Walker's Pace: Rupp Sets Record, Scherf Set for USA Spot, XC Team Honored
Rupp Sets Record, Scherf Set for USA Spot, XC Team Honored
Monday, February 9, 5:45 p.m. PST
In a potpourri of notes left over from the weekend, we learned that senior Galen Rupp set an American collegiate record in the 3,000 meters, Lindsey Scherf positioned herself for a spot on the U.S. National Cross Country team and the Men of Oregon were honored at the Oregon Sports Awards.
Rupp ran 7:44.69 at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games on Saturday to break the 11 year-old record of 7:46.03, set by Adam Goucher of Colorado on March 14, 1998 in Indianapolis. As mentioned in the recap on goducks.com, Rupp's time was just :06 off the overall collegiate record of 7:38.59, set by Arkansas' Allistair Craig in 2004.
Meanwhile, down the Eastern Seaboard in Maryland, senior Lindsey Scherf finished seventh in the USA Cross Country Women's Championship, meaning she is likely headed to Amman, Jordan at the end of March to represent the United States in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. The top six finishers are automatically eligible for the team, while Scherf is the first alternate. If past form holds, at least one of the top six finishers will decline the invitation, thus opening a spot for Scherf, who would be headed to Jordan two weeks after running the 5,000 meters for Oregon at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. She's already an automatic qualifier in that event with a school record time of 15:55.67. Scherf would be joined in Jordan by men's freshman Luke Puskedra, who earned a spot on the U.S. Junior Team with his third place finish on Saturday.
Back home in Oregon, the 2008 NCAA Champion Oregon men's cross country team shared the George Pasero Team of the Year award at the Oregon Sports Awards. The ceremonies were held Sunday night at the Nike campus in Beaverton. And just in time for that honor, a new billboard recently went up in Eugene celebrating Oregon's back-to-back NCAA winners.
How to see the the Ducks' new billboard: In Eugene, head south on the Ferry Street Bridge (Coburg Road) and once you cross the river, just past the 6th Street exit, glance over the rail to the right. Or take the 6th Street exit for an extended view. It looks real sharp lit up at night.
And finally, despite having only 15 competitors a side, the UO men's and women's teams each posted top-seven finishes in the team scoring at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory in New York City over the weekend. The men were fifth with 40 points, while the women were seventh with 38 points. Baylor won the men's meet with 65 points, while Texas A&M was the women's winner with 72 points.
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