sports_
Hayes is a
‘record setter’
By D.C. Jesse Burkhardt
Of the Emerald
Kathy Hayes is perhaps the
most visible symbol of Oregon's
success in women’s cross coun
try over the past two seasons,
and a good reason why the
group is ranked third in the
nation.
Hayes is the top returning
finisher from last year's NCAA
championship team. She is a
former collegiate record holder
at 3,000 and 5.000 meters. She
is the defending Region 8 cross
country champion. She’s an
All-American. She could even
be termed the Ducks’
“designated course record
setter.”
Coach Tom Heinonen, last
season’s NCAA Coach of the
Year in cross country, has set a
predictable team goal for 1984:
title defense. And according to
Heinonen, Hayes is critical to
that goal.
“It would be all but impossi
ble to win it again without her,”
Heinonen says of Hayes. “She’s
our big-gun runner.”
The 5 foot-5-inch Hayes, has a
long history of ac
complishments behind her. She
came to Oregon in 1981 after
winning high school cross
country championships in 1979
and 1980 at Newberg.
Hayes had to adjust to the in
creased distance for races at the
college level, a change from
3,000 meters to 5,000 meters.
“It's a lot longer, but I like the
extra distance,” says Hayes
“It’s better-suited to my style of
running.”
Hayes has been the Ducks’
most consistent cross country
runner for the last two years
since being slowed by a series of
ailments in her sophomore year.
However, she still managed to
set a course record at the
Willamette Invitational in
Salem in 1982.
Lately, setting course records
has become almost automatic
for Hayes. Last year, she com
peted in six 5,000 meter events
and set records in three of the
races.
Hayes finished third at the
NCAA’s last year in Bethlehem,
Pa. Hayes was only 4.8 seconds
off of first place finisher Betty
Springs of the University of
North Carolina.
Hayes has continued her
course-breaking streak into
1984. In the Carrie Franklin
Classic, Hayes eclipsed the
mark by 13 seconds, 16:44.7 to
16:57.7. Then, she erased her
own Willamette Invitational
course mark of 16:31.1 with a
clocking of 16:19.7.
“I wanted to run as near as
possible to my previous time,”
says Hayes. “I was very happy
to run even better this year.”
Despite being the star of the
women’s cross country team.
Hayes’ rapport wjth her team
mates is unclouded.
“It’s great to be Kathy’s team
mate,” says fellow senior Ranza
Clark. “When someone runs as
well as Kathy has, she gains the
respect of her team members.
But, we’re all on the same.level
in terms of friendship.”
Hayes has her sights on
another team championship for
the Ducks.
“There’s more depth this
year,” says Hayes, “but we’ll
all have to do at least as well or
better than last year to achieve
that (championship) again."
Heinonen knows why Hayes
is one of the best runners in the
nation.
“For the entire time she’s
been here, she has been diligent
in her training.” says
Heinonen. “She’s easy to
coach, and getting easier all the
time.”
Besides, being an athlete,
Hayes is also a scholar. She'has
been an Academic All
American for the past two years
while majoring in biology.
Emerald Hie photo
Kathy Hayes (front) is a record setter on the track as well as on
the cress country team. Hayes' running has vaulted the Ducks
in contention for the women’s cross country national cham
pionship this year.
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