arena. Illinois freshman Melissa Gergel claimed indoor All-America honors in her initial collegiate season, clearing 13-7, and is anxiously awaiting her Hayward Field debut. Also wasting little time in her first collegiate campaign was freshman Jamesha Youngblood, who just missed earning a trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the long jump (20-6.25). But she is accustomed to success at a high level, winning the long jump at the U.S. Junior meet, the Pan American Juniors, the Junior Olympics and the Nike Indoor National Championships prior to arriving at Oregon. Gladstone freshman Amy Skofstad won last spring’s Oregon 4A state long jump title while setting the state meet record. Heptathletes Brianne Theisen and Kalindra McFadden head a promising corps of high jumpers.
Ashton Easton welcomed the attention as Oregon’s top men’s longer jumper last year as a freshman -- looming as the lone freshmn NCAA qualifier in the long jump a year ago. He wrapped up last year as a member of Team USA at the Pan American Junior Championships. But that’s not to say he won’t welcome reinforcements from 2007 Oregon state long and triple jump prep champion Elvis Akpla. Freshman Vernell Warren cleared a personal best in the high jump in winning the Oregon state title. That’s not to mention that he jumped 24-4.50 indoors the very first time he ever stepped onto the long jump runway in the winter. Sophomore pole vaulters Colin Witter-Tilton and Brian McGinty are well aware that they have big shoes to fill with the departure of five-time NCAA champion and Pac-10 record-holder Tommy Skipper.
The following sections have been added to accommodate the large number of entrants.
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