Oregon Men, Women Sweep Pac-10 Track and Field Championships

In a statement of impending dominance in American collegiate track and field, the University of Oregon let the action on the track speak in bold and confident tones. Setting school records in total points on both the men's and women's side of the Pac-10 Conference Championships, the Ducks put it all together at just the right time.

Feeding off a stirring 1-2-3 finish in the 1500 meters and a dramatic finishing kick in the 800 meter race, the Oregon men amassed 158 points in winning their title. On the women's side, it was a flurry of individual champions which produced the record 165.5 points to easily secure the Oregon win.

Before a crowd of 7,386 home fans, Eugene's Historic Hayward Field resonated with echoes of former glory. Once dubbed "Tracktown USA" in the days of Steve Prefontaine, Mac Wilkins, Joaquim Cruz and Mary Decker-Slaney, the legacy seemed very much alive and well.

It was the men's third straight conference title and the men/women sweep was only the second in league history. The men had earlier won the NCAA National Indoor Championships in late winter. Before the meet, the Oregon men and women were ranked nationally one and two, respectively. This weekend's activity did nothing to endanger those rankings.

In men's competition, USC finished second with 117 points. Stanford had 93, Washington State 91, UCLA 90, Arizona State 87.

Stanford was the runner-up for the women with 138. Following were Arizona State 112, USC 108, and UCLA 79.5.

Oregon Highlights - Men

Freshman Matthew Centrowitz led two teammates to the 1-2-3 finish in the 1500 meters. That single race accounted for 27 team points. Only .27 second separated the three as they virtually crossed the line together.

Andrew Wheating's final kick in the 800 meters was just enough to propel him past USC's Irek Sekretarski to win in 1:49.83. Galen Rupp, the diminutive hero of the indoor title, won the 10,000 meters on Saturday.

Ashton Eaton, from Bend, Oregon, had won the decathlon last weekend. This weekend, he compiled 26 team points with high finishes in the long jump, 400 meters and two relays. In the 400, he ran a personal best 46.34 to finish third.

Oregon Highlights - Women

Oregon's points came primarily from individual champions.

Keshia Baker, a junior, blistered the track in a personal-best 51.74 to win her second title in the 400 meters. It was the second fastest time in Oregon history, just short of Camara Jones' 51.44 in 1995.

Zoe Buckman held off a challenge from UCLA's Krishna Curry to win the 800 meters in 2:05.39. Another individual championship came in the pole vault where Melissa Gergel coaxed a personal-best 14'-2" out of herself to win that event.

Sophomore Jamesha Youngblood, who won the long jump (21'-1.25") on Saturday, doubled-up in the triple jump with a school record 43'-2.25" leap for the victory.

With the men's National Indoor Championship trophy already in hand and now the dual trophies of the conference championships firmly in grasp, all Oregon eyes are cautiously set on the National Outdoor Championships at Fayettville, Arkansas June 10-13.

However, lest the confident Oregon squad overlook one small detail, here's a reminder: the West Regional meet must first be negotiated, on May 29, 30 -  right on these very stomping grounds where Pre, Wilkins, Cruz and Decker-Slaney competed

Perhaps the echoes of past glory will soon be overcome with the shouts of present glory...

photo credit: goducks.com