Track and field common sense states that good competition means fast times and high marks.
That proved true for some Oregon men at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays, held in Walnut, Calif. The meet began last Friday and concluded Sunday afternoon.
But if the top-quality competition of the prestigious track meet proved one thing, it was that the Ducks have lots of catching up to do.
With Steve Fein not competing due to illness, Oregon was again without a significant threat in the distances. Junior Michael Kasahun, a first-year transfer from Fresno City College, ran more than a 30-second personal best for the Ducks in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14 minutes, 24.54 seconds — but finished 19th in his heat.
Butler’s Fraser Thompson won the 5,000 in a time of 13:48.55, beating Oregon’s top finisher by about 36 seconds.
The short relays have been a strength for the Ducks in the outdoor season, just as they were in the indoor season. The Mt. SAC Relays posed possible problems for Oregon’s 4×400 meter team, which traveled without Jermaine Hanspard, who stayed in Eugene to participate in the football scrimmage.
But Hanspard’s absence didn’t matter much. The Ducks’ finishing time in the 4×400 was 3:09.95, two seconds faster than its first-place finish at the Hayward Relays last Saturday. Unfortunately, that time was only good enough for fourth place in their heat and seventh overall.
The Ducks’ didn’t place in the 4×100. Alabama was the top collegian finisher in that event, winning in 39.93 seconds.
Jason Boness fared well in the high jump. He finished second among collegians and fifth overall with a mark of 7 feet, 2 1/2. Arkansas’ Kenny Evans finished fourth overall by notching a height of 7-4 1/2.
Nathan Leeper of the US national team won the high jump, clearing an amazing 7-6.
Other Oregon finishers include senior Howard Moore, who finished fourth in his section of the 400 with a time of 47.85, freshman Kris Martin who finished eighth in his 800 heat in 1:56.01 and sophomore Adam Bergquist who finished 26th in the 5,000 with a time of 14:50.08.