Seniors to be Saluted at Twilight Meet
Oregon concludes the regular season by hosting the Oregon Twilight meet on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Historic Hayward Field. The Ducks will pay tribute to a remarkable group of 22 seniors who have brought Oregon’s programs back to national prominence by winning Pac-10 and NCAA championships and earning dozens of All-America awards. The Twilight meet’s tradition of reaching out to the younger generation of fans also continues with the kids’ half-lapper and middle school miles. All children will be admitted at half price with a special coupon available at www.GoDucks.com.
This weekend also marks the opening of the championship season with the Pac-10 heptathlon and decathlon taking place in Berkeley, Calif., on Saturday and Sunday. Competition starts at 11 a.m. both days at Edwards Stadium.
TELEVISION/WEB CAST
The Oregon Sports Network will webcast the Oregon Twilight on www.goducks.com beginning at 5 p.m. A subscription to the O-Zone is required to watch the webcast.
RESULTS
For live results, schedules and accepted entry lists, check www.goducks.com. Final results will also be posted on www.GoDucks.com.
BRING A KID TO THE MEET NIGHT
In addition to the special price for children 12-and-under ($4 with a coupon from goducks.com), 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.
TWILIGHT MAGIC
The last two Twilight meets have produced some pretty memorable moments. Last year, the Ducks set the collegiate record in the 4xMile relay (16:03.24) as fans lined the track to spur on the Men on Oregon, while Jesse Willaims cleared 7-8 in the high jump. At the 2008 Twilight, 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. This year’s meet offers a unique “Football 60,” where six Oregon football players will run an exhibition 60 meters, plus outstanding fields in the men’s 5,000 meters and the women’s 1,500 meters and hammer. Also watch for Nike’s Ryan Bailey in the men’s 400 meters. The meet will conclude with the men’s mile where up to a dozen runners will take a crack at breaking 4:00.
THE SENIORS
The University of Oregon will recognize an exceptional group of 22 senior track and field student-athletes with an on-field ceremony during the Twilight Meet. Combined, they have 10 NCAA event titles, 10 individual Pac-10 crowns and a whopping 37 All-America certificates. What’s also interesting about Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna’s first recruiting class at Oregon is that these 22 student-athletes represent 12 different states from Vermont to Alaska, as well as Australia. They have also won 17 Pac-10 all-academic honors over the past two years.
The eight senior women are all Pac-10 scorers and have been part of Oregon teams that have won both the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field championship and the 2009 Pac-10 title. This group also contributed to Oregon’s runner-up finish at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor meet. Consider this, as freshmen in 2007, these Women of Oregon finished seventh in the Pac-10 and tied for 27th at the NCAA Championships. As sophomores, they were third in the Pac-10 and eighth in the NCAA. As juniors, they won Oregon’s first Pac-10 title in 17 years and were the national runners-up. Now as seniors, this group has added the school’s first-ever NCAA Indoor title heading into the outdoor championships season.
The eight women include Keshia Baker, Sacramento, Calif. (2010 indoor 4x400 relay NCAA champion, two-time Pac-10 400 meter champion, 4-time All-American, 6 school records: 400 meters, 4x100 relay; 4x400 relay, 300 meters-i, 400 meters-i, 4x400 relay-i), Nicole Blood, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (2009 Pac-10 Cross Country champion, 2008 Pac-10 5,000 meter champion, 2009 NCAA 5,000 meter runner-up, 8-time All-American, 2-time Academic All-American, school record in the indoor 5,000 meters), Mattie Bridgmon, Laramie, Wyo. (3-time All-American, Pac-10 scorer: 10,000 meters), Zoe Buckman, Canberra, Australia (2009 Pac-10 800 meter champion, 3-time All-American, school record: distance medley relay), Erin Funkhouser, Grass Valley, Ore. (2009 Pac-10 scorer: heptathlon), Jasmine Kelly, Vancouver, Wash. (2009 Pac-10 scorer: high jump), Rita Santibanez, Salem, Ore. (2009 Pac-10 scorer: shot put) and Lauren Zaludek, Elmira, Ore. (2009 Pac-10 scorer: cross country). That’s five Pac-10 individual titles and 18 combined All-America awards.
