Saturday night, supporters of Oregon track and field were thrilled to see several standout alumni — and one recognizable fresh face — return to the oval at the Oregon Twilight.
The first familiar competitor to take the track was Mandy White, a former sprinter for the Ducks who graduated last spring. White, a two-time All-American during her time in Eugene, competed unattached and blasted through the field in the 100 meters, winning the event in 11.68. White also made an impressive showing in the 200 meters, winning in 24 seconds flat and outpacing Oregon junior Devin Gosberry, who finished second in 24.65. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=243&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205424215@@
The next notable former Duck to take the track was Ashton Eaton, the current world-record holder in the heptathlon (6,645 points) and a five-time NCAA champion during his time with the Ducks. The 2010 Bowerman Award winner won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.57, barely outpacing Oregon freshman Johnathan Cabral, who finished in second with a time of 13.64. Eaton, a native of a Bend, Ore., said he thoroughly enjoyed returning to his old stomping grounds. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4365&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=655023&Q_SEASON=2009@@ @@http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/story/2012-03-10/ashton-eaton-sets-heptathlon-world-record/53461970/1@@
“It’s still special,” said Eaton. “Just doing the victory laps and stuff, to be able to still run with the Oregon guys, I think it’s pretty cool.”
“Around 800 or 900 meters, we both kept the same pace, and finished pretty well,” Cabral said. “It was awesome running with (Eaton), a great pleasure.”
Eaton said that his training in anticipation of the Olympic Trials — which take place at Hayward Field from June 21 to July 1 — is right on schedule. He emphasized that listening to his body would be a key component of his training for the next few weeks. @@http://tracktown12.gotracktownusa.com/@@
“April was a huge competition month for me,” Eaton said. “I think this was my sixth competition. There’s only four weekends in the month, so I don’t know how I did that. I still feel good.
“The big thing is, as far as trials and going to London, it’s all about being 100 percent healthy. And if you are that, then you kind of feel like you can do anything. And I’m 100 percent healthy so I feel confident. (The Olympic Trials) are at Hayward, so it’s no big deal.”
Another former Duck with his sights firmly fixated on London is distance runner Andrew Wheating. A 2008 Olympian in the 800 meters and a five-time NCAA Champion during his time at Oregon, Wheating ran his first competitive race in over a year at the Oregon Twilight. He won the 1,500 meters in 3:44.97. While Wheating is a Hayward Field veteran, he couldn’t deny that his nerves were a bit racked in his first race since suffering a hamstring injury following last year’s IAAF World Championships. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=4365&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=653488&Q_SEASON=2009@@
“It felt good to be back there,” Wheating said. “Honestly, it was a shock to the legs. But it was not very fast; it was just a race. And that’s exactly what I wanted.”
Wheating, only the second Oregon runner to win national titles in both the 800 and 1,500 meters, said he’s unsure which event he’ll focus on in anticipation of the Olympic Trails. Considering that Saturday marked his first race in nearly a calendar year, he said that only time would tell.
“I’m unsure,” Wheating said. “I think the 1,500 is obviously the only thing I can tell you about right now because it’s the only race I’ve run this year. I need to run a few more, to really be honest, and then tell you with full confidence what I’m doing. So right now they’re both on the table, and we’ll see where we’re at when (the Olympic Trials) come around.”
The last Olympic hopeful that competed Saturday is still running in green and yellow. Junior middle distance runner Jordan Hasay was fourth in the 800 meters, finishing in 2:08.32. The only college competitor to outpace Hasay was teammate Becca Friday, who crossed the line in 2:05.61. Hasay said that she was fine with her time and was simply looking for a tune-up before the Pac-12 Championships next week. That being said, she went out of her way to squash rumors that competing in London was no longer a realistic possibility. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/452403.htm?ATCLID=205424215&SPSID=4367&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
“There was some talk of me giving up on the trials and just focusing on (the NCAAs), but we’re not changing the plan,” Hasay said. “I’m not just giving up. I’m just trying my best and rallying. I think it’s going to go well, I just have to trust the plan and trust that I’ll be ready for the end of the season. We kind of backed off my mileage, and I felt so much better today, a lot of pop, so it’s coming along.”
Ironically, the runner that received the most fan support on Saturday was the one with the briefest track history — football standout De’Anthony Thomas. The freshman sensation admittedly looked rusty on the track but showed flashes of brilliance while competing in three events. Thomas anchored the men’s 4×100 relay team to victory in 40.79 and was also second in the 200 meters in 21.60 and third in the 100 in 10.65. Thomas admitted that he hadn’t participated in a single track workout before the meet.
“It was a great day,” Thomas said. “I just have to come back next week and actually train for track. I’ve been having a great career so far but I’m still hoping to accomplish a lot more.”