NCAA Champion Jamesha Youngblood
NCAA Champion Brianne Theisen
NCAA Champion A.J. Acosta
NCAA All-American Matthew Centrowitz
NCAA Champion Jamesha Youngblood
NCAA Champion Brianne Theisen
NCAA Champion A.J. Acosta
NCAA All-American Matthew Centrowitz
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents Introduction 2010 NCAA 1,500 1-2-3 Finish 2010 Women’s 4x400 Title 2010 NCAA Indoor Championship 2010 Bowerman Finalists 2010 Pac-10 Men’s Title 2010 Pac-10 Women’s Title 2010 NCAA Championships Track Town, USA
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Home Meet Records
The 2011 Season 2011 Schedule Men’s Preview Women’s Preview
18 20 22
Staff Profiles Vin Lananna, Associate Athletic Director Associate Head Coach Profiles Assistant Coach Profiles Support Staff Profiles Oregon Media Services
24 28 32 36 41
Men’s Team Information Team Roster Featured Athlete Profiles Featured Newcomer Profiles Others to Watch
42 43 96 100
Women’s Team Information Team Roster Featured Athlete Profiles Featured Newcomer Profiles Others to Watch
102 103 156 160
Inside Track Town, U.S.A. Philip H. Knight Historic Hayward Field
161 162
Hayward Field Statistics Attendance Records Top Performances at Hayward Field
165 166
168
Coaching Legends Bill Hayward Bill Bowerman Bill Dellinger Tom Heinonen
171 172 173 174
In Memoriam Steve Prefontaine
175
2010 Season in Review Men’s 2010 Season Review Men’s 2010 Featured Performances Women’s 2010 Season Review Women’s 2010 Featured Performances
176 177 178 179
Men’s History Top Outdoor Performances Top Indoor Performances NCAA History NCAA All-Americans Conference History Individual Honors University Honors Academic Honors Letterwinners
180 181 182 186 189 192 194 195 196
Women’s History Top Outdoor Performances Top Indoor Performances NCAA History NCAA All-Americans Individual Honors Conference History University Honors Academic Honors Letterwinners
198 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 208
Dual Sport Legends Dual Sport Letterwinners
210
The University of Oregon University President Athletics Director
211 212
About the Cover The 2011 multi-media guide cover features three NCAA champions and three Pac-10 champions. From the far left, that number includes Jamesha Youngblood (NCAA indoor 4x400 relay; Pac-10 long jump, triple jump and 4x100 relay), Brianne Theisen (NCAA pentathlon, heptathlon and outdoor 4x400 relay; Pac-10 heptathlon), A.J. Acosta (NCAA distance medley relay) and Matthew Centrowitz (Pac-10 1,500 meters). Credits The 2011 Oregon Track and Field Multi-Media Guide was written and designed by Greg Walker with editorial assistance provided by Michael Reilly. Additional statistical research and editorial content provided by Riley Danford, Chris Geraghty, Tom Heinonen, Dave Hirsch, Andy McNamara, C.L. Shaffer, Geoff Thurner, Chad Twaro, Andria Wenzel, Patrick Werhane and Dave Williford. Photography courtesy of John Becker, George Beltran, Rio Capper, Katie Campbell, R.M. Collins III, Paul Conners, Dave Coskey, Steve Dykes, Eric Evans, Tom Gee, John Gillespie, Don Gosney, John Giustina, Jeff Golden, Don Gosney, Stan Green, Beth Hall, Tony Harper, Kurt Jensen, Jeff Johnson, Phil Johnson, Kirby Lee, Norm Maves, Warren Morgan, Kevin Morris, Oregona, Oscar Palmquist, Bill Ross, Geoff Thurner, Chris Todd, Betty Udesen, Michael Underwood, Bob Welch, Randy Wood, Herb Yamanaka, David Zahn and UO Archives.
