Roderick Dotts is anxious.
The junior transfer from Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kan., will make his 2004 outdoor debut for the Ducks during Saturday’s Pepsi Team Invitational at Hayward Field.
Dotts will compete in the 800-meter race as Oregon battles Washington, Colorado and Minnesota.
Just getting the chance to compete during the outdoor season has been a challenge for Dotts.
The East St. Louis, Ill., native battled through knee and hamstring injuries during what he called a “non-impressive” indoor season. Dotts said he’s pain free now, but has a mental challenge to overcome.
He has yet to adjust to the added scrutiny that comes with running track in the Pacific-10 Conference, rather than at the junior college level, Dotts said.
“I thought it would be pretty good, but I’m finding it hard to adapt,” Dotts said. “There’s a lot more pressure. At Barton it was more like I was an underdog, I didn’t really have any pressure. (At Oregon), it’s kind of like being a big dog and it’s been pretty rough on me, but I’m adjusting.
“It’s time to get down every time you step on the track for competition and that’s something I have to get used to.”
If Dotts can figure out how to handle the pressure, he has the physical tools to be a standout on one of the top programs in the country. In 2003, he ran a personal best of 1 minute, 48.41 seconds, placing him 17th in the country among collegiate athletes. The mark would also have led the Pac-10 season best list.

No beef with the Huskies
While there are plenty of Oregon athletes who receive extra motivation when it comes time to face Washington, the men’s track team isn’t the best place to find it.
Former Pac-10 champion hurdler Brandon Holliday said he feels no added incentive to beat the Huskies, instead entering each race with the same amount of focus.
“I’ve never really focused on rivals, even back in high school,” the senior said. “It’s cool if some people do it, if that’s what gets them riled up. But I get pumped up for every race.”
Dotts said he gets pumped for competition against some of the better track schools in the country, but doesn’t consider Washington to be among the elite.
“Washington isn’t a big concern of ours,” Dotts said. “Stanford, UCLA, only the big track schools (are the ones we don’t like).”

Kent to redshirt
Former 200-meter West Regional champion Jordan Kent will redshirt in track and field this spring, choosing instead to focus on basketball, an Oregon media official confirmed Wednesday.
Kent had a phenomenal freshman year on the track in 2003 — following a decorated prep career — cracking Oregon’s top-10 list in two events. His time of 20.99 in the 200 stands sixth in the Duck record book, while his time of 10.46 in the 100 placed him eighth.
Despite success on the track, the 6-foot-5 guard turns his attention to the hardwood, where he is coached by his father, Ernie Kent. Jordan Kent came off the bench to play in 29 games during his redshirt freshman season. He is expected to play basketball for the 2004-05 season when the opportunity for playing time will increase next season.