The 12 seniors on the men’s side have led Oregon to three consecutive Pac-10 titles (2007, ’08, ?09), the 2009 NCAA Indoor national championship and runner-up showings at the 2009 outdoor and 2010 indoor NCAA meets.
The list includes Marshall Ackley, Nyssa, Ore. (All-American, Pac-10 scorer: decathlon), Chad Barlow, Ft. Collins, Colo. (2-time NCAA distance medley relay champion, 3-time All-American, 6-time Pac-10 scorer: 400 meters, both relays, school record: distance medley relay, David Bondi, Anchorage, Alaska, Ashton Eaton, Bend. Ore. (world record holder, heptathlon - 6,499 points, 2-time NCAA champion in both the decathlon and heptathlon, 2-time Pac-10 decathlon champion, 2009 Bowerman Award Finalist, 3-time USTFCCCA Field Athlete of the Year, 2009 Pac-10 Field Athlete of the Year, 7-time All-American), Cyrus Hostetler, Newberg, Ore. (2009 Pac-10 javelin champion, All-American, Pac-10/school record: javelin), Michael Maag, Lake Oswego, Ore., Brian McGinty, St. Louis, Mo., Kevin McNally, Albuquerque, N.M., Alex Pattinson, Portland, Ore., Scott Penny, Lawrence, Kan. (NCAA regional qualifier: hammer), Mike Simmons, Happy Valley, Ore. (All-America, Pac-10 scorer: javelin), Andy Wheating, Norwich, Vt. (2008 Olympian, 2009 NCAA 800 meter champion, 2-time NCAA distance medley relay champion, 2-time Pac-10 800 meter champion, 6-time All-American, 2 school records: indoor 800 meters, distance medley relay) and Colin Witter-Tilton, Oro Valley, Ariz. (NCAA Championships qualifier, Pac-10 scorer: pole vault). That’s nine NCAA event titles, five individual Pac-10 titles and 19 combined All-America awards.
The senior ceremony is scheduled for 8:22 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 two-time defending NCAA and Pac-10 decathlon champion, leads the nation in the event this season with his wind-aided mark of 8,310 points from the Texas Relays. Fellow senior Marshall Ackley, who was the Pac-10 runner-up in 2009, is seeded fourth with a score of 7,074 points.
The two Ducks will see competition from Cal’s Michael Morrison, seeded second (7,557), Washington’s Jeremy Taiwo, seeded third (7,289) and Washington State’s Kyle Schauble, seeded fifth (6,802).
In the heptathlon, Theisen is the top seed with her nation-best 5,942 wind-aided points from the Texas Relays. Oregon will also have senior Erin Funkhouser in action. The Grass Valley, Ore., native was eighth last season. Funkhouser holds the No. 6 seed in the Pac-10 (4,699 points). In between the two Ducks are Keia Pinnick of Arizona State (5,942), Jasmine Johnson-McKeown of WSU (4,876), Angela Jensen of WSU (4,767) and Samantha Henderson of ASU (4,744). Two additional women will make their 2010 heptathlon debut this weekend, Ryann Krais of UCLA and Whitney Liehr of Stanford. Krais was fourth last year, while Liehr was sixth.
TWILIGHT WHAT TO WATCH
The Twilight always seems to produce some magic moments. Here are some potential things to watch for in the gloaming:
Women’s Hammer (5:00 p.m.)
Post collegians Loree Smith (231-9.25), Britney Henry (228-8) and Brittany Hinchcliffe (220-8.75), the later two former Ducks, are a strong trio. Henry owns the meet record (224-7).
Women’s Javelin (5:00 p.m.)
Crowd favorite and former Duck Rachel Yurkovich is back for the second straight week.
Women’s High Jump (5:10 p.m.)
The final regular season competition at Hayward Field for senior Jasmine Kelly.
