Skipper signs with Ducks
The Oregon men’s track and field program caught a big one Wednesday.
Oregon announced on Wednesday that it signed the 2003 Track and Field News Prep Athlete of the Year Tommy Skipper to a scholarship to compete for the Ducks for the 2004 indoor and outdoor seasons.
Skipper, who is considered one of the most accomplished national prep athletes in history, holds the outdoor high school pole vault record. He has also scored in the state level in the sprints and javelin, giving him great versatility in coming to Oregon.
“This is our program’s best signing to date, and one of the most notable additions in UO athletic history,” Oregon track head coach Martin Smith said. “Tommy owns incredible natural abilities and has shown great maturity in several high-caliber meets.
“To sign the nation’s top athlete and a national record holder is special honor, and the fact that he’s an Oregonian with deep Duck ties makes it that much more special.”
The Sandy High School graduate was also recently awarded the 2003 boy’s national athlete of the year honor after his record-breaking senior year. Skipper concluded his prep career taking second in the outdoor national title in June in the USA Junior Championships in the pole vault at 18 feet and one-half inch.
In the same month, he broke the national prep record, clearing 18-3 to win the Golden West Invitational.
Skipper follows in the footsteps of his brother, Art, who was also a prep standout that competed at Oregon in the javelin. The former school record holder at Oregon threw 259-10 while in high school.

Women’s track adds coach
Oregon track and field finally completed its coaching staff on Tuesday in hiring assistant coach Rock Light.
Light will oversee the women’s sprinters, jumpers, heptathletes and hurdlers after former women’s coach Dan Steele shifted to the men’s sprint, hurdle and middle distance crew to replace Steve Silvey, who resigned in September.
“I’ve been to Eugene for many meets, and the atmosphere is legendary, so it’s a part of a dream come true,” Light said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of a staff that is incredibly talented, excited and hard-working.”
Light is best known for his days as an assistant coach at Louisiana State from 1989-95.
He oversaw the men’s and women’s multi-event and high jump athletes, and in six seasons, his athletes claimed four NCAA titles.

— Jesse Thomas