In the words of Oregon women’s track and field coach Tom Heinonen, this weekend’s Oregon Twilight meet is supremely important and inconsequential at the same time.
“The Twilight is different things to different people,” Heinonen said. “It’s a little tune-up for some and a last chance for others.”
The Twilight is the Ducks’ last regular-season home meet before they start the postseason at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships next weekend. For some Oregon athletes, that means this weekend’s meet is the last time they can score Pac-10 qualifying marks and extend their seasons.
The main event on the women’s side of the Twilight meet — which starts at 4:30 p.m. Saturday — is the 5,000 meter race. That event, which starts at 7:40 pm, is highlighted by U.S. Indoor mile champion Collette Liss.
For some Oregon seniors, a victory lap around Hayward Field — scheduled for 8:05 Saturday night — will mark the last time they hear the roar of the Eugene crowd.
“This could be my last home meet,” senior thrower Maureen Morrison said. “After five years of working hard, I want my last meet to be my best meet.”
Morrison will join vaulters Karina Elstrom and Holly Speight, throwers Sara Dinsmore and Karis Howell and distance runner Hanna Smedstad in the seniors’ last lap around Hayward. Smedstad, Morrison and Speight all have good chances to make the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field May 30-June 2.
While the seniors will graduate, some underclassmen will fight for Pac-10 qualifying marks so they can simply return to the team next season.
“Our team is very young,” Heinonen said. “For some, this is the last chance to be on the team next year.”
Nineteen Oregon athletes have already notched Pac-10 qualifying marks, and several others will shoot for that goal Saturday.
Freshman Annette Mosey has come a few seconds short in the 800 meters and the 1,500. Sophomore Heather Murtaugh could qualify in the 400, while freshman Olivia-Diane Callier has a shot in the 100 hurdles.
In the middle of the oval, most Ducks will look to improve on already-existing Pac-10 marks, or score NCAA marks.
Dominating throwers Mary Etter and Sarah Malone will try to up their national rankings in the discus and javelin, respectively. Etter is sixth nationally, while Malone is third. Niki Reed, fourth nationally in the pole vault, will try to score well and improve her standing in that event.
Several units will try to send as many athletes as possible to the Pac-10s so the Ducks can dominate those events. The pole vault unit has four athletes qualified for the Pac-10s, and could add another if senior all-American Karina Elstrom can qualify Saturday. Elstrom has been slowly coming back from an injury she suffered last season, and jumped half a foot short of the Pac-10 mark at the last meet she competed in.
Another unit making an impact is the javelin throwers. Malone is one of the top throwers in the nation, but the Ducks have also qualified Charyl Weingarten and Sara Dinsmorefor the Pac-10s.
Another set of throwers, the hammer throwers, will look to send as many as six athletes to the Pac-10s. Morrison, Etter and sophomore Jordan McDaniels have already qualified for the Pac-10s, and they will compete with freshmen Jamie Burk, Dani Keyser and Jill Hoxmeier this weekend.
“Each girl has her own goal in mind,” Morrison said. “Everyone wants to make this their best meet.”
The hammer throw will be the first event Saturday, while the last event is the Bill McChesney Jr. Memorial Twilight Mile at 8 p.m.