Records Could Fall at Twilight Meet, Pac-10 Combined Events
Oregon closes out the regular season with Saturday’s Oregon Twilight, while at the same time opening the postseason with the Pacific-10 championships combined events Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10. Some of the special added attractions for the Twilight Meet will be an attempt to break the American, Hayward Field and collegiate four-mile relay records, the traditional "Senior Lap" and the middle school miles and kids’ half-lapper.
Admission is free both days for the Pac-10 combined events competition, which will begin at noon each day. Saturday night is "Take a Kid to the Meet" at the Twilight, with youth half-priced admission coupons available both on line at www.goducks.com, and in the Eugene Register-Guard. The first event of the Twilight is the "B" section of the men’s 1,500 meters at 5 p.m.
RESULTS
Live results for both the Pac-10 combined events and the Oregon Twilight will be available on www.goducks.com. Final results will also be posted on www.goducks.com.
Teams to Challenge Four-Mile Relay Records at Twilight Meet
Oregon will stage an historic record attempt in the four-mile relay during Saturday’s Twilight Meet at Hayward Field. The Ducks will be joined by a team from Oregon Track Club Elite in an effort to break Michigan’s 2005 collegiate mark of 16:04.54 (Andrew Ellerton, Mike Woods, Nick Willis, Nate Brannen) and the Hayward Field record of 16:05.0 set by Oregon Track Club (Roscoe Devine, Wade Bell, Arne Kvalheim, Dave Wilborn) in 1968. Depending on the lineups, the American record of 16:08.54, set by Athletics West (Dan Aldridge, Doug Padilla, Tom Smith, Chuck Aragon) at Hayward Field in 1984, could also be challenged. The world four-mile record, 15:49.08, was set by Ireland in 1985. The four-mile relay is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. Oregon’s pool of milers includes Galen Rupp, Andrew Wheating, Matthew Centrowitz, Shadrack Biwott, Scott Wall and James Withers.
THE SENIORS
The University of Oregon will recognize 22 senior track and field student athletes with the traditional "Senior Lap" at the Twilight Meet. The 11 seniors on the men’s side have led Oregon to two Pac-10 titles (2007, ’08) and the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championship.
The list includes three-time All-American and 2007 Pac-10 cross country champion Shadrack Biwott (Eldoret, Kenya), Vincent D’Onofrio (Castro Valley, Calif.), Brett Johnson (Kentfield, Calif.), Steven Johnson (Medford, Ore.), A.J. O’Connell (Creswell, Ore.), four-time NCAA champion, 12-time All-American and four-time Pac-10 champion Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.), Curtis Suver (Lake Tapps, Wash.), Tanner Targett (Bellevue, Wash.), All-American Scott Wall (Portland, Ore.), Chris Winter (North Vancouver, B.C.) and James Withers (Santa Rosa, Calif.).
The story is much the same on the women’s side where last season, the 11 seniors led Oregon to its best finish in the Pac-10 in 12 years (third), and its best showing at the NCAA Championships in 15 years (eighth).
The 11 seniors are All-American Dana Buchanan (Beachburg, Ontario), Lucy Cridland (Portland, Ore.), three-time All-American Melissa Grelli (Cupertino, Calif.), Megan Maloney (Barrington, R.I.), Ashley McCrea (North Bend, Ore.), All-American Kalindra McFadden (Bozeman, Mont.), Zoe Nelson (Kalispell, Mont.), four-time All-American Lindsey Scherf (Scarsdale, N.Y.), Tara Starodubtseva (Eugene, Ore.), Leah Worthen (Coos Bay, Ore.) and NCAA champion, three-time All-American and three-time Pac-10 champion Rachel Yurkovich (Newberg, Ore.).
The Senior Lap is scheduled for approximately 6:25 p.m.
BRING A KID TO THE MEET NIGHT
In addition to the special price for children 12-and-under, there are also two events happening on the Hayward Field track geared specifically for the younger fans, the Middle School Miles and the Kids’ Half-Lapper. All kids 12 and under are welcome to participate in the Half-Lapper, and need only to sign up at Hayward Field the night of the meet. The Middle School Miles are scheduled for 8:05 p.m., while the Kids’ Half-Lapper will take place at 6:20 p.m.
