2004 Track & Field Roster
Roster
Laura Harmon
- Position:
- Middle Distance
- Height:
- 5-2
- Class:
- Junior
- High School:
- Jesuit
- Hometown:
- Vancouver, Wash.
One of team’s most improved athletes, she has thrived under the guidance of second-year distance coach Marnie Mason. Claimed Oregon’s 32nd cross country All-America honor in the 2004 NCAA Championships (31st) in her second NCAA appearance and first as an individual qualifier. Also a All-Pac-10 First Team selection in cross country. Made first NCAA track appearance outdoors in 5,000 (18th) thanks to inspired finish in West Regional two weeks before when she passed four runners in the final lap en route to a 13-second personal best. Needs time of 16:08.87 or faster to join UO’s heralded top-10 list in the 5,000 that already includes senior teammate Magdalena Sandoval (eighth, 16:04.40). Returns in 2005 ranked sixth in the 5,000 in the Pac-10, 11th in the regional and 30th nationally based on the previous season’s bests. Over course of her junior season, she improved personal bests in the 3,000 and 5,000 by eight and 39 seconds, respectively. Team’s fastest returnee in 1,500 (4:29.49), and second-ranked in the 5,000 (16:33.17).
Fall 2004: All-American: Earned first All-America honor in her second NCAA cross country showing (31st, 21:08) ? UO’s highest NCAA finisher since Marie Davis in 1998 (ninth). Also claimed Ducks’ highest Pac-10 finish (fourth, 20:56) since Davis in ?99 (second) and earned All-Pac-10 First Team honor. Led automatic individual NCAA qualifiers in the West Regional (ninth, 20:52). Overall, led Ducks in all six of her races, including three early season stops ? the Pier Park Preview (first, 5K-18:10), Roy Griak Invite (10th, 21:37) and Pre-NCAA Invite (16th, 21:01). Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention.
2003-2004: NCAA Qualifier (5,000). Parlayed breakthrough last lap in West Regional 5,000 final into NCAA invite as she passed four runners en route to 13-second personal best (third, 16:33.17). In NCAA outdoor debut two weeks later, bettered pre-meet seed by three positions in warm, muggy conditions in Austin, Texas (18th, 17:18.41). After she entered the season with a best of 17:12.04, she clocked sub-17:00 two other times outdoors in ?04, including a then-personal best in the Stanford Invitational (fourth-B section, 16:46.97), and a near personal best a month later on home turf in the Oregon Invitational (fourth, 16:50.09). Also led squad outdoors in 3,000 with Pepsi team Invite effort (third, six-second PR 9:45.52) and in 1,500 with Oregon Preview run (first, 4:30.88). Overall, ranked sixth in Pac-10, 12th in region and 33rd nationally based on season bests. Indoors, competed in three races. Led squad with only mile appearance from Husky Indoor Preview in season debut in mid-January (12th, 5:04.79). Stood second on team in 3,000 with her two-second best from the Mountain Pacific Championships (ninth, 9:51.59), and also ran same distance in Pac-10 Invitational (17th, 10:06.46). Personal/Seasonal Bests: Outdoors - 1,500 - 4:30.88, Oregon Preview, Eugene (3/20/04). 3,000 - 9:45.52 (PR), Pepsi Team Invite, Eugene (4/10/04). 5,000 - 16:33.17 (PR), NCAA West Regional Championships, Northridge, Calif. (5/28/04). Indoors - Mile - 5:04.79 , Husky Preview, Seattle (1/17/04). 3,000 - 9:51.59 (PR), Mt. Pacific Championships, Seattle (2/27/04).
2002-03: Pac-10 & Regional Qualifier (1,500/5,000). Capped second collegiate track season with appearances in 1,500 in West Regional prelims (13th overall/7th-heat, 4:34.81) and Pacific-10 Conference Championships final (12th-final, 4:35.96, 4:33.84-prelims). Overall, competed in nine outdoor races (1,500-8; 5K-1). Broke 4:35 in five of those metric miles with season best from Oregon Twilight (fifth, 4:30.50). Made second 5K appearance of career to open outdoor season in Stanford Invite (24th, 17:23.61). Indoors, competed only once in Husky Preview in Seattle in January (3,000, second, 9:53.55). In fall, enjoyed breakthrough harrier season, ranking top 25 for first time in Pac-10 (19th, 21:25) and NCAA Western Regional Championships (24th, 22:15) as Ducks finished fifth in both races behind four NCAA qualifiers. Scored for Ducks in her other three appearances - Pre-Nationals (63rd, 21:41), Willamette (14th, 17:41) and Roy Griak Invites (45th, 22:12). Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention. Personal/Seasonal Bests: Outdoors - 1,500 - 4:30.50, Oregon Twilight, Eugene (5/3/03). 5,000 - 17:23.61, Stanford Invitational, Stanford, Calif. (3/28/03). Indoors - 3,000 - 9:53.55, Husky Preview, Seattle (1/18/04).