1
2011 NCAA West Preliminary Rounds May 26-28 Historic Hayward Field University Quick Facts President: Richard Lariviere Athletic Director: Rob Mullens Faculty Representative: James O’Fallon Facility: Hayward Field (10,500), founded 1919 Conference: Pacific-10 (www.pac-10.org) Enrollment: 23,000 Location: Eugene, Oregon Mascot: Ducks Colors: Yellow and Green (Pantone 342, Pantone Yellow or 109) Duck Ticket Office: (541) 346-4461 1-800-WEB-FOOT Athletic Dept. Phone: (541) 346-4481 Athletic Dept. Phone (TTY): (541) 346-5418 Media Services Contact: Greg Walker SID E-mail: gswalker@uoregon.edu Media Services Phone: (541) 346-5488 Media Services FAX: (541) 346-5449 Press Box Phone: (541) 346-4497 or 346-4496 Web Site: GoDucks.com NCAA Championships: 16 Men’s Outdoor Track: 1961, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1984 Men’s Indoor Track: 2009 Women’s Outdoor Track: 1985 Women’s Indoor Track: 2010 Men’s Cross Country: 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 2007, 2008 Women’s Cross Country: 1983, 1987 Conference Championships: 54 Men’s Track & Field : 1924, 1934, 1965, 1967, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1990, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Women’s Track & Field: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 2009, 2010 Men’s Cross Country: 1969, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008 Women’s Cross Country: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995
2011 SCHEDULE
1-2-3 Finish
Men’s 1,500 Meters, 2010 NCAA Cham 2
2011 SEASON
mpionships at Hayward Field 3
2011 SCHEDULE
Brianne Theisen to Amber Purvis...
to Michele Williams...
Women’s 4x400 Mete
2010 NCAA Championships at Haywa 4
2011 SEASON
to Keshia Baker!
er Champions
ard Field - school record 3:28.54 5
2011 SCHEDULE
NCAA Indoor Champi
Keshia Baker NCAA Runner-up 400 Meters
6
2011 SEASON
ions Brianne Theisen NCAA Champion Pentathlon
Jamesha Youngblood, Keshia Baker, Amber Purvis, Michele Williams NCAA Champions 4x400 Meter Relay
Melissa Gergel NCAA Runner-up Pole Vault
7
2011 SCHEDULE
Bowerman Award Fina
2010 Winner Ashton Eaton
Ashton Eaton Heptathlon World Record 6,499 Points NCAA Decathlon & Heptathlon Champion 8
2011 SEASON
alists
Andrew Wheating First NCAA 800/1,500 Meter Double Winner in 26 Years 9
Pac-10 Men’s Title Four Years in a Row
Ashton Eaton Pac-10 Champion Decathlon, Long Jump & 110 Hurdles
Matthew Centrowitz Pac-10 Champion 1,500 Meters
Andrew Wheating Pac-10 Champion 800 Meters
Cyrus Hostetler Pac-10 Champion Javelin
Pac-10 Women’s Title Back-to-Back Champs Meet Record 215 Points
Nicole Blood Pac-10 Champion 5,000 Meters & 10,000 Meters
Keshia Baker Pac-10 Champion 400 Meters Jamesha Youngblood Pac-10 Champion Long Jump & Triple Jump
Zoe Buckman Pac-10 Champion 1,500 Meters
Claire Michel Pac-10 Champion Steeplechase
Anne Kesselring Pac-10 Champion 800 Meters
Amber Purvis Pac-10 Champion 100 Meters & 200 Meters Brianne Theisen Pac-10 Champion Heptathlon
2011 SCHEDULE
NCAA Champions
Record At
Men of Oregon - NCAA 3rd Place
Brianne Theisen NCAA Champion Heptathlon Andrew Wheating NCAA Champion 800 & 1,500 Meters
14
2011 SEASON
ships at Hayward Field
ttendance of 45,847
Women of Oregon - NCAA Runners-up
Brianne Theisen, Michele Williams, Amber Purvis, Keshia Baker NCAA Champions 4x400 Meter Relay
Ashton Eaton NCAA Champion Decathlon 15
Welcome to...
