Travis Anderson has dusted all competitors in the 400-meter dash during the past two weeks.
The Arvada, Colo. native topped the field at the Pepsi Team Invitational on April 10th at Hayward Field with a time of 47.04 seconds. Anderson followed the performance with a victory (47.08) at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
The reason for the sophomore’s success? He’s finally able to relax.
As is the case with many newcomers, Anderson spent much of his freshman year adjusting to the added pressure of making the jump from the prep level to a Division I program — especially a program carrying the tradition Oregon does.
Despite battling nerves during his first season as a Duck, Anderson still managed to qualify for the Pacific-10 Conference Championships in the 400 and the NCAA’s as a member of the Oregon 4×400 relay team.
While Anderson’s freshman campaign was a successful one, the humble speedster is coming into his own as one of Oregon’s top sprinters.
“There’s less pressure this year,” Anderson said. “I know the system this year. Nothing’s new and I know how everything works.”
After getting past the pressures of running in Eugene, Anderson has embraced his time in Tracktown, USA, a place that was too tempting to pass on coming out of Westminster High School.
“Oregon felt more like home than any other school I visited,” Anderson said. “I felt more comfortable with the coaches and the other athletes than any other school I considered.”
While Anderson has been successful recently in the 400, he will instead compete in the 200 during the Oregon Invitational this weekend at Hayward Field.
While Anderson said the 400 involves a good start and the ability to stay relaxed, the 200 doesn’t leave much time for strategy.
“There isn’t much thinking involved in the 200,” Anderson said. “It’s all out from start to finish.”

Bound for the Olympics?
Eric Mitchum did more than just break an Oregon record when he recorded a time of 13.53 in the 110-meter hurdles Sunday at the Mt. SAC Relays.
By finishing in under 13.55 seconds, the sophomore All-American qualified for the Olympic “A”
standard, meaning USA Track & Field will pay for Mitchum to compete at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Sacramento, Calif., on July 9-18.
While Mitchum has other things to worry about before July, competing for a chance to go to the Olympics is one of many feats the Calumet City, Ill. native wants to take part in during his time at Oregon.
“I’m trying to take it to the next level,” Mitchum said. “I want to keep improving my times and keep getting stronger, faster and more technical each year.”
Mitchum’s time Sunday of 13.53 topped his previous wind-legal best of 13.70 from the Pepsi’s two weeks ago and nearly topped his blazing wind-aided best of 13.50 on April 3 at the Texas Relays.

Pac-10 qualifiers
With the Pac-10 Championships just several weeks away, 29 Ducks have posted 34 qualifying marks in 16 different events.
Ryan Gilliam, a defensive back on the Oregon football team, posted a wind-aided qualifying mark of 10.72 seconds during the Pepsi’s. The Tallahassee, Fla. native has been one of several football players to compete in track and field this year.
Along with Anderson, Matt Scherer (46.40) and Kedar Inico (47.15) have posted qualifying marks in the 400, while Mitchum and A.K. Ikwuakor (14.39) qualified in the 110 hurdles.