Yurkovich Makes Bid for Team USA
EUGENE, Ore. -- Rachel Yurkovich finished second in the women’s javelin with a throw of 194-7 Saturday at the USA Track and Field Championships, held at Historic Hayward Field.
Yurkovich’s effort, which came before 10,053 fans, made the recent Oregon graduate from Newberg, Ore., eligible to be selected for Team USA, which will compete at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in August in Berlin. Official selections for the women’s javelin will be made by July 31.
"I did my best with the conditions," said Yurkovich, who hit her besk mark on her fifth attempt. "I could have adjusted a few things but I’m really happy with what I did."
Kara Patterson, whom Yurkovich beat at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago in Fayetteville, Ark., won on Saturday with a personal-best throw of 209-10. American record-holder Kim Kreiner followed Yurkovich in third with a toss of 190-3.
"I feel really good," said Yurkovich. "I’m really happy with second. I probably get to go (to the World Championships) and it would be fun to go to Berlin. It would be a really good experience."
In the finals of the women’s 400 meters, Oregon junior Keshia Baker placed eighth in 52.47, as one of only two collegians to make the final.
Senior Kalindra McFadden stood ninth with 3,456 points after the first day of the heptathlon, which was highlighted by a personal-best 24.44 in the 200 meters.
McFadden opened the competition by running 14.04 in the 100 meter hurdles and cleared 5-6.5 in the high jump. The Bozeman, Mont., native was also eighth in the shot put with a toss of 41-4.5.
Hyleas Fountain led the heptathlon with 4,038 points, followed by Diana Pickler with 3,768 points.
Freshman Amber Purvis, who qualified for the Pan American Junior Games in the women’s 100 meters on Friday, finished fourth in the junior 200 meters with a time of 23.42.
Freshman Lyndsay Pearson placed fifth in her heat of the women’s junior 400 meter hurdles in 1:02.97.
Former Duck Eric Mitchum capped a good weekend in Eugene with a fourth place finish in the finals of the men’s 110 meter hurdles in 13.24. Mitchum had advanced to the finals by running 13.36 in the semifinals earlier in the day.
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