PAC-10 CHAMPIONSHIPS KICK OFF WITH COMBINED EVENTS
Top seeded Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen will kick off the Pac-10 Championships this weekend with the Pac-10 decathlon and heptathlon respectively. Eaton, the defending NCAA and Pac-10 decathlon champion, leads the nation in the event this season with his mark of 8,023 points. He’ll be joined by juniors Marshall Ackley, who ranks second in the Pac-10 (6,933 points), and Aaron McVein, who ranks fifth (6,501). In the heptathlon, Theisen’s mark of 5,683 points is tops in the league and No. 2 nationally. Right behind her is senior Kalindra McFadden who is second in the Pac-10 and fourth nationally (5,582 points). Also competing for the Ducks will be junior Erin Funkhouser, who ranks seventh in the Pac-10 (4,858 points). USC has the No. 3 and No. 4 heptathletes in the Pac-10 in Nia Ali (5,492) and Shana Woods (5,315).
WHAT TO WATCH
While it will be hard to match the excitement of the 2008 Twilight, when then-presidential hopeful Barack Obama worked his way around the East and West Grandstands before Andrew Wheating ripped off a meet-record 3:38.60 to win the 1,500 meters, the Twilight should produce another memorable evening of track and field. In addition to the four-mile relay, here’s a look at some things to watch:
Women’s Hammer
Former Oregon All-American Britney Henry, who set a meet record last year with a throw of 224-7, is entered along with 2008 U.S. Olympian Loree Smith. Oregon’s Megan Maloney is tops among collegians.
Men’s 400 Meters
Former Duck All-American and Pac-10 champion Matt Scherer joins current Duck Chad Barlow in what could be a pretty fast lap around the Hayward Field oval.
Men’s and Women’s Long Jump
A pair of Oregon NCAA qualifiers, Vernell Warren and All-American Jamesha Youngblood, lead the entries in this event.
Women’s 800 Meters
2008 British Olympian Jemma Simpson, competing for OTC Elite, headlines this race and could threaten the meet record of 2:01.28. Simpson is also entered in the 400 meters and the 1,500 meters.
Men’s High Jump
2008 Olympic Trials champion Jesse Williams of Nike headlines what should be a great competition. Williams, along with former Duck Kyley Johnson (7-2.25) and Grant Lindsey (7-5.25) could all threaten Jason Boness’ 2000 meet record of 7-3.25.
Women’s Pole Vault
Oregon All-American Melissa Gergel, who has been consistent all spring, heads this field.
Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase
One of the featured races on Saturday, the men’s steeplechase has Brian Olinger of Reebok, Michael Spence of Asics and Japanese star Umegae Hiroyoshi. Olinger has a seed time of 8:32.65, Spence 8:34.84 and Hiroyoshi 8:36.96. The meet record is 8:30.7 by Danny Lopez in 1992.
Men’s Hammer
Concordia assistant coach Mike Milakovic (223-11.75) will be joined by Oregon’s Jordan Stray (201-1) and Steven Johnson (195-10).
Women’s 1,500 Meters
In addition to Simpson, the entrants include Oregon’s Zoe Buckman, who is ranked 12th nationally (4:17.22) and Nicole Blood (23rd, 4:18.83).
Men’s Discus
Former Arizona thrower Adam Kuehl and Karl Erickson could both threaten Mitch Crouser’s 1982 meet record of 206-8. Kuehl’s seed mark is 212-1.5, while Erickson comes in at 205-11.5.
Women’s Discus
Two-time NAIA champion and 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials participant Annie Hess of Concordia (192-7) could take aim at the meet record of 189-7 by Kathy Picknell in 1985.
DUCKS APPROACH 70 NCAA QUALIFIERS
Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Oregon has already amassed 69 NCAA qualifying marks, 34 for the men and 35 for the women. By comparison, at the same point last season, the Ducks had 53 NCAA marks. That list includes NCAA Championships automatic marks by Galen Rupp, Shadrack Biwott and Luke Puskedra in the men’s 10,000 meters, Ashton Eaton in the decathlon and Brianne Theisen and Kalindra McFadden in the heptathlon, as well as NCAA provisional marks by Mattie Bridgmon in the women’s 10,000 meters, Diego and Danny Mercado in the men’s 10,000 meters and Marshall Ackley in the decathlon.
ALUMNI INVITED TO SPECIAL RECEPTION AT THE PAC-10 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Oregon track and field programs are inviting all track and field alumni to a reception that will be held Saturday, May 16 in conjunction with the upcoming Pacific-10 championships. The reception will be held at Historic Hayward Field following the completion of the first day of the Pac-10 meet, which runs May 16-17. Oregon staff will join alumni for the reception, which will include food and beverages, bringing together generations of Duck track and field athletes. Alumni are encouraged to take advantage of this special opportunity to reconnect with teammates, coaches, and friends. To order both homecoming reception and meet tickets, download the reservation request form available on www.goducks.com. (Contact Info: Patrick Werhane, 541-346-2260, email: pwerhane@uoregon.edu).
