2009 Review

2009 REVIEW

A Season for the Ages The 2009 men’s track and field season ranks among the best in school history. After winning the 2008 NCAA Cross Country title, winning the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track & Field title and finishing tied for second at the NCAA Outdoor meet, the Ducks were named the national John McDonnell Program of the Year. Along the way, Oregon won their third straight Pac-10 track crown and set a high standard for all future track and field teams at Historic Hayward Field.

The year saw senior Galen Rupp compile the most impressive distance running season in NCAA history.

He was a six-time NCAA champion in 2008-09, winning the individual cross country crown before leading Oregon the NCAA Indoor title with victories at 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, in addition to running the anchor leg of the Ducks’ champion distance medley relay team. He followed that by winning the NCAA Outdoor titles at both 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Along the way Rupp set the American record in the indoor 5,000 meters (13:18.12), the U.S. collegiate record in the indoor 3,000 meters (7:44.69) and anchored Oregon’s collegiate record run in the 4xMile relay (16:03.24). He also added the school indoor mile (3:57.86) to his list of records.

Galen Rupp

Rupp collected nearly every award imaginable, including the Bowerman, awarded to track & field’s national athlete of the year, and he was also named the NCAA Division I Academic All-American of the Year, an award encompassing all 400,000 NCAA Division I athletes. He was also the USTFCCCA cross country, indoor and outdoor track athlete of the year, and was the Pac-10’s cross country and track athlete of the year.

But it was far from a solo act in 2009 with Ashton Eaton and Andrew Wheating claiming national titles, and joining Chris Winter, Cyrus Hostetler, Matthew Centrowitz and Rupp as Pac-10 champions. Eaton’s national title in the heptathlon, along with a first place finish in the distance medley relay (A.J. Acosta, Chad Barlow, Wheating, Rupp) and Wheating’s runner-up finish in the 800 meters were critical as the Ducks’ captured their first-ever NCAA Indoor title at College Station, Texas. Matthew Centrowitz (mile) and Luke Puskedra (5,000 meters) also scored points for the NCAA champs.

That set the stage for an exciting spring season. Hostetler got things rolling with a school and Pac-10 record throw of 272-10 at the Pepsi Meet, which was the fourth-best throw in NCAA history. Then the Ducks defeated UCLA in their annual dual, 84-79, with the meet coming down to the 4x400 meter relay. Centrowitz followed that by recording the nation’s fastest time in the 1,500 (3:36.92) at Stanford in May, a time that was just half a second off the school record. The final highlight of the regular season was Oregon’s record setting run in the 4xMile relay. The Ducks broke the collegiate record in the event by running 16:03.24. Centrowitz led off in 3:59.53. Wheating took the baton for a 3:59.60 second leg. Shadrack Biwott clocked a 4:05.21 third leg and Rupp, who brought the record home with a 3:58.93 final mile.

Scott Wall

Those performances set the stage for the Pac-10 Championships, where Oregon thrilled the home crowd by scoring a school-record 158 points en route to its third straight title. Points came in bunches with wins

by Eaton in the heptathlon, Rupp in the 10,000 meters, Hostetler in the javelin, Winter in the steeplechase, Centrowitz in the 1,500 meters and Wheating in the 800. Biwott pulled off an impressive feat with secondplace finishes in both the 5,000 and 10,000, while Rupp added a runner-up showing in the 1,500. Eaton was the athlete of the meet, scoring points in the 400 meters (third), long jump (second) and on both relay teams.

Wheating also added a third place finish at 1,500 meters. Other top four finishes for the Ducks included Marshall Ackley (second, decathlon), Luke Puskedra (fourth, 10,000), Vernell Warren (fourth, high jump and long jump) and Alex Wolff (third, javelin).

A large contingent of Ducks advanced to the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., where Oregon would finish second and post its best showing in 25 years. In addition to Rupp’s two NCAA titles, the Ducks also claimed wins at 800 meters (Wheating) and in the decathlon, where Eaton scored a wind-aided 8,241 points, which would have easily set the school record. The Ducks also got points from Hostetler (fourth, javelin) and Biwott (eighth, 5,000 meters) and saw additional All-America awards go to Wolff (10th, javelin), Puskedra (11th, 10,000 meters) and Ackley (12th, decathlon).