Historic Hayward Field 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials 2009 Pac-10 Track & Field Championships 2009 USA Track & Field Championships 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships 2011 USA Track & Field Championships 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials 2013 NCAA Track & Field Championships 2014 NCAA Track & Field Championships
Track Town, USA
2011 SCHEDULE
2011 Schedule Indoor Track and Field Schedule Date
Event
2011 Indoor Track and Field Schedule Jan. 15 UW Indoor Preview Jan. 28–29 UW Invitational Feb. 11–12 Husky Classic Feb. 11–12 Tyson Invitational Feb. 25–26 Mountain Pacific Championships March 5 UW Last Chance Qualifier March 11–12 NCAA Indoor Championships
Location
Seattle, Wash. Seattle, Wash. Seattle, Wash. Fayetteville, Ark. Seattle, Wash. Seattle, Wash. College Station, Texas
2011 Outdoor Track and Field Schedule Date
Event
March 19 March 25–26 April 9
Oregon Preview Eugene, Ore. Stanford Invitational Stanford, Calif. Pepsi Team Invitational Eugene, Ore. Oregon, Nebraska, Stanford, Washington Mt. SAC Relays Multi Events Azusa, Calif. Mt. SAC Relays Walnut, Calif. Men of Oregon vs. UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. Oregon Relays Eugene, Ore. Presented by Oregon Community Credit Union Penn Relays Philadelphia, Pa. Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational Stanford, Calif. Oregon Twilight Eugene, Ore. Pac-10 Conference Multi Events Tucson, Ariz. Pac-10 Conference Championships Tucson, Ariz. NCAA West Preliminary Rounds Eugene, Ore. NCAA Outdoor Championships Des Moines, Iowa USA World Championships Trials Eugene, Ore. USA Junior National Championships Eugene, Ore.
April 13–14 April 14–16 April 17 April 22-23 April 28–30 April 30 May 6 May 6–7 May 13–14 May 26–28 June 8–11 June 23–26 June 23–26
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Location
2011 SEASON
2011 Season The road to championship meets around the world will lead through Track Town, USA, in 2011, as Hayward Field will host the USA World Championship Trials and NCAA West Regional Preliminary Rounds among its home meets this spring. The home slate includes the Oregon Preview on March 19, the Pepsi Team Invitational on April 9, the Oregon Relays, presented by Oregon Community Credit Union, on April 22-23, the Oregon Twilight on May 6 and the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds on May 26-28. The University of Oregon will also host the 2011 USA World Championships Trials June 23-26. The USA Junior national championships will also be held during those same dates. The last two home meets of the season are of particular consequence because they will serve as the gateway for the major national and international meets of 2011. The West Regional leads to the 2011 NCAA Championships, while the USA World Championships Trials will produce America’s team for the IAAF World Championships. The defending NCAA indoor champion Women of Oregon, as well as the national runner-up men, begin the indoor season Jan. 15 at the UW Indoor Preview. The team will also visit Seattle for the UW Indoor Invitational on Jan. 28-29, the Husky Classic on Feb. 11-12, the MPSF Championships on Feb. 25-26 and the UW Last Chance Qualifier on March 5. Oregon will also send a small contingent of women’s sprinters to the Tyson Invitational on Feb. 11-12. Texas A&M will host the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships March 11-12 in College Station, Texas. The outdoor season starts a week later with the March 19 Oregon Preview.
