Coming out of the weekend’s NCAA West Regional Championships, the Oregon Ducks knew they would be taking at least seven men, six women and both men’s relay teams to the NCAA Track and Field Championships June 6-9 in Sacramento, Calif.
The Ducks’ travel party added three more on Tuesday with the addition of sophomore Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott to the men’s 10,000m, freshman Keara Sammons to the women’s 10,000m and freshman A.J. Acosta in the men’s 1,500m as at-large selections.
Junior distance runner Galen Rupp declined the automatic berth in the 5,000m he earned at regionals to concentrate on the 10,000m, an event in which he is the favorite to win.
His time of 27:33.48 from the Cardinal Invitational is the seventh-fastest ever by an American and an American collegiate record.
Other collegiate-best marks include pole vaulter Tommy Skipper’s Pacific-10 Conference outdoor record of 19-0 1/4 from the West Regionals and javelin thrower Rachel Yurkovich’s Pac-10 record toss of 189-11.
Four other Ducks – Ryan Brandel (javelin), Britney Henry (hammer), Rebekah Noble (800m) and Brian Richotte (hammer) – are ranked among the top eight in their events.
The four-time NCAA champion Skipper is optimistic about the Oregon men’s chances to bring home a trophy.
“I think we can do really well at the NCAAs. I’m not going to say we’re going to get first or second, but we can surely be in the top four,” he said.
The Duck men haven’t placed in the top four since 1991 when they finished third. They tied for 12th at last year’s national championships and the women placed 11th.
– Bryn Jansson