Perhaps overshadowed by his teammate Rupp, Eaton was also a Bowerman finalist as he set the school record in the indoor heptathlon 6,174 points and established top 10 marks in the 400 meters, 110 hurdles and long jump. He was named the USTFCCCA indoor and outdoor field athlete of the year, and the Pac-10 field athlete of the year.

Chris Winter

166

2009 REVIEW

2009 Men’s Featured Performances OUTDOOR 100 meters Ashton Eaton, Jr. 200 meters Chad Barlow, Jr. Matt Butcher, Fr. 400 meters Ashton Eaton, Jr. Chad Barlow, Jr. 800 meters Andrew Wheating, So. Travis Thompson, So. Galen Rupp, Sr. 1,500 meters Matthew Centrowitz, Fr. Galen Rupp, Sr. Andrew Wheating, Jr. Jordan McNamara, Jr. James Withers, Sr. Shadrack Biwott Vincent D’Onofrio, Sr. Mile (4:06.00) u-Jordan McNamara, Jr. Scott Wall, Sr. James Withers, Sr. 5,000 meters Shadrack Biwott, Sr. Galen Rupp, Sr. Matthew Centrowitz, Fr. Scott Wall, Sr. Luke Puskedra, Fr. Danny Mercado, So. Diego Mercado, So. 10,000 meters Galen Rupp, Sr. Shadrack Biwott, Sr. Luke Puskedra, Fr. Diego Mercado, So. Danny Mercado, So. 3,000 meter Steeplechase Chris Winter, Sr. 110-meter Hurdles Ashton Eaton, Jr. Eric Hersey, Fr. David Klech, So. Justin Cross, So. 400-meter Hurdles David Klech, So. Marshall Ackley, Jr. Justin Cross, So. 4x100-meter Relay Warren, Eaton, Butcher Barlow 4x400-meter Relay Eaton, Ackley, Thompson, Barlow 4xMile Relay Centrowitz, Wheating, Biwott, Rupp High Jump Vernell Warren, So. 2.10m A.J. O’Connell, Sr. 2.07m Ashton Eaton, Jr. 2.05m Pole Vault u-Ashton Eaton, Jr. 5.10m Colin Witter-Tilton, Jr. 5.06m Long Jump Ashton Eaton, Jr. 7.85m Vernell Warren, So. 7.62m Triple Jump Brian Schaudt, Fr. 14.69m Bret Johnson, Sr. 14.68m Shot Put Randall Horn, Fr. 15.41m Discus Randall Horn, Fr. 47.60m

10.35w

6-10

21.82w 21.82w

4/4 4/18

46.34 46.69

5/17 5/16

1:46.21 1:49.11 1:50.00

6/11, 6/13 5/29 5/2

3:36.92 3:39.14 3:40.92 3:41.15 3:47.75 3:47.76 3:47.83

5/2 5/30 4/24 6/25 5/16 4/18 5/9

3:59.87 4:03.90 4:04.03

7/16 4/25 4/25

13:36.25 13:46.41 13:49.15 13:49.40 14:03.45 14:09.75 14:12.21

4/24 5/29 4/24 3/27 4/18 4/18 4/24

27:52.53 28:28.83 28:34.17 28:48.54 28:53.02

6/25 3/27 4/24 3/27 3/27

8:42.03

5/2

Hammer Throw Jordan Stray, So. Steven Johnson, Sr. Scott Penny, So. Javelin Cyrus Hostetler, Jr. Alex Wolff, Jr. Britton Nelson, So. Decathlon Ashton Eaton, Jr. Marshall Ackley, Jr. Aaron McVein, Jr.