Pepsi Team Invitational
The teams then head to Stanford for the March 25-26 Stanford Invitational before returning home to host an exciting Pepsi Team Invitational on April 9 between Oregon, Stanford, Washington and Nebraska. Stanford will be making its first regular season appearance at Hayward Field since 1996, while Nebraska returns to the Pepsi meet for the first time since 1999. Conversely, the Huskies will be making their eighth Pepsi appearance in the last nine seasons. The following week, the women will compete at the Mt. SAC Relays April 14-16, while the men will travel to UCLA to face the Bruins in a dual meet on April 17. It will be Oregon’s first dual meet in Los Angeles since 1976. The remainder of the month has the Ducks hosting the Oregon Relays, presented by Oregon Community Credit Union, April 22-23, and then traveling to the Penn Relays April 28-30 and the Peyton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford on April 30. Oregon wraps up the regular season by hosting the Oregon Twilight on May 6. The 2011 Pac-10 Championships will be held in Tucson, Ariz., with the combined events contested May 6-7 and the main portion of the meet taking place a week later, May 13-14. Track Town, USA, will host the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds May 26-28, and the top 12 finishers in each event at Hayward Field will advance to the NCAA Championships, which are June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa. Following the collegiate season, Oregon will host the 2011 USA World Championships Trials June 23-26 at Historic Hayward Field, as well as the USA Junior National championships. Team USA for the 2011 IAAF World Championships, which will be held Aug. 27-Sept. 4 in Daegu, South Korea, will be selected at the Trials in Track Town. The Junior Championships will serve as the basis to select America’s team for the 2011 Pan American Games, which will be held Oct. 13-20 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The road to the 2012 Olympic Games in London will also run through Eugene, with the U.S. Olympic Trials set for July of 2012.
USA World Championship Trials
19
Oregon Relays, presented by OCCU
MEN’S TEAM PREVIEW
Men of Oregon: TNG At the end of 2010, the Men of Oregon bid farewell to the core of student-athletes who brought the Ducks back to national relevancy. These tremendous performers, highlighted by Bowerman Award finalists Ashton Eaton and Andrew Wheating, led the Ducks to a the school’s first-ever NCAA Indoor national title, a pair of top-three finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and four consecutive Pac-10 titles. Their impact on the program will be felt for years. But 2011 will see Oregon: The Next Generation. As the 2010 class was concluding its career, newcomers and underclassmen emerged as the depth within the Oregon team shone through. Couple that with nation’s top recruiting class and the Ducks will contend for their fifth straight league title and hope to be in the running for an NCAA trophy. Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna will look to the likes of two-time Pac-10 1,500 meter champion Matthew Centrowitz, NCAA 1,500 meter runner-up A.J. Acosta and NCAA indoor mile runner-up Mac Fleet to pace the team in 2011.
Middle Distance A.J. Acosta
While it may be a long time before the nation sees another double winner at 800 and 1,500 meters like Andrew Wheating in 2010, Oregon looks to again be strong in the middle distances. The Ducks return two of the three runners from their 1-2-3 NCAA 1,500 meter sweep in senior A.J. Acosta and junior Matthew Centrowitz. Centrowitz is the two-time defending Pac-10 champion in the 1,500 meters, while Acosta was the runnerup in the 1,500 a year ago. Acosta tied for the school record at that distance, 3:36.48, over the summer at a meet in Belgium. The Ducks also welcome back a couple of sophomores, Mac Fleet and Elijah Greer, who impressed as freshmen. Fleet was the NCAA indoor runner-up in the mile and was also a Pac-10 scorer (sixth) in the 1,500 meters. Greer was the Pac-10 runner-up to Wheating at 800 meters. Oregon additionally returns senior Travis Thompson, who was fifth in the Pac-10 at 800 meters in 2010. Newcomers Boru Guyota (Portland, Ore.), Brian Shrader (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and Cole Watson (Rogue River, Ore.) will be freshman to watch. All have sub-4:10 miles. Shrader has an 800 PR of 1:51. 14, while Watson’s is 1:52.48 and Guyota’s is 1:52.56.
