Des Moines Ducks: Track and Field Teams Head to NCAA Championships
THIS WEEK
Oregon sends 23 competitors and one relay team to the 2008 NCAA Track & Field Championships, June 11-14 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. The Ducks have 13 men’s entries and the 4x400 relay team, while the women feature 10 entries. See page 2 for a complete roster of Oregon competitors.
TOP SEEDS
The Oregon women boast a trio of No. 2 seeds for the NCAA championships. Sophomore Zoe Buckman is second in the 800 meters following her blistering time at the NCAA West Regional (2:02.50). Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional champion Nicole Blood ranks second in the 5,000 meters (15:43.82). And three-time Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional javelin champion Rachel Yurkovich is second in her event, based on her Pac-10 and school-record throw of 191-1. The Ducks also have freshman Brianne Theisen seeded third in the heptathlon (5,765).
For the men, sophomore A.J. Acosta is seeded third in the 1,500 meters (3:40.52), sophomore Andrew Wheating is fourth in the 800 meters (1:46.83), sophomore Ashton Eaton is fourth in the decathlon (7,792) and the 4x400 relay team is seeded ninth (3:04.85).
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Competition at the NCAA Championships begins between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day, with running and field events being contested through the early evening except for Saturday’s final day of competition. For a complete schedule, and for live results, visit Drake University’s web site: www.godrakebulldogs.com.
SCORING
The top eight places in each event score. The points are assigned as follows: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Pac-10 and school record-holder Rachel Yurkovich leads a list of 23 current University of Oregon student-athletes whose performances have landed them on the Ducks’ career top-10 list. Yurkovich’s javelin mark (191-01) is one of three top 10 throws held by current team members, while freshman Claire Michel (No. 1) leads three women ranked among the top six 3,000 meter steeplechasers. Nicole Blood ranks fourth all-time in both the 1,500 meters (4:14.73) and the 5,000 (15:43.82), while Brianne Theisen is second only to Kelly Blair on the heptathlon list (5,765). On the men’s side, Andrew Wheating owns the No. 5 800 time and the No. 6 1,500 meter mark, while Phil Alexander is fifth in the 200 meters and Ashton Eaton is sixth in the decathlon.
YOUTH OF A NATION
Of Oregon’s 23 individual entrants, all but 18 are underclassmen. The five senior entrants are Kasey Harwood (400 hurdles) and Sarah Pearson (5,000 meters) for the women and Phil Alexander (200 meters), Carlos Trujillo (5,000 meters) and Colin Veldman (hammer) for the men. The Duck man also list senior Marcus Dillon on the 4x400 relay team. That means that Oregon will return 80 percent of its NCAA Championships roster for the women and 75 percent for the men in 2009.
A CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION
Oregon has now won four of the last six Pac-10 titles in men’s track and field. The Duck have conference men’s track and field titles in 1965, 1967, 1979, 1986, 1990, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008. On the women’s side, Oregon’s Pac-10 crowns came in 1991 and 1992.
TEAM RANKINGS
The UO men and women are both ranked in this week’s USTFCCCA top 25. The men are in at No. 15, while the women check in at No. 13.
PAC-10 RECAP; MEN DEFEND TITLE, WOMEN 3RD
Oregon had three individual champions on both the men’s and women’s sides, plus strong showings in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races for a very successful Pac-10 championships May 16-17 at Tempe, Ariz. The men captured their second straight title and their fourth in the last six seasons by defeating Arizona State 144.5-134. The women had their best showing in 12 years with 100 points and a third-place finish. Oregon’s individual champions included sophomore Ashton Eaton in the decathlon (7,604), sophomore Andrew Wheating in the 800 (1:46.83, to continue his undefeated sophomore season) and walk-on senior Carlos Trujillo in the 10,000 meters (30:11.97). For the women, junior Rachel Yurkovich became just the second competitor to win three straight javelin titles with a throw of 184-0. Sophomore Nicole Blood won the 5,000 meters (16:33.70), while sophomore Keshia Baker was a surprise winner in the 400 meters (53.27), becoming Oregon’s first Pac-10 champ in the event since Camara Jones in 1995. The men scored big points in the 10,000 meters (25) and 5,000 meters (21), the later race coming after ASU had pulled within 1.5 points following its win in the triple jump. Senior Colin Veldman was also a big reason the Oregon men repeated. He took second in the hammer (219-2) and came back to finish fourth in the discus (181-0). Oregon wrapped up the men’s scoring with a second-place finish in the 4x400 relay in a season-best 3:04.85. That mark was tied for eighth-fastest all-time at UO. Sophomore Zoe Buckman helped the women’s cause with a second-place finish in the 800 meters. Her season-best 2:04.52 ranked tied for fifth on the Oregon top-10 list. Senior Kasey Harwood followed that with a personal-best in the 400 meters, 58.98 in finishing third for six team points. That time moved Harwood to fifth all-time on the Ducks’ top 10. Oregon also ran a third-place 4x400 meter relay race in a time of 3:37.43, a season best and a mark that ranked sixth all time at the University.
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.
TRACK TEAM HONORS
Oregon’s Pacific-10 Conference champions in both track and field and cross country were honored at the team’s annual awards banquet May 25 at Autzen Stadium. The list:
2007-08 Oregon Track & Field/Cross Country Awards
Tom Heinonen Cross Country Award: Nicole Blood
Bill Dellinger Cross Country Award: Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott & Galen Rupp
Coaches’ Award: Phil Alexander
Coaches’ Award: Brianne Theisen
Coaches’ Award: Zoe Buckman
Women’s Newcomer of the Year Award: Alexandra Kosinski
Perry Holloman Men’s Newcomer of the Year Award: Jordan Stray
Dow Wilson Inspirational Award: Carlos Trujillo
Harry Ritchie’s Inspirational Award: Keshia Baker
Lynne Winbigler Performer of the Year Award: Nicole Blood
George Scharpf Outstanding Athlete Award: A.J. Acosta & Ashton Eaton
Mary Officer Award: Rachel Yurkovich
Harry Ritchie’s Jewelers Award: Andrew Wheating