61.46m 60.16m 55.11m

201-8 197-4 180-10

5/30 5/9 4/24

83.16m 71.77m 65.39m

272-10 235-5 214-6

4/4 5/16 4/24

8,241w 7,470 6,664

6/10-11 6/10-11 5/9-10

INDOOR

13.85 14:21 14:37 14.69

6/12 5/29 4/18 4/18

50.75 51.94 53.47

3/27 5/17 5/9

40.65

5/16

3:08.95

5/17

16:03.24 (CR)

5/9

6-10.75 6-9.5 6-8.75

4/18, 5/17 4/18 4/23, 6/25

16-9 16-7.25

7/30 5/30

25-9.25 25-0w

8/19 5/29

48-2.5 48-2w

4/18 4/4

50-6.75

3/21

156-2

60 meters Ashton Eaton, Jr. 200 meters Matt Butcher, Fr. Chad Barlow, Jr. 400 meters Chad Barlow, Jr. Ashton Eaton, Jr. Travis Thompson, So. Matt Butcher, Fr. 800 meters Andrew Wheating, So. Galen Rupp, Sr. Mile Galen Rupp, Sr. Matthew Centrowitz, So. Andrew Wheating, Jr. A.J. Acosta, Jr. James Withers, Sr. 3,000 Meters Galen Rupp, Sr. Shadrack Biwott, Sr. Matthew Centrowitz, So. Luke Puskedra, Fr. Scott Wall, Jr. 5,000 meters Galen Rupp, Sr. Shadrack Biwott, Sr. Luke Puskedra, Fr. Scott Wall, Jr. Diego Mercado, So. Danny Mercado, So. 60-meter Hurdles Ashton Eaton, Jr. Eric Hersey, So. 4x400-meter Relay Klech, Eaton, Butcher, Barlow Distance Medley Relay McNamara, Barlow, Wheating, Rupp Acosta, Barlow, Wheating, Rupp High Jump Ashton Eaton, Jr. 2.09m Danny Staats, Fr. 2.08m Pole Vault Colin Witter-Tilton, Jr. 5.17m Ashton Eaton, Jr. 5.10m Brian McGinty, Jr. 5.06m Long Jump Ashton Eaton, So. 7.59m Vernell Warren, So. 7.50m Triple Jump Brian Schaudt, Fr. 14.68m Vernell Warren, So. 14.50m 35-Pound Weight Throw Jordan Stray, So. 18.42m Heptathlon Ashton Eaton, Jr. Marshall Ackley, Jr.

6.84

1/30

22.16 22.27

2/27 1/31

47.34 47.80 48.62 48.69

2/14 2/6 2/28 2/14

1:47.03 1:49.87

2/14 2/28

3:57.86 3:57.92 3:59.11 4:00.11 4:03.24

3/7 2/14 2/7 3/7 2/14

Shadrack Biwott

7:44.69 (ACR) 2/7 7:55.27 2/7 7:55.90 2/28 7:58.42 2/28 7:59.27 2/28 13:18.12 (AR) 13:41.66 13:46.52 13:54.20 13:57.79 14:03.28

2/13 2/14 2/14 2/14 2/14 2/27

7.90 8.17

3/13 2/27

3:09.33

3/7

9:29.39 9:29.59

1/31 3/13

6-10.25 6-9.75

1/30 2/6

16-11.5 16-8.75 16-7.25

2/28 3/14 2/14

24-11.0 24-7.25

1/30 2/27

48-2.0 47-7.0

2/7 1/17

60-5.25

2/7

6,174 5,209

Steven Johnson

1/30-31 2/27-28

5/9 Oregon Indoor Records Underlined u-competed unattached

167

James Withers

2009 REVIEW

A Title of Their Own The slow and steady rise of the Women of Oregon in the past few years jumped to warp speed in 2009 as the Ducks won the Pacific-10 Conference title for the first time since 1992, had their best showing at the NCAA Indoor Championships ever, and posted their highest finish at the NCAA Outdoor meet in 24 years. At the end of it all, the Ducks were named the national Terry Crawford Program of the Year.

After a national runner-up finish in cross country jump started the year, the women broke nine school indoor records on the way to a tie for ninth at the NCAA Indoor meet, which marked Oregon’s highest ever placing indoors. Freshman Amber Purvis set school records at 60 (7.34) and 200 (24.15) meters, junior Keshia Baker set the mark at 400 meters (53.27), senior Brianne Theisen set school marks in both the heptathlon (4,321 points) and 60 meter hurdles (8.54) and sophomore Jamesha Youngblood established the school standard in the long jump (21-1.25). Both relay marks also feel indoors, with the 4x400 team of Youngblood, Purvis, senior Leah Worthen and Keshia Baker running 3:36.52 and the distance medley relay squad of Blood, Purvis, sophomore Zoe Buckman and sophomore Alexandra Kosinski running 11:02.81.