2001-02: Pac-10 Qualifier (1,500/5,000). Outdoors, earned Pac-10 Championships invites in 5,000 and 1,500, and ranked first and second on team, respectively, with efforts from Oregon Invitational (eighth, 17:12.04) and Mt. SAC (sixth-heat, 4:29.49). Made first Pac-10 appearance, leading squad in 1,500 final (12th, 4:32.84). Won two 1,500 races in opening weeks of season in Linfield Icebreaker (4:48.90) and Montana-Weber State Triangular (4:40.13). Added pair of runner-up finishes in team win vs. Washington in 1,500 (4:34.87) and 3,000 (10:27.36). Indoors, raced only once, and led Ducks in mile with breakthrough effort in UW Quad (third, 4:55.03), not far off the NCAA provisional mark (4:48.40). Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention in track. In cross country, was a top-four finisher on team in all five races. Led squad for first time in career in Western Regional Championships (45th, 23:07), and ranked second on unit in Sundodger (19th, 18:03) and Roy Griak Invitationals (106th, 22:36). Pac-10 Cross Country All-Academic Honorable Mention selection. Personal/Seasonal Bests: Outdoors - 1,500 - 4:29.49, Mt. SAC Relays, Walnut, Calif. (4/20/02). 3,000 - 10:27.36, Washington Dual, Eugene (4/13/02). 5,000 - 17:12.04, Oregon Invitational, Eugene (4/27/02).
2000-01: Redshirted track seasons after winter injury. During cross country, stood out as team's top freshman, and scored in six of seven races. Figured third for team in Pac-10 Championships (35th, 22:18) and Pier Park Preview (fifth, 19:09); fourth in Willamette Invite (seventh, 17:58); and fifth in NCAA Championships (196th, 22:51.2) and NCAA Western Regional (66th, 22:24).
Prep: Owned prep bests of 4:34.80 and 9:57.8, respectively, for 1,500 and 3,000 meters. Capped high school career in 2000 at Hayward Field with 4A wins in the 1,500 (4:39.67) and 3,000 (10:04.32), respectively. In cross country finished third as a senior in the 1999 state meet (19:03), ninth as a junior (19:42) and eighth as a sophomore, and led Jesuit team to team titles in 1998 and 1999.
Personal: High School (Coach): Jesuit '00 (Tom Rothenberger). Major: Psychology. Born Laura Elizabeth Harmon on July 2, 1981 in Vancouver, Wash.
Personal Bests
Mile - 4:55.03-indoors, UW Quad, February 2, 2002
3,000 - 9:45.52, Pepsi Invite, April 10, 2004
5,000 meters - 16:33.17, West Regional Championships, May 29, 2004
NCAA Championships Performances
2004 - 5,000 meters, 18th, 17:18.41
West Regional Performances
Pac-10 Championships Performances 1,500 meters 3,000 meters
2004 - 5,000 meters, 3rd, 16:33.17
2003 - 1,500 meters, 13th, 4:34.81
2004 - 5,000 meters, 8th, 17:21.57
2003 - 1,500 meters, 12th, 4:35.96/4:33.84p
2002 - 1,500 meters, 12th, 4:32.84
Harmon's Top Oregon Performances
4:30.50, 5th, Oregon Twilight, 5/3/04
4:30.88, 1st, Oregon Preview, 3/20/03
4:31.31, 2nd, Long Beach State Invitational, 4/18/03
4:32.76, 12th, Oregon Invite Twilight section, 4/26/03
4:32.84-p, 12th overall, Pac-10 Championships, 5/18/02
9:45.52, 3rd, Pepsi Invite, 4/10
9:51.59, 9th, Mt. Pacific Championships, 2/27
10:06.46, 17th, Pac-10 Invitational, 2/14
5,000 meters
16:33.17, 3rd, West Regional Championships, 5/28/04
16:46.97, 4th - B section, Stanford Invitational, 3/27/04
16:50.09, 4th, Oregon Invitational - Twilight Session, 4/24/04
17:12.08, 8th, Oregon Invitational - Twilight Session, 4/27/02
17:18.41, 18th, NCAA Championships, 6/12/04
