Oregon freshman distance runner Galen Rupp got down to business this week, practicing for one of the most prestigious track programs in the country.
The prized recruit from Central Catholic High School in Portland, who took home the individual cross country title his senior
year at the 2003 4A state championship meet, as well as winning the 1,500- and 3,000-meter
titles at the 2004 4A track
and field state championship
meet, began working out with
teammates Monday.
“I ran a little bit with some
of the guys on the team
(Monday),” Rupp said. “But I think I will be able to practice with the team whenever.”
Rupp enrolled in classes and secured a room in the residence halls. Now the only question remaining is when the NCAA will allow him to start competing
in meets.
“I think I will run in the Oregon
Invitational here in the next few weeks,” Rupp said. “I think I
might open at Mt. SAC, but the plan is the Oregon Invitational definitely. The only question will be whether I’ll be in an Oregon uniform or
running unattached.”
On Tuesday, Rupp had nothing but positive things to say about his teammates and coaches. He also credited them with making his transition to Eugene a smooth one.
“Everyone’s been real welcoming,” Rupp said. “That’s one of the things I was worried about coming in, but everyone’s been really nice and sincere about it too. It’s definitely helped a lot to have those guys on the team.”
The three-time Track & Field News All-American will also retain his
running coach, Alberto Salazar, in addition to working with the Duck’s volunteer distance coach Pat Tyson.
“They are going to work together,” Rupp said. “Alberto is going to continue to write most of my workouts, and he’ll come down a couple of times per week to watch the really hard workouts. Otherwise, Coach Tyson is just going to oversee what I am doing. I know that Alberto and him have a good relationship. They’re kind of working together
on this.”
Rupp has been training with former world-class runner Salazar since graduating high school. Salazar, former Oregon standout, won the New York City Marathon three consecutive years from 1980-82. In 1981, Salazar broke a 12-year world marathon record with a time of 2:08.13 and was the last American to capture a New York marathon title. In addition, he also captured the title at the 53-mile Comrade Marathon in South Africa.
“I think Alberto working with
him over the past couple of years has provided a great foundation of preparing him for the pressures
he’s about to face,” Tyson said. “I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on him, but the fact of the matter is
he knows he’s good. We’re going
to do the best we can in allowing
him to be a typical college kid and allowing him to get a degree from the University of Oregon.”
Rupp is the second of Salazar’s runners to enroll at Oregon since
the resignation of head track coach Martin Smith on March 18.
Scott Wall, teammate of Rupp
at Central Catholic, joined the
track team as a walk-on and has also started attending classes.

[email protected]