When asked how the Men of Oregon are going to come away with a top-four finish at this week’s NCAAs, Jordan Kent said the team’s strategy remains the same as at any meet.
“Each of us just needs to focus on doing their best,” the Eugene native said. “As long as we do the best we can and compete hard, we are going to have a possibility of bringing home a trophy and placing in the top four.”
Oregon’s 11-man contingency begins day one of the NCAA Outdoor Championships today in Sacramento, Calif. The No. 14 Ducks will have athletes competing in 10 events including both relay teams.
Winning the school’s sixth NCAA title or finishing in the top four will be not be easy for the Ducks who are outnumbered by several other teams. In light of this, coach Vin Lananna feels the onus is on his athletes to maximize their points.
“Obviously we’d like to have a couple more athletes competing at the championships,” he said. “The NCAAs are always a hard thing to figure out. I think if we score, if we maximize our points, and we will have to maximize them, I think it’s certainly in the realm of possibility.”
The first-year Oregon s coach assures that the team has prepared for this meet like any other.
“The point of the NCAAs is to just go out and have fun,” Lananna said.
Kent is slated to run both the 200 meters and the final leg of both relay events. He finished second in the 200 at Regionals which was two weeks after taking seventh in the event at the Pacific-10 Conference finals. Kent is seeded 25th for today’s first-round race.
Kent has had limited action in the 200 this outdoor season.
This week’s meet marks the third NCAA outdoor appearance for the multi-sport junior. Kent said his career at the NCAAs has seen both ups and downs.
“I remember my freshman year, I kinda pulled my hamstring in the 200 in the beginning so that was disappointing,” he said. “Then we were just one spot away from qualifying for
All-American in the 4×400.
“Then obviously last year is a great memory. Getting sixth in the 4×100 and then there was that unbelievable 4×4 race. I’m just really looking forward to having more success there.”
The NCAAs will be the last collegiate meet for five of the school’s best sprinters including Eric Mitchum. With three conference titles and three first-place regional finishes in the 110-meter hurdles, Mitchum is one of the most decorated athletes in school history.
Unfortunately for Mitchum, a national title has eluded him in each of his three NCAA appearances. He finished fourth in the 110 hurdles in 2005 and second in 2004. He took 12th as a freshman.
Last Thursday, Mitchum was modest about winning his third Regional title two weeks ago.
“I ran 13.50-something so I was happy with it. It was a good overall race,” he said. “It’s only Regionals. Once NCAAs come around, you forget about Regionals completely.”
The Calumet City, Ill., native will run today as the No. 4 seed.
Fellow senior Akobundu Ikwuakor will run the 400 hurdles for Oregon after earning an at-large bid to the NCAAs at Regionals. Ikwuakor’s season-best time of 50.8 helped to him the No. 20 seed in the field. His toughest opponent may be Washington’s Shane Charles who held the nation’s second-fastest time of 49.51 heading into Regionals. Charles is the No. 4 seed.
The two faced off at the Pac-10s where Charles won his first conference title. Ikwuakor finished fifth.
Ikwuakor’s 4×400-meter relay teammate Matt Scherer clocked the 34th fastest time in the nation in the 200 this year but will be running the 400 this week. Scherer held the NCAA’s best time of 45.19 in the 400 heading into Regionals. It was there that LSU’s Xavier Carter beat Scherer with a time of 44.84 giving him the top time and No. 1 seed for Nationals.
Last Thursday, Scherer said he was content with his performance despite not taking home the regional title.
“The main objective for Regionals is just to qualify for Nationals, and I’m confident heading in because I’m still improving,” he said. “We did what we had to do out there.”
The No. 2 seed feels he is in peak condition for tonight’s first round in the 400.
“I’m right where I want to be,” Scherer said. “I’m ranked second in the country in the 400, and I’m ready to PR again. I’m ready.”
On the infield, Oregon throwers Colin Veldman and Matt Maloney will compete in the hammer and javelin, respectively. Both are making their NCAA Championship debuts.
Teammate Tommy Skipper will launch in the pole vault as the No. 1 seed. Skipper’s personal-best height of 19 feet still stands as the best mark this season.
Oregon’s Galen Rupp is fully recovered from injury and illness that hampered him this outdoor season. According to Lananna, he’s at 100 percent and ready for the 5,000 this week after placing third at both the Pac-10s and regionals.
“Galen has improved quite a bit,” Lananna said. “He’s been running away from injuries and sicknesses and I think he’s finally conquered them. I’m sure he’ll more than exceed expectations.”