Women’s Shot Put (5:15 p.m.)
The final regular season competition at Hayward Field for senior Rita Santibanez. Zara Northover (55-9.25 seed) could take a shot at the meet record of 55-7.5.
Women’s 4x100 (6:05 p.m.)
The last regular season home race for senior Keshia Baker.
Women’s 1,500 Meters (8:00 p.m.)
A final tune-up prior to the Pac-10 Championships, as well as a final regular season home appearance, for seniors Nicole Blood, Zoe Buckman, Mattie Bridgmon and Lauren Zaludek. Dianne Cummins of Mountain West and Dina Nosenko of Wake Forest highlight the non-Oregon runners, while the Ducks will also have Anne Kesselring and Alex Kosinski.
Men’s 1,500 Meters (5:27 p.m.)
Final appearance at Hayward Field for senior David Bondi.
Men’s 400 Meters (5:40 p.m.)
Nike’s Ryan Bailey posts an impressive entry time of 45.84.
Football 60 Meters (6:00 p.m.)
Bragging rights among UO football players are on the line when Remene Alston (RB), Drew Davis (WR), Tyrell Irvin (DE), Dior Mathis (CB), Will Murphy (WR) and Brandon Williams (TE) toe it up for this exhibition event.
Men’s Pole Vault (6:10 p.m.)
Final regular season home meet for seniors Colin Witter-Tilton and Brian McGinty.
Men’s 100 Meters (6:10 p.m.) & 4x100 Relay (5:15 p.m).
Football players LaMichael James and Kenyon Barner are entered. The meet is Barner’s track debut.
Men’s 800 Meters (6:20 p.m.)
Strong contingent from Oregon Track Club Elite includes Christian Smith, Elias Koech, Stephen Pifer and former Duck Matt Scherer.
Men’s 200 Meters (6:30 p.m.) & 4x400 Relay (7:00 p.m.)
Final regular season races at Hayward for senior captain Chad Barlow.
Men’s High Jump (6:30 p.m.)
Oregon’s Danny Marconi and David Klech, Oregon State’s Obum Gwacham, and Grant Lindsey (unattached) have all gone over 7-0.
Men’s Hammer (6:40 p.m.)
Final regular season appearance at Hayward for senior Scott Penny.
Men’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase (7:20 p.m.)
Final home appearance for senior Kevin McNally.
Men’s 5,000 Meters (8:05 p.m.)
OTC Elite dominates this impressive field with Ian Dobson, Kevin Chelimo, Ben Bruce, Benjamin True, Billy Nelson and former Duck Shadrack Biwott. Former Duck Chris Winter is also in the field.
Men’s Mile (8:30 p.m.)
A boatload of runners will look to break the 4:00 barrier, including Oregon’s Matthew Centrowitz, Mac Fleet, Michael Maag and Elijah Greer. The Oregon Track Club Elite also has Russell Brown in the race. It is the final home race for senior and Princeton transfer Maag.
RELAY RECORDS FALL
In one of the more overlooked accomplishments this spring, all four of the active women’s relays record have fallen within the last two months. That’s the outdoor 4x100 and 4x400 meter marks, and the indoor 4x400 meter and distance medley relays. The outdoor 4x400 time fell April 24 at the Penn Relays - 3:32.34, which broke a 15-year-old school record.
OREGON IN THE RANKINGS
Oregon has numerous 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 27-29 in Austin, Texas. The top 48 individuals in each region are eligible for selection (combined events will be the top 24 nationally on the descending order list). See p. 6-7 for the complete list.
For the women, Brianne Theisen is tops in the heptathlon (5,942), while Melissa Gergel is No. 2 in the pole vault (14-3.25). Zoe Buckman ranks second in the nation in the 1,500 meters (4:12.80). After Buckman, Oregon ranks fourth (Jordan Hasay/4:14.67), 12th (Anne Kesselring/4:18.80) and 16th (Nicole Blood/4:20.20) in the 1,500. Amber Purvis is fifth nationally in the 200 meters (23.00w) and 17th nationally in the 100 (11.38w). Claire Michel is seventh nationally in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (10:14.84). Alexandra Kosinski is ninth in the 5,000 meters (15:57.83). The Ducks’ 4x400 meter team in third in the nation (3:32.34), while the 4x100 relay team is eighth (44.13).
