Stanford Invitational up Next for Duck Harriers
The Oregon track & field teams will send around 50 competitors to the Stanford Invitational this weekend at Cobb Track and Angell Field. Competition begins at 9 a.m. each day. Friday evening is the distance carnival, with every distance between 1,500 and 10,000 meters contested. The distance carnival starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday with the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase and wraps with the featured section of the men’s 10,000 meters at 10:48 p.m. Featured events on the field Friday include the men’s and women’s javelin and high jump. Saturday showcases the relays and shorter races with the final race at 4:52 p.m. Saturday’s field events include the men’s and women’s pole vault and hammer throw.
OREGON ENTRIES
The Stanford Invitational will be one of the first early-season attempts for Oregon student-athletes to earn a spot on the NCAA West Region’s descending order list. The top 48 competitors in each event in the West Region (other than the multis) automatically qualify for the NCAA West Regional May 27-28 in Austin, Texas.
Among those entered on the men’s side include NCAA champions A.J. Acosta (1,500), Chad Barlow (200) and Travis Thompson (400), as well as All-Americans Matt Butcher (200), Matthew Centrowitz (5,000), Mac Fleet (1,500), Michael Maag (5,000), Danny Mercado (5,000, 10,000), Diego Mercado (10,000), Luke Puskedra (10,000), Mike Simmons (discus) and Alex Wolff (javelin).
For the women, that list includes NCAA champions Keshia Baker (200, 800), Amber Purvis (400), Michele Williams (100, 200) and Jamesha Youngblood (200, 400 hurdles), as well as All-Americans Nicole Blood (1,500), Mattie Bridgmon (10,000), Zoe Buckman (800, 1,500), Melissa Gergel (pole vault), Jordan Hasay (1,500) and Anne Kesselring (800, 1,500).
Others to watch include Alexandria Davidson (women’s 100), Becca Friday and Chloe Steinbeck (women’s 800), Eric Hersey (men’s 110 and 400 hurdles), Jasmine Kelly (women’s high jump), Danny Marconi (men’s high jump), Jordan McNamara (men’s 5,000 meters), Claire Michel (women’s steeplechase), Britton Nelson (men’s javelin), Lyndsay Pearson (women’s 100 and 400 hurdles). Jordan Stray and Scott Penny (men’s hammer), Brian Schaudt (men’s triple jump), Jordan Roskelley (women’s pole vault), Rita Santibanez (women’s shot put and discus), Taylor Wallace (women’s 1,500), Vernell Warren (men’s long jump) and Mandy White (women’s 200).
RESULTS
For live results, schedules and accepted entry lists, check www.gostanford.com. Final results will also be posted on www.GoDucks.com.
OREGON IN THE RANKINGS
One meet into the season, Oregon has a number of student-athletes ranked on the national and regional descending order lists. These lists are important because they are the sole basis for selection to the NCAA West Regional May 27-28 in Austin Texas. See p. 4-5 for the complete list.
For the women, Zoe Buckman leads the nation in the 1,500 meters (4:12.80), while Melissa Gergel is No. 1 in the pole vault (14-1.25). The Ducks 4x100 relay team is second in the nation (44.30). Amber Purvis is fourth regionally and eighth nationally at 400 meters (53.96), while Jamesha Youngblood is fifth regionally and ninth nationally in the 400 meter hurdles (59.95). Lyndsay Pearson is eighth regionally and No. 18 nationally in the 100 meter hurdles (13.94). Jasmine Kelly is third regionally and fourth nationally in the high jump (5-10).
For the men, Matthew Centrowitz is No. 6 in the West and No. 7 nationally in the 1,500 meters (3:48.97). Eric Hersey is eighth regionally and 13th nationally in the 110 meter hurdles (14.24). Danny Marconi and David Klech are tied for seventh in the region and 17th nationally in the high jump (6-9.5), while Colin Witter-Tilton is fifth regionally and sixth nationally in the pole vault (16-6.75). In the throws, Jordan Stray is second regionally and fifth nationally in the hammer (209-8), while Britton Nelson is No. 3 in the West and No. 8 in the nation in the javelin (219-8).
PREVIEW REVIEW
Ten meet records were set, plus an attendance record of nearly 6,000 people, at the season-opening Oregon Preview on March 20 at Hayward Field.
