Despite the resignation of head coach Martin Smith and the absence of several top athletes, the Oregon men’s and women’s track and field teams captured 11 wins at last Saturday’s Oregon Preview in front of
an announced crowd of 2,000 at
Hayward Field.
The Ducks also added 11 regional qualifying marks.
The outdoor season opener came a day after Smith, the men’s outdoor and indoor coach, announced his resignation following seven seasons at the University.
Smith cited increasing concerns about controversy and negative publicity regarding the program as reasons for his resignation.
“I am pleased with the success of the University’s track program,” Smith said in a press release. “I am especially proud of the recent sixth-place finish in the NCAA indoor meet and look forward to the possibility that the men may win the Pac-10 championship this year. Nonetheless, I have become increasingly concerned about the controversy and related publicity regarding the track program. To protect my athletes from this distraction, I conclude that it is best that I resign my position.”
Associate athletics director Gary Gray, who has overseen the track program from an administrative standpoint since 1997, will take over the programs for the rest of the season.
Enduring gusty winds the entire day, Oregon’s field athletes stood out.
Oregon women won in all four throwing events — shot put, discus, hammer and javelin — and the
pole vault.
Oregon redshirt senior Bree Fuqua won both the shot put and discus events with marks of 51 feet, 3 3/4 inches and 156-10, respectively. She received regional qualifying marks for both.
The NCAA veteran was 17 inches off her outdoor shot put best from last season (52-8 3/4) and 7 feet,
3 inches off last year’s discus personal record of 164-1.
Redshirt senior Sarah Malone took home the javelin title with a throw of 150-11, topping teammate Elisa Crumley (142-6), though they both earned qualifying marks.
Crumley competed for the first time for the Ducks since summer 2003, after she redshirted after arm surgery in the fall.
Redshirt junior pole vaulter Hannah Moore won the pole vault title after clearing 12-5 1/2 with fewer misses than teammate Emily Enders. The competition was nearly called at the 12-9 1/2 mark, as high winds knocked the bar off for nearly 20 minutes.
In the hammer, redshirt and
unattached Oregon junior Britney Henry claimed the title in her first Hayward Field event with a throw of 201-2. Henry bested Team XO member and former UCLA All-American Cari Soong (198-11).
Other Duck titles included redshirt junior Sara Schaaf’s victory in the 400 meters with a time of 57.42 seconds, while freshman distance runner Sarah Pearson secured a victory in the 1,500 meters (4:38.33).
For the men, sophomore Sol Rexius and junior A.K. Ikwuakor took home titles in the 110 hurdles and 400
hurdles, respectively.
Senior Paul Etter won the hammer event with a throw of 203-4, recording a personal best by 3 feet, 1 inch.
Duck sophomore Brandon Tower added a win in discus with a throw
of 151-8.

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