Throws Oregon’s throws groups will be led by All-Americans Alex Wolff and Jordan Stray and national prep athlete of the year Sam Crouser (Gresham, Ore.). Wolff was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA due to medical hardship and will lead a talented group of javelin throwers that includes Crouser, senior Britton Nelson and transfer Josh Heidegger (Medford, Ore.). That group should help offset the graduation of Pac-10 javelin champion Cyrus Hostetler.
Matthew Centrowitz
Wolff was fourth at the Pac-10 meet a year ago, while Nelson took seventh. Crouser set the national prep record in the javelin, 255-4/77.82m, while Heidegger was the NCAA Division II runner-up for Northwest Nazarene in 2009 (223-2/68.02m). Sophomore Michael Thompson, who showed promise early in the 2010 season before being slowed by an injury, also returns in the javelin. Stray, a senior, became an All-American in the hammer for the first time in 2010 and was fourth in the event at the Pac-10 meet. Working under the tutelage of new throws coach Robert Weir, Stray will have some help from redshirt freshman Tanner Harris in the hammer, sophomore Michael VanDoren in the shot put and discus, and Crouser in those two events; his bests with the prep implements were 64-5.5/19.64m in the shot and 20510/62.73m in the discus. A couple of other newcomers, Jacob Budwig (Fowler, Calif.) and Matthew Lloyd (Camas, Wash.) should also help. Budwig ranked fifth among all California high schoolers in the shot put (55-0/16.76m), while Lloyd is a promising young hammer thrower (199-5/60.79m).
Distance A mix of veterans and newcomers may make the distance group among Oregon’s deepest. It is also a group that lost just one Pac-10 scorer (Michael Maag, 10,000 meters) and one NCAA scorer (Jordan McNamara, 5,000 meters). Junior Luke Puskedra was fourth in the 10,000 meters at the Pac-10 Championships and was an AllAmerican at that distance in 2010. Senior twins Danny and Diego Mercado provide depth at both 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
Jordan Stray
20
MEN’S TEAM PREVIEW Acosta is the wildcard among the distance group. Not only was he the Pac-10’s 1,500 meter runner-up, but he also placed third in the 5,000 and was fourth in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in one of the more remarkable performances at the 2010 league meet. The Ducks will also welcome back senior and three-time Pac-10 scorer Kenny Klotz, who redshirted the 2010 outdoor season, in addition to junior Chris Kwiatkowski, sophomores Bryce Burgess and Ben DeJarnette and redshirt freshman Tim Costin. Distance freshmen include Colby Alexander (Strongsville, Ohio) and junior 10,000 meter champion Parker Stinson (Austin, Texas).
Jumps Oregon improved by, well, leaps and bounds in 2010, and that group looks to be even deeper in 2011. The loss of Pac-10 long jump champ Ashton Eaton will be felt, but the Ducks do return Pac-10 scorers in all three disciplines. The high jump could be Oregon’s strongest in ages with three 7-0 jumpers on the roster. Senior David Klech, who tied for seventh at the league meet, and junior Danny Marconi both cleared the 7-0 bar in 2010 and they will be joined by Princeton transfer Justin Frick (Freehold, N.J.), who has a career-best clearance of 7-2.25/2.20m. Senior Vernell Warren, who is also a former Pac-10 scorer in the high jump, will lead the long jumpers in 2011. He was fifth at the conference meet a year ago. Junior Brian Schaudt has shown steady progression in the triple jump and after a sixth-place showing at the Pac-10 meet in 2010, could be ready to move up into the conference’s elite.
Alex Wolff
Sophomore transfer Clay Johnson (Milwaukie, Ore.) adds more depth to the jumps.
Hurdles Senior David Klech is one of the Pac-10’s best in the 400 meter hurdles, having finished fifth in the league in 2010, and can also score in the 110 meter hurdles. He’s backed by junior Eric Hersey, who is a former Pac-10 scorer in the 110 hurdles, and senior Justin Cross.
