Women’s track transfers
among nation’s best
In the most recent edition of Track and Field News, the Oregon women’s track and field team’s group of newcomers was tabbed among the nation’s best by the sport’s leading publication.
The Duck women were among six honorable mention choices just outside of the top five nationally, and more importantly, have since added two high-profile newcomers for the indoor season — transfers Becky Holliday (pole vault) and Mary Murphy (high jump).
In her indoor debut earlier this month, Holliday met the NCAA automatic qualifying mark and tied the school record of 13-5 1/4 in the Pole Vault Summit and ranks third among collegians in 2002. The Sparks, Nev., native joins the Ducks after a breakthrough season on the national scene in 2001.
Holliday raised her personal best to 14-4 in the national championships — good enough to rank her seventh in the nation at season’s end and second among collegians. Later in the summer, she finished fifth (14-1 1/4) in the U.S. Outdoor Championships in June at Hayward Field in Eugene, and eighth (13-0) in the World University Games in Beijing, China. She also flexed her versatility in the conference championships last year adding points in the 200 (third, 25.5), 400 (second, 56.2), 4×100 (second) and 4×400 relays (second).
“After competing here several times (last year), Hayward Field was a big attraction to me,” Holliday said, “especially after doing well here at the U.S. nationals. The crowd was so great and so into it, I’m excited to experience that again.”
Murphy owns a high jump best of 5-8 and joins a unit that already returns two top-12 Pac-10 finishers from last season. The Sherwood, Ore., native could also see future work in the heptathlon after scoring in the 2001 NWAACC Championships in the in 200 (fifth), 400 (third), high jump (first, 5-7), long jump (fourth, 17-4), triple jump (fourth, high 34), 4×100 (second) and 4×400 (first).
Among the Ducks’ freshman class of newcomers to be honored by the publication was prep All-America throwers Elisa Crumley (javelin, 164-0) from Hillsboro, Ore., and Katie McKeever of Woodland, Calif., (shot put 45-3 1/4, discus 162-3), triple jumper Clarice Hayward-Lee (39-1 1/2) from Bellevue, Wash., javelin thrower Roslyn Lundeen (161-9) from Victoria, British Columbia, and middle distance runner Sara Schaaf of Klamath Falls, Ore., (800 – 2:12.91).
— From staff and wire reports
Soccer team
one of most improved
Soccer Buzz magazine recognized Oregon as one of the nation’s most improved soccer programs from 2000 to 2001.
The Ducks improved their record to 8-8-2 last season, which was tied for the sixth-best increase in wins out of 278 Division I teams. It marked Oregon’s best record since it added the sport in 1996.
“I’m glad to see continued improvement and we’re looking to grow even further,” seventh-year Oregon coach Bill Steffen said.
The country’s most improved team was Campbell, which went from 4-12-1 to 13-6.
— From staff and wire reports