For the men, Ashton Eaton leads the country in the decathlon (8,310w), is fifth in the long jump (25-10.25w) and seventh in the 110 hurdles (13.64w). Andrew Wheating leads the nation in the 1,500 meters (3:37.83) and is fourth in the 800 (1:47.71). Cyrus Hostetler is No. 1 in the country in the javelin (256-6), while Alex Wolff ranks fourth (240-8) and Mike Simmons is seventh (234-0). A.J. Acosta is No. 3 in the 1,500 meters (3:39.44). In addition to Wheating, Travis Thompson is 11th in the 800 (1:47.94) and Elijah Greer is 12th (1:48.09). Danny Marconi is No. 12 nationally in the high jump (7-2.25). Jordan Stray is 13th nationally in the hammer (217-5).
PAC-10 ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Oregon has garnered seven Pac-10 athlete of the week awards thus far in 2010:
4/12 Men’s Track Ashton Eaton
4/12 Women’s Track Amber Purvis
4/19 Men’s Field Alex Wolff
4/26 Men’s Track Mac Fleet
4/26 Women’s Track 4x400 Relay
5/3 Men’s Track Andrew Wheating
5/3 Men’s Field Cyrus Hostetler
JOHNSON, POWELL PROMOTED
Veteran assistants Robert Johnson and Andy Powell have been promoted to associate head coaches for the Oregon track and field programs, Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna announced on April 21. Effective immediately, Johnson assumed the role of associate head coach of women’s track and field and Powell became associate head coach of men’s track and field/men’s and women’s cross country.
OREGON RELAYS REVIEW
Record crowds watched Andrew Wheating pull of an impressive double in the 800 and 1,500 meters, while Cyrus Hostetler, Danny Marconi and Ashton Eaton also collected impressive victories. Wheating clocked the nation’s fastest time in the 1,500, 3:37.83, which broke the meet record and was the fourth-best in school history. His 800 mark of 1:47.71 was the third-fastest in the NCAA this season. Travis Thompson’s second-place PR of 1:47.94 ranked No. 10 all-time at Oregon. Hostetler took the national lead in the javelin in his first appearance of 2010 with a throw of 256-6. Eaton tied the meet record with a win in the 110 meter hurdles in 13.68. That was the third-best time in school history. Marconi cleared a personal-best 7-2.25 in the high jump on his third attempt. That was the No. 4 all-time clearance in school history. Oregon also counted wins in the men’s 100 from LaMichael James (10.90), Chad Barlow in the 400 meters (47.04), Luke Puskedra in the 10,000 meters (29:30.20) and David Klech in the 400 meter hurdles (51.31), as well as the women’s 200 by Keshia Baker (23.80), Bronwyn Crossman in the 10,000 meters (35:28.85), Brianne Theisen in the 100 meters hurdles (13.61) and Jasmine Kelly in the high jump (5-6). In the 5,000, Alex Kosinski jumped into the UO top 10 at No. 8 by running 15:57.83.
PENN RELAYS REVIEW
At the 116th Penn Relays, the Oregon men brought home a pair of wins in the 4xmile (Fleet, Maag, Acosta, Centrowitz) and distance medley relays (Centrowitz, Barlow, Fleet, Wheating), plus a runner-up finish in the 4x800 relay. It was the Ducks’ first ever wins at the Penn Relays. The women placed second in the 4x400 meter and distance medley relays, and were third in both the 4x800 and 4x1,500 meter relays. Also, the women’s 4x400 meter relay team (Youngblood, Baker, Williams, Purvis) broke a 15-year-old school record, running 3:32.34, which was the third-fastest time in the nation this season.