Rachel Yurkovich

The indoor championships saw All-America performances by Theisen in the pentathlon (third), Youngblood in the long jump (fifth), Baker in the 400 meters (sixth), Blood at 3,000 meters (sixth) and in the mile (12th), the distance medley relay (sixth), sophomore Melissa Gergel in the pole vault (tie-sixth) and senior Kalindra McFadden in the pentathlon (ninth).

That performance set the stage for an outdoor season for the ages.

At the Pac-10 Championships, Oregon rolled up seven individual victories to score a school record 165.5 points and win the league title for the first time in 17 years. The Ducks crowned champions in the 400 meters (Baker), 800 meters (Buckman), pole vault (Gergel), long jump (Youngblood), triple jump (Youngblood), javelin (senior Rachel Yurkovich) and heptathlon (Theisen). Yurkovich became just the second woman to win four consecutive Pac-10 javelin titles, while Youngblood became just the second ever to sweep the long and triple jumps. Baker won the 400 for the second straight year and also took third in the 200. In addition to her heptathlon win, Theisen also scored in the long jump (sixth) and high jump (seventh).

Among the other numerous scorers for the Ducks were senior Lucy Cridland (second, discus), McFadden (second, heptathlon), Blood (second, 5,000 meters and fourth 1,500 meters), senior Ashley McCrea (third, javelin), Kosinski (third, 1,500 meters) and sophomore Jasmine Kelly (fourth, high jump). Both relay teams also placed third.

At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Yurkovich and Theisen led the way with national championships.

Yurkovich won the javelin for the second straight year with an impressive school and Pac-10 record throw of 195-7. Theisen became just the second Duck to win the heptathlon, scoring a school-record 6,086 points.

Lucy Cridland

Others to earn All-America status included national 5,000 meter runner-up Blood, Youngblood in the long jump (third), Baker at 400 meters (fifth), McFadden in the heptathlon (sixth) and junior Mattie Bridgmon in the 10,000 meters (seventh).

The team’s second place showing was its best since winning the national title in 1985.

During the spring season, 10 school records fell, with Purvis claiming a stake in three of them.

The rookie sensation broke 20 year-old school marks at 100 (11.38) and 200 (23.09) meters and also joined sophomore Mandy White, Baker and Youngblood on the record-setting 4x100 meter relay team (44.17).

Baker’s 400 time in the NCAA Championships, 51.29, snapped a 14 year-old record. Youngblood also claimed a pair of records for herself, going 21-5.5 in the long jump and 43-2.25 in the triple jump.

Not only did Theisen nab the heptathlon mark, but she also set the school’s 100 yard hurdles record (13.56).

Sophomore Claire Michel broke her own record in the steeplechase, running 10:13.56 to qualify for the finals at the NCAA Championships.

After the NCAA Championships, Theisen went on to become the Canadian national heptathlon champion and represented Team Canada at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin. At the U.S. Track & Field Championships, Yurkovich finished second to become a member of Team USA and made the finals in Berlin, a first for an American women in 26 years. Blood also closed the season on a high note at the USA meet, running a personal-best 15:38.61 in the 5,000 meters.