Meet records set by Oregon competitors:
? Women’s 4x100 relay (Mandy White, Amber Purvis, Keshia Baker and Jamesha Youngblood), 44.30 ? second fastest time in school history
? Melissa Gergel, women’s pole vault, 14-1.25
? Jamesha Youngblood, 400 hurdles, 59.95
? Amber Purvis, women’s 400 meters, 53.96
? Jordan McNamara, men’s 3,000 meters, 7:53.63
? Claire Michel women’s 2,000 meter steeplechase, 6:55.17
Other records:
? OTC Elite newcomer Sally Kipyego won the women’s 1,500 meters in 4:10.71 to break Marla Runyan’s 2000 record of 4:11.44.
? Former Duck Britney Henry, women’s hammer, 216-9.
? Billy Nelson, men’s 2,000 meter steeplechase, 5:44.59.
? The OTC Elite, men’s 4x400 meter relay (Tyler Mulder, Elias Koech, Mark Wieczorek and Matt Scherer), 3:08.45.
Other UO highlights included Matthew Centrowitz’ win in the men’s 1,500 meters (3:48.97), senior Michael Maag, making his Oregon debut, was fourth in that race in 3:51.75. Senior Zoe Buckman was second in the women’s 1,500 meters in a PR 4:12.80 (No. 4 all-time). Jasmine Kelly set a PR in winning the women’s high jump at 5-10. Britton Nelson threw a personal best 219-8 to win the men’s javelin. Jordan Stray won the men’s hammer with a throw of 209-8, his best distance in two years.
WOMEN WIN NCAA INDOOR TITLE; EATON SETS WORLD RECORD
The Women of Oregon won their first NCAA Indoor Track and Field national title, while Ashton Eaton set the world record in the heptathlon to lead the men for a tie for second at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships March 12-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Eaton thrilled the Randall Tyson Center crowd by not only winning the heptathlon for the second straight year, but also by scoring 6,499 points to break Dan O’Brien’s 17-year-old world and American record (6,474). The women had national champions in the pentathlon by Brianne Theisen and the 4x400 relay team (Jamesha Youngblood, Keshia Baker, Michele Williams, Amber Purvis). Other point scorers for the women included Melissa Gergel ? second in the pole vault, Keshia Baker ? second in the 400 meters, Jordan Hasay ? fourth in the mile, Amber Purvis ? fourth in the 200, Nicole Blood ? fifth in the 3,000, Anne Kesselring ? sixth in the mile, and the second-place distance medley relay team (Kesselring, Williams, Zoe Buckman, Hasay). The Ducks scored 61 points, with Tennessee second with 36.
In addition to Eaton, the men won the distance medley relay on Andrew Wheating’s tremendous kick on the mile leg, which was preceded by A.J. Acosta, Chad Barlow and Travis Thompson. Others scoring for the men included Mac Fleet ? second in the mile, Wheating ? second in the 800, Acosta ? fourth in the mile, and the sixth-place 4x400 meter relay team (Matt Butcher, Eaton, Thompson, Barlow). Florida won the men’s title with 57 points, while Oregon and Texas A&M were tied at 44.
EATON’S WORLD HEPTATHLON RECORD
Senior Ashton Eaton accomplished what’s become an extremely rare feat -- breaking a world record as a collegian. He did that March 12-13 in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Eaton bettered Dan O’Brien’s 1993 mark by 25 points.
All-time World heptathlon list:
1. 6,499 Ashton Eaton USA 2010
2. 6,476 Dan O’Brien USA 1993
3. 6,438 Roman Sebrle CZE 2004
4. 6,424 Tomas Dvorak CZE 2000
5. 6,418 Christian Plaziat FRA 1992
OREGON EARNS 31 ALL-AMERICA AWARDS
Oregon led the nation with an astounding 31 All-America certificates earned at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
The national championship Oregon women’s team earned 17 All-America awards, while the runner-up men captured 14. Among those honored was senior Nicole Blood, whose selection in the 3,000 meters was her eighth career All-America certificate, which is tied for the second-most in UO women’s history with Kathy Hayes and trails only Leann Warren’s 10.
