The Pacific-10 Conference Championships will be held at Drachman Stadium, on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson, today and Saturday. Temperatures are expected to be above 90 degrees each day, well above what has transpired this spring in Eugene. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4367&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205149646&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
“I’m ready. I’m excited. I can’t wait to get in some warm weather,” said freshman sprinter English Gardner. “Not that I don’t love Eugene’s weather — liquid sunshine is cool — but I would love a little warm weather.”
The Oregon track and field teams flew to Tucson on Wednesday, with a connecting flight at Denver. They suffered through a long delay because, in the Mile High City, it was snowing.
“This wait for takeoff has been one of the most miserable trips I’ve been on,” senior distance runner A.J. Acosta tweeted from Denver International Airport. “And I’ve been stranded in foreign countries…”
The Ducks have entered the week with a clear mission: A fifth Pac-10 title in a row for the No. 20 men and a three-peat for the No. 3 women. Putting distractions (like a delayed takeoff) to the side has been the unofficial mantra entering Friday’s competition.
As expected, Oregon will be missing several of its top competitors. Freshman Sam Crouser (back) and seniors Travis Thompson (leg) and Alexandra Kosinski (back) have been ruled out by Vin Lananna. Sophomore Mac Fleet will redshirt in his comeback from foot surgery. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204971326@@
Perhaps the most devastating loss will be senior Brianne Theisen, who withdrew from the Pac-10 Championships heptathlon competition with a back injury and has been ruled out for this weekend. Theisen would have given the Ducks a valuable asset in the hurdles races, the 400 meters, and in the high and long jumps.
“Obviously, the meet gets closer with Brianne Theisen not competing,” Lananna said. “She’s very valuable to the program. However, I feel like we have the firepower on the women’s side in all the events. I think we’re in a good position to go in and successfully defend that title.”
Arizona State currently holds the lead after the heptathlon, with 23 points. Washington State and Arizona are tied for second with six points, and UCLA is the only other team on the board, with four points. Sun Devils senior Samantha Henderson, sophomore Keia Pinnick and sophomore Christabel Nettey finished 1-2-4 in last week’s competition. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/416006.htm?ATCLID=205148514&SPSID=4364&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
Gardner recalls a meeting of the Duck sprinters in which teammate Jamesha Youngblood proclaimed, “Unexpected things are going to happen. This group right here, we have to challenge ourselves.” Verily, a strong showing by Oregon in races of 400m and below, where depth is the strongest it’s been in program history, will likely decide the fate of the Ducks.
“The mood right now is just getting everything together and giving 100 percent going into every race,” Gardner said. “We have a really good shot of, as I always say, shocking the world.”
What would really shock the world is a men’s team title, as the Ducks will be challenged by UCLA, Arizona and USC. Oregon’s dual meet with the Bruins on April 17 ended in a tie score, indicating that the rest of the field has caught up to the Ducks. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4364&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205138858@@
“The men will be really close,” Lananna said.
“We had a team meeting about everyone just fighting for getting another spot,” said senior Matthew Centrowitz, who is looking for his third-consecutive conference title at 1,500 meters. “Every point matters. In the past, Pac-10 meets have always come down to the last few points.”
Oregon is currently second to UCLA in the meet standings after the decathlon, with 11 points to the Bruins’ 15. Washington is in third place with 10 points.
Senior David Klech — whose versatility figures to serve Oregon well this weekend — finished second in the second decathlon of his life, while sophomore Kevin Godfrey finished in sixth place.
“They did a great job,” Lananna said. “They moved up well at the end.”
Hopes for a fifth straight men’s team title have successfully gotten off the ground.