Megan Maloney

168

2009 REVIEW

2009 Women’s Featured Performances OUTDOOR 100 meters Amber Purvis, Fr. Mandy White, So. 200 meters Amber Purvis, Fr. Keshia Baker, Jr. Brianne Theisen, So. Jamesha Youngblood, So. Mandy White, So. Kalindra McFadden, Sr. 400 meters Keshia Baker, Jr. Amber Purvis, Fr. Brianne Theisen, So. 800 meters Zoe Buckman, Jr. Alexandra Kosinksi, So. 1,500 meters Zoe Buckman, Jr. Nicole Blood, Jr. Alexandra Kosinski, So. Dana Buchanan, Sr. Mattie Bridgmon, Jr. 5,000 meters Nicole Blood, Jr. Mattie Bridgmon, Jr. Lindsey Scherf, Sr. Zoe Nelson, Sr. Elizabeth Bies, So. Bronwyn Crossman, Fr. 10,000 meters Mattie Bridgmon, Jr. Bria Wetsch, So. 3,000 meter Steeplechase Claire Michel, So. Dana Buchanan, Sr. Brooke Giuffre, Jr. 100-meter Hurdles Brianne Theisen, So. Kalindra McFadden, Sr. Lindsay Pearson, Fr. Rebecca Rhodes, Fr. 400-meter Hurdles Lindsay Pearson, Fr. Leah Worthen, Sr. 4x100 meter Relay White, Purvis, Baker, Youngblood Theisen, Purvis, Baker, Youngblood 4x400 meter Relay Theisen, Purvis, Youngblood, Baker Baker, Purvis, Worthen, Youngblood High Jump Brianne Theisen, So. 1.79m Jasmine Kelly, So. 1.75m Kalindra McFadden, Jr. 1.69m Pole Vault Melissa Gergel, So. 4.32m Jordan Roskelley, So. 4.01m Long Jump Jamesha Youngblood, So. 6.54m Brianne Theisen, So. 6.19m Kalindra McFadden, Sr. 5.89m Triple Jump Jamesha Youngblood, So. 13.16m Ashley Potter, Fr. 12.02m Shot Put Rita Santibanez, Jr. 14.90m Discus Lucy Cridland, Sr. 51.92m

11.32w 11.70w

7/31 5/29

23.09 23.53w 24.02w 24.34w 24.26 24.44

4/4 5/16 5/9 4/25 5/16 6/27

51.29 54.27 55.33

6/13 3/21 4/17

2:04.68 2:07.45

6/11 5/17

4:15.66 4:17.55 4:18.43 4:24.42 4:27.12

5/9 5/9 4/4 4/17 3/21

15:38.61 16:26.21 16:28.62 16:47.01 16:50.89 16:55.65

6/26 4/4 4/4 5/9 3/27 5/9

33:37.73 35:39.86

3/37 5/16

10:13.56 10:28.53 10:36.26

6/10 3/27 5/16

13.47w 13.95w 14:00w 14:47

5/30 5/9 5/16 3/21

1:00.36 1:00.98

5/16 5/17

44.17 44.74

5/29 4/25

3:37.10 3:39.23

5/17 4/25

Hammer Throw Megan Maloney, Sr. Javelin Rachel Yurkovich, Sr. Ashley McCrea, Sr. Brianne Theisen, So. Heptathlon Brianne Theisen, So. Kalindra McFadden, Sr. Erin Funkhouser, Jr.

55.56m

182-3

5/17

59.62m 52.49m 45.11m

195-7 172-2 148-0

6/12 3/21 6/12

6,086 5,821 4,881

6/11-12 6/27-28 5/9-10

INDOOR

14-2.0 13-1.75

5/17 5/29

21-5.5 20-3.75w 19-4

6/11 4/24 6/28

43-2.25 39-5.25

5/17 5/9

48-10.75

3/21

60 meters Amber Purvis, Fr. Mandy White, So. Jamesha Youngblood, So. 200 meters Amber Purvis, Fr. Keshia Baker, Jr. Mandy White, So. Jamesha Youngblood, So. 400 meters Keshia Baker, Jr. 800 meters Zoe Buckman, So. Mile Nicole Blood, Jr. Alexandra Kosinski, So. 3,000 meters Alexandra Kosinski, So. Nicole Blood, Jr. Mattie Bridgmon, Jr. Lindsey Scherf, Sr. Claire Michel, So. 5,000 meters Lindsey Scherf, Sr. Mattie Bridgmon, Jr. Bria Wetsch, So. 60-meter Hurdles Brianne Theisen, Fr. Lindsay Pearson, Fr. Kalindra McFadden, Sr. 4x400 meter Relay Youngblood, Purvis, Worthen, Baker Baker, Worthen, Purvis, Youngblood Distance Medley Relay Blood, Purvis, Buckman, Kosinski Blood, Baker, Buckman, Kosinski High Jump Brianne Theisen, Fr. 1.81m Jasmine Kelly, So. 1.69m Kalindra McFadden, Jr. 1.69m Pole Vault Melissa Gergel, So. 4.21m Jordan Roskelley, So. 3.81m Long Jump Jamesha Youngblood, So. 6.43m Brianne Theisen, Fr. 6.02m Triple Jump Jamesha Youngblood, So. 12.35m Shot Put Rita Santibanez, Jr. 13.72m 20-Pound Weight Throw Megan Maloney, Sr. 17.19m Pentathlon Brianne Theisen, Fr. Kalindra McFadden, Sr. Erin Funkhouser, Jr.

