In last year’s clash between the Oregon men and the UCLA men at Hayward Field, the meet came down to one final event: 4x400m relay.
With the Ducks and Bruins tied at 79 and the relay winner earning five coveted points, the winner would take all.
UCLA’s Stan Griffin had a slight lead over Oregon’s Travis Thompson in the relay’s third leg. When it came time for the final handoff, Griffin and Karlton Rolle botched the exchange and dropped the baton.
That left Chad Barlow, who took a clean exchange from Thompson, all alone for the race — and team — win. When UCLA returns to Hayward Field on Saturday at 11:45 a.m., Barlow hopes not to relive that fate.
“It still tastes bad in my mouth,” Barlow said. “I’m hoping they get the baton around.”
Oregon resurrected the dual meet in 2008 as an added wrinkle into the Ducks’ training, with the bonus of bringing excitement to Eugene’s track enthusiasts. The Ducks have won the previous two meets but are 6-11 against the Bruins all-time.
“Since it’s a lot of our senior year, we need to win it again,” Barlow said. “Since we started it my sophomore year, we won it every year, so we need to just win it again. End it on a good note.”
The athletes have certainly bought into the collective spirit of the collegiate dual meet, a rarity at this level.
“It’s a real good chance to give the crowd that winner-loser feeling,” senior thrower Jordan Stray said. “It’s a big meet. UCLA is a big track school.”
The big meet gets an added boost with television coverage from Comcast SportsNet (channel 37). Beginning at noon, the Oregon-UCLA dual meet will receive commentary from executive assistant athletic director Joe Giansante and Prefontaine Classic meet director Tom Jordan, with Nicole Abeyta acting as sideline reporter. The trio was on hand for the Pepsi Team Invitational last week, broadcasting within a two-hour window.
Associate athletic director Vin Lananna acknowledged to reporters on Tuesday that television broadcasting is an investment for the program, and the sport at large.
“Long term, it’s always been an interest that we have here to improve the whole sport and not just simply worry about the University of Oregon,” he said. “Every time we can have a good track meet on television, two hours serves a good purpose.
“I think it’s good for the whole sport to have the meets on television. It’s important to have us send the message around the state.”
Lananna said that television would not dissuade track enthusiasts from attending the meet, or attending future televised meets.
“Our track fans are so savvy that they will come,” he said. “Now, am I afraid it’s going to affect the Portland market? Maybe.”
James, Jackson will run again
Lananna confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that running back LaMichael James and cornerback Talmadge Jackson III will participate in the 4x100m relay at the dual meet, as they did at the Pepsi Invitational.
Jackson and James will run the third and fourth legs of the meet, respectively, against the Bruins. Vernell Warren will run the first leg, and Ashton Eaton will run the second leg for the Ducks. Warren and Eric Hersey ran the first two legs of the relay at the Pepsi Invitational.
[email protected]
Oregon faces off with UCLA in dual
Daily Emerald
April 14, 2010
45 a.m.
0
More to Discover