2003 Cross Country Roster
Roster
Erik Heinonen
- Position:
- Distance
- Height:
- 5-7
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Eugene, Ore.
- High School:
- South
Redshirted 2001-02 cross country and track seasons to adjust to collegiate level, and missed 2002-03 season because of injuries. A fifth-place finisher in the national prep harrier meet in 2000, will likely focus on the 5,000 and 10,000 meters on the track. Off the track, he's an honors student and journalism major, and has written articles for www.runnersworld.com and the Prefontaine Classic souvenir program.
2002-03: Missed cross country and track seasons because of injuries.
2001-02: Redshirted cross country and track seasons.
Prep: As a senior in 2001, ranked first nationally on the track in the 10,000 with his debut effort at the (31:26.05). Missed part of the season's remainder due to recovery from that race on March 30. Still finished sixth in 1,500 at state 4A finale (4:00.95) and fourth in the 3,200 (8:37.16). As a junior he placed 12th in the 4A state 1,500 (4:01.66) and third in the 3,000 (8:35.51), while as as a sophomore, he finished sixth in the 1,500 (PR 4:01.29) and third in the 3,000 (PR 8:32.61). Also made appearances at national class meets such as the 2000 U.S. Junior Championships (5,000, fourth, 15:15) and 1999 Golden West Invite (3,200, eighth, 9:15). Garnered national attention on track as a junior with his 14:35.8 effort at the Cardinal Invitational. In cross country, he capped his senior season with a fifth-place finish in the FootLocker Championships. At state harrier finale, finished third (15:50) as a senior, 21st as a junior (16:41), third as a sophomore (16:24), and 30th as a freshman (16:57) in his first high school race. Took second at the Oregon-Washington Nike Border Clash as a junior and senior, and also 21st as a sophomore in the USA Cross Country Championships Jr. 8K in Tacoma (25:00).
Personal: Erik is the son of former Duck women's track and field head coach Tom and national track and field columnist Janet. Tom was an All-America distance runner for the University of Minnesota and a post-collegiate AAU marathon champion. Janet is also a marathon veteran and former sports information publicist for the University of Oregon.
Personal Bests: 2:00.1 (800m-2000), 4:01.29 (1,500m-1999), 8:32.61 (3,000m-1999), 9:10.9 (3,200m-2000), 14:35.8 (5,000m-2000), 31:26.05 (10,000m-2001).