Sprints/Relays The Ducks graduated one of their most consistent sprinters in Chad Barlow, who was fourth in the Pac-10 in the 400 meters and also anchored the Ducks’ 4x400 relay team for the better part of four years, including last season’s indoor All-America squad. Ashton Eaton was a also a crucial member of the sprint and relay teams. Look for All-Americans Travis Thompson and Matt Butcher, a junior, to carry the load in the relays. Both were members of that 2010 indoor All-America 4x400 team, while Thompson was and Elijah Greer ran on the 4x400 squad that placed fourth at the Pac-10 meet. In the sprints and 4x100 meter relay, the Ducks will look to football players LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner. The two sophomores ran on Oregon’s Pac-10 fourth place 4x100 relay squad, while James placed fifth in the 100 meters. Jumper Vernell Warren is also a regular on the 4x100 team. Newcomers may have a big impact in the sprints, led by freshman Michael Berry (Renton, Wash.), who ranked second nationally at 400 meters (46.13) and also owns impressive times in the 100 (10.89) and 200 (21.59) meters. Oregon state champion Kelley Beck (Central Point, Ore.) can also help in the quartermile (48.83), as can Lane Community College transfer Bryan Harper (Junction City, Ore.), who won the league 400 title for LCC in 47.67.
Luke Puskedra
Decathlon There will simply be no replacing three-time NCAA decathlon and world record-breaking heptathlon champion Ashton Eaton, who became one of the finest combined events athletes in collegiate history. The team will also miss the gutsy performances of Pac-10 third-place finisher Marshall Ackley. However, under new multis coach Jamie Cook, the Ducks will carry on their multi-event tradition with senior Aaron McVein, a 2009 Pac-10 scorer in the event, and newcomers like Dakotah Keys (Sweet Home, Ore.) and Kevin Godfrey (Roseburg, Ore.). Keys, a freshman, broke the state prep decathlon record by scoring 7,204 points at the 2008 Junior Olympic Trials, while Godfrey, a junior transfer, was the 2010 league decathlon champion for Lane Community College with a PR of 6,790 points.
Pole Vault Following the graduation of the Ducks’ top two pole vaulters, Colin Witter-Tilton and Brian McGinty, Oregon’s high bar duties will be carried by rising sophomore Austin Ouderkirk.
LaMichael James
21
WOMEN’S TEAM PREVIEW
Talent, Depth, More Talent The star of the Oregon women’s track and field program continues to rise as the Ducks look to build on their first ever NCAA Indoor national title and second straight Pac-10 crown. Though Oregon must overcome the losses of key seniors Keshia Baker and Nicole Blood, the talent and depth throughout the roster may be impressive enough to keep the Ducks in the hunt for a third straight Pac-10 crown and an NCAA trophy. The 2011 squad will feature four-time NCAA champion Brianne Theisen, four NCAA 4x400 meter relay champions and a remarkable eight Pac-10 event champions. The list starts with Theisen, the senior defending NCAA indoor pentathlon and outdoor Pac-10 and NCAA heptathlon champion. She can also add the NCAA outdoor 4x400 meter relay championship to her list. Junior Amber Purvis and senior Michele Williams were members of both the NCAA indoor and outdoor NCAA-winning 4x400 relay teams, while Purvis was the Pac-10 100 and 200 meter champion and ran on the league’s winning 4x100 meter relay team. Junior Jamesha Youngblood is the fourth NCAA relay champion on the 2011 roster, having run the lead leg at the Indoor championships. She also won both the Pac-10 long jump and triple jump for the second year in a row in 2010, and was on the winning 4x100 relay team. Oregon also counts sophomore Anne Kesselring (800 meters), senior Claire Michel (3,000 meter steeplechase) and senior Mandy White (4x100 relay) among its returning Pac-10 champions.
