Their collegiate season’s may have ended six weeks ago, but for four members of the 2000 Oregon Track and Field team, the competitive season is long from over.
Overall, six past, present and future Ducks will compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif., starting Friday, July 14 through July 23.
Steve Fein, who recently graduated, will compete in the men’s 5,000 meters along with world-class runners like Bob Kennedy, Adam Goucher and Marc Davis. Fein’s personal best of 13 minutes, 43.4 seconds easily made the qualifying mark of 13:47.
Fein, whose collegiate career ended on a disappointing note when he failed to qualify for the 1,500 finals at the NCAA meet, has been focusing on the Olympic Trials all season. While at Oregon, Fein was a five-time All-American.
Sophomore Jason Boness, coming off an impressive win at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships and a NCAA appearance, will compete in the high jump. Boness’ school record mark of seven feet, five inches ranks him 11th on the Trials entry list.
“It will definitely be the toughest meet I’ve competed in,” Boness said. “It will be pretty much for experience. Experience getting to jump with world class athletes and maybe take a crack at a spot on the Olympic team.”
Boness knew he would compete at this year’s trials after earning All-American honors at Northern Iowa. He leapt 7-3 on the first possible day for earning U.S. Olympic qualifying marks. Since transferring to Oregon, Boness has bettered his personal record by two feet and broken the school record.
“I love it here and I love the crowd and I just want to give a little back to the community,” he said.
Oregon will be well represented in the javelin. Junior Karis Howell comes into the javelin competition as the top Duck — barely. Oregon recruits Katy Polansky and Sarah Malone, ranked first and second nationally among preps, will also compete in the competition.
Howell, an All-American, comes into the trials with a personal best of 173-1, just a foot ahead of Polansky.
“I’m excited,” Howell said. “The trials have been something I’ve been looking forward to peak at, along with nationals. I hope all three of us do well.”
“It will be an advantage, having [Howell and Malone] around, being able to talk to them,” Polansky said. “It helps me relax.”
Polansky, who turns 18 this week, is seeded 15th on the entry list, just behind Howell.
“I think I have a lot more in me as far as a throw,” Polansky said. “I think it’s just exciting to be able to go and compete at such a young age.”
Sophomore Niki Reed will also compete in Sacramento. Reed’s school record pole vault of 13-5 1/2 ranks her 19th in the trials field and fifth among collegians.
The Olympic games begin on September 22 in Sydney, Australia.