UCLA DUAL MEET REVIEW
No. 3 Oregon won six of the eight field events, including sweeps in hammer and javelin, and Ashton Eaton won the 100 and 200 meters as the Ducks defeated UCLA 92-71 in a dual meet April 17 before 5,209 fans at Historic Hayward Field. It was the third straight year the Ducks have prevailed against the Bruins. Jordan Stray led the sweep in the hammer with a personal-best throw of 217-5, while junior Alex Wolff went 240-8 on his third attempt to win the javelin and senior Mike Simmons was second at 234-0 in his first competition in two years. David Klech, who transferred to Oregon from UCLA in 2007, notched his collegiate best in the high jump in winning at 7-0.5. The Ducks had winners in the pole vault (Colin Witter-Tilton, 17-1.5), long jump (Vernell Warren, 24-0.25), triple jump (Brian Schaudt, 47-8.5), 110 hurdles (Eric Hersey, 14.39), 1,500 (Mac Fleet, 3:46.62), 400 meters (Chad Barlow, 47.33) and 4x400 meter relay (3:10.94). Eaton’s performances were impressive. The Ducks’ do-it-all senior from Bend, Ore., took the 100 meters in 10.52 seconds that was just .05 off the meet record, before coming back later in the meet to capture the 200 in a personal-best 21.03. That time ranks as the eighth-fastest at Oregon.
PEPSI TEAM INVITATIONAL REVIEW
Oregon’s men’s and women’s teams recorded an impressive sweep at the Pepsi Team Invitational before 5,321 fans on April 10. The women used wins by Amber Purvis in the 100 and 200, Anne Kesselring in the 800, Jordan Hasay in the 5,000, Claire Michel in the steeplechase, Brianne Theisen in the high jump, Jordan Roskelley in the pole vault, Jamesha Youngblood in the long jump and Sara Cole in the hammer to score 212 points. No. 1 Texas A&M was second (179.5) followed by Missouri (141) and No. 13 Washington (129.5). For the men, wins came from Ashton Eaton in the 110 hurdles and long jump, Mac Fleet (800), Matthew Centrowitz (1,500), David Klech and Danny Marconi (high jump) and Jordan Stray (hammer). The men scored 186 points, followed by Texas A&M with 151, Washington with 132, Illinois with 109 and Missouri with 103.
TEXAS RELAYS REVIEW
Senior Ashton Eaton set a PR in the decathlon March 31-April 1 at the Texas Relays, scoring 8,310 points. Unfortunately, for the second time in his career, what would have been the school record was nullified by extremely high winds in the 110 hurdles (plus-4.9 meters per second). Regardless, Eaton’s score leads the nation and was the fourth highest all-conditions mark in collegiate history. Junior Brianne Theisen won the heptathlon, scoring a wind-aided 5,942 points. Senior Marshall Ackley took seventh in the decathlon with 7,074 points.
STANFORD INVITATIONAL REVIEW
Wins by Jordan Hasay (1,500), Alex Wolff (javelin), Melissa Gergel (pole vault), David Klech (high jump) and the women’s 4x100 meter relay team highlighted Oregon’s performances at the March 26-27 Stanford Invitational. Gergel won the women’s pole vault in a jump off, clearing an outdoor best 14-3.25 to edge Stanford’s Katerina Stefandi. Hasay ran 4:14.69 to edge Washington star Katie Follett, who finished in 4:15.04, by less than half a second. Hasay’s time was just .17 off her personal best, 4:14.50, that she ran as a high schooler at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. As it was, Hasay’s first outdoor race as a Duck ranked fifth all-time on the school’s 1,500 career list. Wolff opened his 2010 season with a win in the men’s javelin, throwing 229-7 to clip Chris Reno of Brigham Young by two inches. Klech won the high jump with a clearance at 6-10.25, his best height since high school. The team of Mandy White, Amber Purvis, Keshia Baker and Michele Williams won the women’s 4x100 meter relay in 44.38. That time was the third-fastest 4x100 relay in school history.
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.