Brianne Theisen
As impressive as that list is, it doesn’t even include All-Americans Jordan Hasay (1,500 meters), Alex Kosinski (5,000 meters) or Melissa Gergel (pole vault), nor 2010 Pac-10 scorers Becca Friday (800 meters), Taylor Wallace (steeplechase), Jordan Roskelley (pole vault), Rebecca Rhodes (long jump) or Sara Cole (hammer). Want even more talent and depth? There’s Oregon’s No. 1 recruiting class just for good measure.
Sprints/Relays Few schools in the nation will be able to match Oregon’s talent and depth in the sprints and relays. While Keshia Baker was the anchor of the group as both the three-time Pac-10 400 meter champion and the anchor on the NCAA-winning 4x400 meter relay squad, the rest of the team, remains intact. Junior Amber Purvis has been building for a breakout season. She is the defending Pac-10 100 and 200 meter champion, and was on both of Oregon’s NCAA-winning 4x400 meter relays. She holds a remarkable seven school records. Supporting her are seniors Mandy White, Michele Williams, Jamesha Youngblood and Brianne Theisen. White became Oregon’s first All-American at 100 meters in 2010 and was fourth at the Pac-10 meet, while leading off the league-winning 4x100 relay. Williams was third in the Pac-10 at 400 meters and was a consistent third leg on the two NCAA champion 4x400 relay teams. Youngblood (indoors) and Theisen (outdoors) stepped away from the horizontal jumps and heptathlon, respectively, to lead off the Ducks’ NCAA winning 4x400 relays. The Ducks also have sophomore Alexandria Davidson, a Pac-10 scorer in the 4x400 meter relay, returning.
Amber Purvis
The sprint newcomers offer much to get excited about. English Gardner (Voorhees, N.J.) was among the nation’s top high schoolers at 100 (11.49) and 200 (23.60) meters. Just as impressive is fellow freshman Chizoba Okodogbe (Antioch, Calif.), with bests of 23.89 (200 meters) and 53.06 (400 meters). A couple of transfers will also add to the sprints and relays. Junior Devin Gosberry (Dyer, Ind.) from Loyola has gone 53.67 at 400 meters, while junior Lauryn Newson (Richmond, Calif.) from Laney Community College posts bests of 11.60 at 100 and 23.53 at 200 meters.
Heptathlon Four-time NCAA champion Brianne Theisen has been one of the most impressive student-athletes in recent history. She is the defending national champion in three different events: the indoor pentathlon and outdoors in both the heptathlon and 4x400 meter relay. Add to that the fact that she was the 2010 Pac-10 heptathlon winner, the runner-up in the high jump and finished fourth in the 100 meter hurdles. Sophomore Melanie Vertrees will try and offset the graduation of Erin Funkhouser, who was fifth in the Pac-10 heptathlon a year ago.
Middle Distance Sophomore Anne Kesselring may have had the most underrated freshman season in the nation in 2010. Not only did she win the Pac-10 800 meter crown, but she was also an indoor All-American in the mile and an outdoor All-American in the 1,500 meters, finishing sixth in both races. The loss of Pac-10 1,500 meter champion Zoe Buckman should be offset by sophomore Jordan Hasay and senior Alex Kosinski. Hasay was third in the 1,500 meters at the Pac-10 meet and then repeated that finish at the NCAA Championships to wrap up an excellent freshman campaign. Kosinski placed fourth in the 1,500 at the Pac-10 meet, but perhaps is more valuable at 5,000 meters.
Alex Kosinski
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WOMEN’S TEAM PREVIEW The Ducks also return sophomore Becca Friday, fifth in the 800 at the Pac-10 meet in 2010, and redshirt freshman Sarah Penney, whose showed promise indoors in the mile before an injury cut short her outdoor season. Like the sprints, a number of newcomers should provide fireworks for the coming season. Freshmen Phyllis Francis (Queens, N.Y.), Megan Patrignelli (Monroe, N.Y.) and Laura Roesler (Fargo, N.D.) could have an immediate impact on the team. All three sport impressive 800 meters times: Roesler at 2:03.08, Francis at 2:04.83 and Patrignelli at 2:09.26. Patrignelli can also step up to 1,500 meters where she has run 4:25.65.