170-4

5/17

Oregon Records Underlined

5-10.5 5-8.75 5-6.5

3/25 5/9, 5/16 4/23, 6/27

7.34 7.57 7.63

2/6 2/27 1/31

24.15 24.44 24.62 24.81

1/31 2/27 2/27 1/17

53.27

3/13

2:09.17

2/7

4:39.61 4:41.69

3/7 2/7

9:11.24 9:15.84 9:17.49 9:19.25 9:35.69

2/28 3/14 1/31 2/14 2/28

15:55.67 16:09.29 16:38.64

1/31 2/14 2/27

8.54 8.79 8.83

3/13 2/6, 2/28 3/13

3:36.52 3:37.08

2/28 3/14

11:02.81 11:05.08

3/13 2/6

5-11.25 5-6.5 5-6.5

1/30, 3/13 2/14 3/13

13-9.75 12-6

2/14 2/14

21-1.25 19-9

3/13 3/13

40-6.25

1/17

45-0.25

2/27

56-4.75

2/7

4,321 4,088 3,396

Kalindra McFadden

Leah Worthen

3/13 3/13 1/30

Ashley McCrea

169

2009 REVIEW

Luke Puskedra

Trophy Town Overcoming the graduation of national runner of the year Galen Rupp and fellow senior Shadrack Biwott, the men’s cross country team showed much resilience in finishing second at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country championships. The women also added to their program’s legacy with another top-10 finish.

It was a season where Oregon struggled at times to find a new identity without Rupp, but in the end, the men came through with a trophy for the third straight season. The women also worked hard, blending a team of veterans and newcomers that eventually posted a Pac-10 champion in Nicole Blood and the University’s third straight top-10 finish at the national championships.

NCAA Championships The Men of Oregon placed four runners in the top 31 to rally for a runner-up finish at the 2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Lavern Gibson Championship Course.

For the Ducks, who entered the race as the two-time defending NCAA champions, but only ranked eighth in the national polls, the race marked the school’s third straight NCAA trophy. That’s Oregon’s best stretch at the NCAA Championships since finishing in the top two for four consecutive years between 1976-79.

Sophomore Luke Puskedra led the men with a 21st-place finish in 30:01.9. Junior Matthew Centrowitz ran 27th in 30:09.5, senior Kenny Klotz was 29th in 30:13.9 and junior Danny Mercado was 29th in 30:15.4.

Senior Diego Mercado’s 61st-place showing in 30:34.4 rounded out the scoring for the Ducks, who finished just 16 points behind No. 2 Oklahoma State.

Kenny Klotz

The Cowboys won with 127 points, followed by Oregon with 143 points. No. 3 Alabama was third with 173 points, with No. 13 Northern Arizona (190) and No. 7 William & Mary (226) rounding out the top five.

Liberty’s Sam Chelanga, runner-up to Galen Rupp a year ago, won the individual title in a course-record 28:41.3.

Oregon steadily worked its way up the scoreboard. On the first loop, Puskedra opened the race near the lead pack, with Klotz about 40th and Centrowitz and the Mercado twins in the middle of the field. The Ducks made their move just before the midpoint, with Puskedra near the top 10 and Klotz, Danny Mercado and Centrowitz climbing into the top 40. With 2,000 meters remaining, Puskedra was 20th, with Centrowitz, Klotz and Danny Mercado all around 25th, before the four Oregon runners finished within :14 of each other.

It was the best career NCAA finish for Centrowitz, Klotz and Danny Mercado, who joined Puskedra in earning All-America honors. Oregon was the only school with four All-America runners.

Meanwhile, Jordan Hasay’s 18th-place finish in 20:23.1 led the Women of Oregon to their third straight top-10 finish. The Ducks, ninth in 2009, were the national runners-up each of the last two seasons. Hasay, a freshman from Arroyo Grande, Calif., won the first All-America award of her young career.