Also earning All-America awards for the women were national champion Brianne Theisen in the pentathlon, as well as members of the national championship 4x400 meter relay team, Keshia Baker, Amber Purvis, Michelle Williams and Jamesha Youngblood.
Other All-Americans were Purvis (60 meters, 200 meters), Baker (400 meters), Jordan Hasay (mile, distance medley relay), Anne Kesselring (mile, distance medley relay), Williams (distance medley relay), Melissa Gergel (pole vault), Zoe Buckman (distance medley relay) and Mattie Bridgmon (5,000 meters).
On the men’s side, national champion and new world record holder for the heptathlon Ashton Eaton led the way. Eaton was also honored for the 4x400 meter relay team. The members of the national champion distance medley relay team, A.J. Acosta, Chad Barlow, Travis Thompson and Anderw Wheating made the list, as did Mac Fleet (mile), Wheating (800 meters), Acosta (mile), Barlow (4x400 meter relay), Matt Butcher (4x400 meter relay), Thompson (4x400 meter relay), Elijah Greer (800 meters) and Luke Puskedra (5,000 meters).
LANANNA, JOHNSON HONORED
Vin Lananna and Robert Johnson were recognized honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as recipients of National Women’s Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year, respectively, for the 2010 indoor track & field season in Division I.
Lananna, in his fifth year as Oregon’s Associate Athletic Director for track & field, helped the Ducks capture their first NCAA women’s indoor crown in school history. Oregon claimed 61 points in the meet, 25 more than nearest competitor Tennessee. The margin of victory was the largest in NCAA Indoor Championship history since Texas scored 60 points to top the 30 managed by runner-up Louisiana State in 1998. In February, Oregon also claimed its first MPSF Championship.
Johnson is in his fifth year as an assistant coach at Oregon and concentrates his coaching on sprints, hurdles and horizontal jumps. Winning this award for the second-straight year, Johnson’s athletes contributed 23 team points to the Ducks’ first-ever capture of the NCAA team title. Oregon’s 4x400-meter relay of Jamesha Youngblood, Keshia Baker, Michele Williams, and Amber Purvis won an NCAA crown for the first time, clocking a school-record 3:32.97. In addition, Baker would finish second in the 400 meters at the national meet in 51.63 and Purvis, just a sophomore, took fourth place in the 200 (23.21).
OREGON’S NCAA CHAMPIONS
The 2010 Women’s Indoor Track & Field title was the 17th national championship in school history. The others are men’s outdoor track & field in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1970 and 1984, women’s outdoor track & field in 1985, men’s indoor track & field in 2009, men’s cross country in 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 2007 and 2008, women’s cross country in 1983 and 1987, and men’s basketball in 1939. The championship was the first for an Oregon women’s program since cross country’s win in 1987, and the fourth women’s title overall.
A CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION
Oregon has won five of the last seven Pac-10 titles in men’s track and field, including three in a row. The Ducks have conference men’s track and field titles in 1923, 1934, 1965, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1990, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. On the women’s side, Oregon’s Pac-10 crowns came in 1991, 1992 and 2009.
OFF-TRACK ACTIVITIES
For the fourth year in a row, the Starting Block will take place prior to every home meet 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.
15 TO JOIN TEAM IN 2011
Fifteen high school stars, including the national boys leader in the javelin, Sam Crouser, and the 2009 Pan American Junior Games girl’s champion at 5,000 meters, Sarah Andrews, have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Oregon’s track and field teams next season.
The seven men are throwers Crouser of Gresham, Ore., and Jacob Budwig of Fowler, Calif., decathlon state record-holder Dakotah Keys of Sweet Home, Ore., distance runners Parker Stinson of Austin, Texas, and Colby Alexander from Strongsville, Ohio, and middle distance standouts Cole Watson of Rogue River, Ore., and Brian Shrader of Flagstaff, Ariz.
Among the eight women are two New Yorkers in Phyllis Francis (Laurelton) and Megan Patrignelli (Monroe) and three Californians, Lauryn Newson (Richmond), Chizoba Okodogbe (Antioch) and Kortney Ross (San Diego). The class is rounded out by Andrews from The Woodlands, Texas, English Gardner of Voorhees, N.J., and Laura Roesler from Fargo, N.D.
-www.goducks.com-
