With the Oregon track and field teams already experiencing a disappointing start to the NCAA Championships, the Ducks witnessed several more unwelcome outcomes Thursday at Sacramento State.
Sophomore Rachel Yurkovich had the biggest performance of the day for Oregon as she won flight two in the javelin. Yurkovich made one throw of 162-feet, 8-inches, and it was good enough to survive a final throw from Minnesota’s Ruby Radocaj of 162-06. Yurkovich employed the same strategy in the NCAA Western Regionals when she made just one throw to alleviate the stress on a sore shoulder.
Fellow javelin thrower Ashley McCrea struggled in the first flight and finished 10th with a throw of 143-04, far short of her season best of 166-8. Yurkovich, who has a season best of 189-11, and McCrea both made their season-best throws at the Arizona State Invitational on March 23-24.
Flight one featured a number of quality performances led by Texas-El Paso’s Erma Gene Evans with a toss of 179-02. Fresno State’s Mallory Web had a throw of 170-04 followed by Eastern Washington’s Carolee Gutierrez at 170-01.
Junior Galen Rupp, considered a top contender for the 10,000 meter crown, was outkicked by Shadrack Songok of Texas A&M Corpus Christi and placed second in 28 minutes, 56.19 seconds. Songok won the race in 28:55.83. Rupp’s performance was more than a minute off his season-best time of 27:33.48 from the Cardinal Invitational.
Sophomore Rebekah Noble advanced to the finals of the 800, but ranked third in her heat of the semifinals and sixth overall in 2:04.02. Michigan’s Katie Erdman won the heat in 2:03.60 and ranks second overall. California’s Alysia Johnson, who beat out Noble in the NCAA West Regionals at Hayward Field, won the second heat in 2:02.73.
The men’s 4×400 relay team of Phil Alexander, Ashton Eaton, Chad Barlow and Marcus Dillon finished fifth in 3:07.24 in the second heat.
In the 1,500, Michael McGrath and A.J. Acosta fell to eighth and ninth place, respectively. McGrath completed the race in 3:46.18 followed by Acosta in 3:46.83.
Freshman Keara Sammons made her debut in the NCAA Championships with a 12th place finish. Sammons completed the 10,000 in 34:01.09. Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego won the event in 32:55.71.
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