No. 2 Villanova won the race with 86 points, with No. 8 Florida State taking second with 133 points. Topranked Washington was third with 188 points, followed by No. 9 Texas Tech (191) and No. 3 Princeton (251). Angela Bizzarri of Illinois was the individual winner in 19:46.8.

In addition to Hasay, the Ducks, who had five of seven runners making their NCAA Championships debuts, counted a 48th-place finish from senior Nicole Blood (20:54.6), an 81st-place finish from junior Alexandra Kosinski (21:10.5), an 87th-place finish from sophomore Claire Michel (21:12.6) and a 103rd-place showing from senior Lauren Zaludek (21:19.2) for their 276 total.

Jordan McNamara

170

2009 REVIEW

Nicole Blood Pac-10 Championships Nicole Blood overtook Kendra Schaaf of Washington with just over 1,000 meters remaining and raced to victory at the 2009 Pacific-10 cross country championships at Sky Links Golf Course. Blood’s victory ended a drought of 17 years for the Oregon women.

Both the Duck men and women finished second to the nation’s top ranked teams at the Pac-10 meet.

Blood, a senior from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., put on a burst of speed with half a lap remaining to catch Schaaf, who had sprinted out to a large lead, much like she did in winning the 2008 championship at Springfield Country Club. But Blood, working with teammate Jordan Hasay, chased down Schaff to become the first Pac-10 champion from Oregon since Nicole Woodward in 1992. Blood finished the 6,000-meter race in 19:41.71, with Schaaf next at 19:46.17.

The Ducks also counted an impressive third-place finish from Hasay (19:48.97), and a ninth-place finish from junior Alex Kosinski (20:09.86) as No. 2 Oregon came within seven points of upsetting top-ranked Washington. Hasay was named the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year.

The Huskies finished with 35 points, followed by the Ducks’ 42. It was Oregon’s third straight secondplace Pac-10 finish. Arizona State took third with 110 points, edging No. 12 Stanford (111). California was fifth with 128 points, followed by No. 17 Arizona (130), UCLA (207), Oregon State (239), USC (250) and Washington State (251).

Oregon also counted a 12th-place finish from sophomore Claire Michel (20:22.39) and a 17th-place showing from sophomore Bronwyn Crossman (20:32.30). Freshman Anne Kesselring ran 22nd in 20:39.42, while senior Lauren Zaludek was 29th in 20:49.80.

Jordan Hasay

With three runners in the top eight, the men took second with 48 points. Sophomore Luke Puskedra ran fourth in 23:05.04, junior Matthew Centrowitz was fifth in 23:09.35 and senior Jordan McNamara, in his Pac-10 debut, was eighth in 23:21.14.

The second-place showing marked the 11th time in the last 15 years that Oregon has finished first or second at the Pac-10 championships. The Ducks had won three straight league titles coming into the 2009 meet.

Chris Derrick won the individual title in 22:35.41 to lead top-ranked Stanford to the team title with 25 points. After No. 2 Oregon, No. 16 Arizona State was third with 88 points, No. 13 Washington was fourth with 119 points, UCLA took fifth with 122 points, No. 26 Washington State was sixth with 163 points, California was seventh (180) and Arizona placed eighth (193).

From the outset, it was a race between Stanford and Oregon. At the halfway mark of the 8,000 meter race, Stanford was running first, second and third, with Puskedra fifth and Danny Mercado seventh. Puskedra and Derrick were 1-2 over the next 2,000 meters, while Centrowitz moved up to third. On the last lap, Derrick and Brandon Bethke of Arizona State began to pull away from the pack, while Elliott Heath of Stanford moved ahead of Puskedra. Bethke finished second in 22:41.43, with Heath third in 22:52.01.

McNamara, from Auburn, Wash., made his late charge to ensure a second-place finish for the Ducks.

Puskedra, from Ogden Utah, recorded his second-straight top four finish at the conference meet; he was second as a freshman a year ago. Centrowitz, from Arnold, Md., posted his best finish at the Pac-10 meet; he finished 11th in 2008.

171

Alex Kosinski