Oregon Track with Vin Lananna
The next "Oregon Track with Vin Lananna" coaches show will air Monday, May 11 on Comcast Sports Net Northwest (Channel 37). The final show will be May 18. Check local listings for air times and rebroadcasts.
FOUR WOMEN’S MARKS BROKEN THIS SPRING
Four school records have already fallen by the wayside in 2009 and freshman Amber Purvis has had a hand in three of those. At the Pepsi Team Invitational on April 4, Purvis broke 20-year-old records in the 100 meters and 200 meters. She ran 11.41 in the 100 meters and 23.09 at 200 meters. She broke the 100 record of 11.58 by Rosie Williams and LeReina Woods, and broke Williams’ 200 time of 23.39.
The women’s 4x100 meter relay team (Mandy White, Purvis, Keshia Baker, Jamesha Youngblood) ran 44.64 March 28 at Stanford to break a 16-year-old mark that was held by some of the great sprinters in the program’s history -- Woods, Camara Jones, Lisa Bedwell and Jamila Godfrey. Sophomore Claire Michel also broke her own record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, running 10:23.14 March 27 at Stanford.
HOSTETLER KNOCKS DOWN PAC-10 JAVELIN MARK
2008 U.S. Olympic Trials participant Cyrus Hostetler set Pac-10 and Oregon records in the javelin with a throw of 272-10 April 4 at the Pepsi Team Invitational. He broke John Stiegeler’s 2001 mark of 252-10 by 20 feet. That throw leads the world in 2009 and is the fourth-farthest throw in NCAA history.
CENTROWITZ JOINS RECORD PARTY
Last week at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational, Matthew Centrowitz ran the fastest 1,500 meter time in the nation this season, 3:36.92. His time was less than half a second off Olympic gold medalist Joaquim Cruz’s 1984 school record of 3:36.48. The redshirt freshman’s time ranks third all-time at Oregon, behind only Cruz and Centrowitz’s father, Matt Centrowitz, who clocked 3:36.70 in 1976. It was also the seventh-fastest time in NCAA history. Centrowitz was named Pac-10 athlete of the week for his performance.
OTHERS ALSO HIT THE RECORD BOOKS
Other 2009 marks are showing up all over the Ducks’ top 10 lists, including Dana Buchanan (2nd, women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase, 10:28.53), Ashley McCrea (3rd, women’s javelin, 172-1), Kalindra McFadden (3rd, heptathlon, 5,582 points), Shadrack Biwott (4th, men’s 10,000 meters, 28:28.83; 8th men’s 5,000 meters, 13:36.25), Nicole Blood (4th, women’s 5,000 meters, 15:42.13), Melissa Gergel (4th, women’s pole vault, 13-7.25), Alex Wolff (5th, men’s javelin, 234-4), Brianne Theisen (5th, women’s high jump, 5-10.5), Keshia Baker (5th, 200 meters, 23.84), Mattie Bridgmon (6th, women’s 10,000 meters, 33:37.73), Luke Puskedra (6th, men’s 10,000 meters, 28:34.17), Jordan Roskelley (7th, women’s pole vault, 12-11.5), Rita Santibanez (7th, women’s shot put, 48-10.75), Zoe Buckman (8th, women’s 1,500 meters, 4:17.22), David Klech (9th, men’s 400 meter hurdles, 50.75), Alexandra Kosinski (9th, women’s 1,500 meters, 4:18.43), Diego Mercado (9th, men’s 10,000 meters, 28:48.54) and Amber Purvis (10th, women’s 400 meters, 54.27). See pages 10-13 for an up-to-date version of the career top 10 lists.
RUPP SETS ALL-AMERICA MARK
With 12 career All-America awards (nine track, three cross country), senior Galen Rupp is now the most honored student-athlete in school history. He won three NCAA championships at the 2009 indoor nationals to pass Leann Warren, who earned 10 All-America awards combined between women’s track and cross country.
TUESDAYS IN TRACK TOWN
Tuesday, June 2 will mark the final date in the popular series of "Tuesdays in Track Town" town hall meetings. The 60-minute session runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be held at the Bowerman Building.
