A positive attitude is beginning to surround the Oregon women’s track and field team.
One week after their surprising win at the Pepsi Team Invitational, the Ducks look to continue their momentum heading into this weekend’s meets, starting with the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., on Saturday. A split squad consisting of eight women will compete at the Long Beach Invitational in California.
The talk among the women is about what record is going to be broken next. Several personal bests are falling after each subsequent meet, which is a sign that things are improving for the women’s program.
Senior Kirsten Larwin, who finished second at 13 feet, 1 3/4 inches in the pole vault at the Pepsi Invite, said she is satisfied with her performance thus far and her goal remains the same Saturday.
“I’d like to PR just like I want to do every weekend,” Larwin said. “I’m just going to go in there focused and try to make everything on my first attempt because that’s really important.”
Larwin, a Eugene native, said her consistency at clearing bars more than 13 feet this year gives her confidence heading into every meet.
“This outdoor season has been going exactly how I wanted to,” said Larwin, who ranks third all-time in Oregon history at the pole vault. “Things are shaping up the way I want them to.”
Her leadership is helping guide her fellow pole-vaulter, freshman Emily Enders, through her first year at Oregon. Enders will compete alongside Larwin in the pole vault at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Enders, a Snohomish, Wash., native, is one of several Ducks who has earned a new record this outdoor season. She achieved a personal best of 12-9 1/2 at the Texas Relays meet two weeks ago.
Enders said that accomplishment was very exciting; however, she feels she has a lot of room to grow in her young career.
“I feel really good,” Enders said. “I think there’s a little bit more I need to do to get in a rhythm for me and that it will come together, but so far, so good.” Another Oregon athlete going good right now is junior transfer Sofie Abildtrup, who will be competing in two events — the 100-meters and 200-meters.
Abildtrup is moving up Oregon’s all-time lists after her performance at the Pepsi Team Invitational, where she won the 200 and 400 and anchored the victorious 4×400 relay team. Her efforts were recognized as she earned the Pacific-10 Conference Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honor.
Abildtrup, who ranks seventh all-time at Oregon in the 200 at 23.94 seconds, is confident that another personal record is within reach.
“I’m hoping to get a new PR in the 200 to continue the good (performance) from last weekend,” said Abildtrup, who is also ninth in school history in the 400 at 54.49 seconds. “I think I can do better.”
At the Long Beach Invitational, senior heptathlete Abby Andrus leads the Ducks as she competes in three events — the shot put, javelin and 400-meter hurdles. Andrus, a native of Peoria, Ariz., is looking to improve on each of the seven events that make up the heptathlon.
Andrus finished second in the long jump at 18-11 and second in the 100-meter hurdles with a
time of 14.06, which was a Pac-10
qualifier, at the Pepsi Invite.
Another multiple event competitor for the Ducks is redshirt junior Rachael Kriz.
Kriz will also compete in the javelin throw, where she finished third last weekend with a mark of 139-6.