A select group of the Oregon women’s track and field team is visiting Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in the Drake Relays, which run through Saturday.
Some athletes will try to improve regional qualifying marks, while others will focus on form and technique. Nevertheless, first-place finishes will be more of a challenge for the Ducks this week than they have been in the past.
“It’s supposed to be competitive, with some very competitive people going,”
Oregon hammer thrower Katie Kersh
said. “There’s going to be a lot of flights
so it should be a good meet for us. So
far we (the throwers) haven’t had a lot
of competition.”
Oregon’s throwers represent the largest portion of the traveling squad. Kersh and teammate Brittany Hinchcliffe have already earned invitations to the NCAA West Regional competition. In fact, Kersh qualified last weekend with a toss of 179-7 at the Oregon Invitational.
“That was a pretty good step for me,” the redshirt senior said about her three-foot improvement on her personal record. “I’ve thrown pretty well in practice but I hadn’t done it in a meet.”
Saturday, Kersh will strive for an even higher measurement.
“I want to go over 180 (feet),” Kersh said. “I think 180 is within my grasp. I’d like to get 185, but I try not to think about distance; I try thinking about throwing well.”
Javelin throwers Sarah Malone, Roslyn Lundeen and Elisa Crumley will all be throwing today, as will Bree Fuqua in her two events: shotput and discus. All four athletes hold regional qualifying marks in their respective events.
On the track, the Ducks are slated to compete in the Sprint Medley for the first time this season.
Oregon freshman Julie Schmidt-Scherer, a native of Denmark, said she will run the second 200-meter leg of the race just after being introduced to the relay’s structure.
“I had never heard of it before, but it sounds cool,” Schmidt-Scherer said. “I ran the 200 and 400 in the last two weeks and I ran really slow. I’m in good shape, but I just need to get out better.”
Schmidt-Scherer expects that Sofie Abildtrup will run the first 200-meter leg, Michelle Donovan will run the 400-meter leg and Sara Schaaf will anchor the race with an 800-meter leg.
The Ducks are also scheduled to compete in the 4×400 relay, with preliminaries running today and the final race on Saturday.
Oregon heptathlete Lauryn Jordan will have a light load this week as she is only participating in the triple jump today and the long jump Saturday. She will be Oregon’s lone female jumper to make the trip.
Sophomore pole vaulter Emily Enders will also compete this weekend, as will senior Kayla Mellott and freshman Kasey Harwood in the 400 hurdles.

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