Jumps Oregon’s jumping corps will also be deeper in 2011 by virtue of both seasoned veterans and newcomers to the group. Senior Jamesha Youngblood is the two-time defending champion in both the long jump and the triple jump, which is a very rare accomplishment. She was also fourth in the long jump at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Ducks also have junior Rebecca Rhodes, who was eighth in the long jump at the Pac-10 meet, and newcomer Lauryn Newson in the horizontal jumps. Newson qualified for the 2010 USA Championships and transfers to Oregon with a personal best of 21-7.25/6.58m in the long jump. In the high jump, the Ducks graduated Pac-10 scorer Jasmine Kelly, but return Pac-10 runner-up Brianne Theisen.
Jamesha Youngblood Pole Vault Senior Melissa Gergel was the NCAA runner-up indoors in 2010 and has become one of the elite college vaulters in the country. She came back from a mid-season injury to finish third at the Pac-10 meet. She will be joined by fellow Pac-10 scorer Jordan Roskelley; the senior was one of the most improved performers on the team in 2010 and placed seventh at the Pac-10 championships. Newcomer Kortney Ross (San Diego, Calif.) ranked fourth nationally as a high schooler (13-6/4.11m) as the Ducks feature three vaulters capable of scoring at the Pac-10 meet, while freshman Sammie Clark (North Bend, Ore.) is an intriguing prospect.
Distance One of the few areas the Ducks will hard-pressed to repeat its 2010 performance comes in the distances. Nicole Blood graduated after accomplishing the incredible feat of winning both the Pac-10 5,000 and 10,000 meter titles. She went on to finish third in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships. The Ducks also graduate Pac-10 scorers Mattie Bridgmon (second in the 10,000 sixth at 5,000) and Lauren Zaludek (eighth at 10,000 meters). The good news is that senior Alex Kosinski can help fill the void. She was second in the 5,000 at the Pac10 meet and ran third at that distance at the NCAA Championships. She’ll get help from returners like sophomore Jordan Hasay, capable of stepping up from 1,500 meters, junior Bronwyn Crossman and redshirt freshman Lanie Thompson. Freshman Sarah Andrews (The Woodlands, Texas) is a promising addition to the distance corps with a best of 16:42.38 at 5,000 meters. The steeplechase is again in good hands with senior school record-holder Claire Michel back to defend her Pac-10 title. Sophomore Taylor Wallace impressed in her first season as a steeplechaser, finishing eighth at the league meet.
Claire Michel
Hurdles Led by senior Brianne Theisen and junior Lyndsey Pearson, the hurdle group returns intact. Theisen was fourth in the Pac-10 in the 100 meter hurdles and set the school record in the event. Pearson made big strides in the 400 meter hurdles as a sophomore and looks to be a Pac-10 scorer again. Junior Rebecca Rhodes can also assist in the hurdles, as will freshman Olivia Ferrara (Portland, Ore.).
Throws Senior Sara Cole and redshirt freshman Laura Bobek lead Oregon’s growing throws group, led by new assistant coach Robert Weir. Cole was another of the Ducks’ most improved performers and finished eighth in the hammer at the Pac-10 Championships. Bobek was an accomplished thrower coming out of Astoria High School, but had her first season in Eugene derailed due to injury. Senior Brianne Theisen - the do-everything heptathlete - is one of the better returning javelin throwers in the conference. Freshmen newcomers Rachel Perry (Parkdale, Ore.), Jill Fogelstrom (Eugene, Ore.), Felicia Odle (Camas, Wash.), Hannah Picknell (Medford, Ore.) and Carolanne Powers (Keizer, Ore.) will bolster the Duck throwers.
Michele Williams
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