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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 23, 1997)
Karl Keska is moving up After four years as a member of the UO track team, Karl Keska will compete for Nike at the Prefontaine Classic on Sunday By Trevor Kearney Freelance Sports Reporter Excuse Karl Keska if he doesn’t dwell on his Oregon running years too much. It isn’t a matter of disrespect, you see. He has got his future to think about. The University senior and former Oregon cross country and track standout, who reached a verbal commitment to run for Nike last week, will run the 3,000-meter race at the Prefontaine Classic Sunday and is embarking on his career in the European track circuit. “I came from this European background, so I grew up with the mentality that the real running is over in Europe,” said Keska, a native of Wolverhampton, England. “Colle giate athletics to me was something that was fun and enjoyable and gave me a lot of satis faction, but I realized it wasn’t the be-all and end-all. “It’s kind of something I was just going to use to progress.” Keska’s connection to Sunday’s memori al meet goes beyond just his sports alumni status. His coach, Ian Stewart, beat Steve Prefontaine in the 1972 Olympics in Mu nich, Germany. That connection led to his enrollment at Oregon and launched his fondness for Hayward Field. “I have a lot of fond memories of racing at Hayward. I love Hayward Field,” Keska said. After Keska posted a strong outing at the Adidas Oregon Track Classic in Portland earlier this month, promoter Tom Jordan in Turn to KESKA, Page 16A EMERALD Karl Keska competed for the Oregon track team for four year, but Sunday he will compete for Nike at the 1997 Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field. Pre: Sonia O’Sullivan leads a strong 1,500 field * ■ Continued from Page 11A at 11:48. In past Pre meets, a number of big names have pulled out at the last second, but Jor dan said even if some runners drop out, the quality of the race will not go with them. “There is nothing I can do about it. There will always be injuries, but we have so many headliners that one or two injuries won’t hurt.” The meet, which includes 13 running events, kicks off with the women’s 400 hur dles at 9:45, then to start CBS’ national cov erage at 10 a.m., is the popular men’s mile. Jordan restructured this year’s meet to start CBS’ national coverage with the mile run. William Tanui, the No. 4 ranked miler in 1996, Elijah Maru, the world’s No. 8 miler in 1997, and the top four American milers headline the men’s mile run. Eighteen run ners will compete in the men’s mile. Following the mile run is the women’s and men’s 100-meter dash. Devers, a gold medal winner in 1992 and 1996, is the favorite in the women’s 100, and the men’s 100 is stacked with former world record holders and Olympians. Jon Drummond, who defeated Lewis in the 200 at the Pre Classic last year, Mike Marsh, former world record holder Leroy Burrell and Lewis should make the men’s 100 interesting. The men’s 800-meter run follows the 100, and the men’s 110-hurdles follows the 800. Silver medalist Mark Crear provided the toughest challenge for 1996 gold medalist Allen Johnson in the Olympics and should challenge Johnson on Sunday. Former world record holder Roger King dom and decathlete Dan O’Brien will also compete in the 110 hurdles. Following the 110 hurdles is the women’s 800. Maria Mutola took first place at the 1996 Pre Classic and should be the favorite Sunday. In the men’s 3,000, Bob Kennedy returns to Hayward Field after taking third in same event in last year’s 3,000. Sonia O’Sullivan, the No. 1 ranked run ner at the 1,500,3,000 and 5,000 distance in 1995 .will take on a strong field in the 1,500 that includes U.S. Olympian Suzy Hamil ton, Canada’s Leah Pells, who took fourth in Atlanta last summer, and possibly Mary Slaney. Following the women’s 15,000, Michael Johnson, Allen Johnson and Drummond will conclude the meet with the 200. The men’s discus throw, pole vault and long jump are also a part of Sunday’s com petition. O’Brien will compete in the long jump, and Olympian John Godina will throw the discus. Also included in the field events is the women’s shot put. PREFONTAINE CLASSIC MEET HIGHLIGHTS 10:05 Mile Run (Men) 34 Steve Holman 35 William Tanui 36 Jason Pyrah 37 Martin Johns 38 Martin Keino 39 Paul McMullen 40 Terrance Herrington 41 Brian Hyde 42 Steve Agar 43 Elijah Maru 44 Laban Rotich 45 Balasz Tolgyesi 46 Marcus O’Sullivan 47 Jim Sorenson 48 Graham Hood 49 Gabe Jennings 50 Sammy Nyamongo 51 Joel Chesimet 10:15100 Meters (Women) 100 Gail Devers 101 Inger Miller 102 Carlette Guidry-White 103 Cheryl Taplin 104 Sheila Echols 105 ZundraFeagin 106 Michelle Burrell 107 Beverly McDonald 10:23100 Meters (Men) 1 Carl Lewis 2 Vincent Henderson 3 Maurice Greene 4 Kareem Streete-Thompson 5 Jeff Laynes 6 Mike Marsh 7 Jon Drummond 8 Leroy Burrell 33 Paul Marron 10:39110 Hurdles (Men) 13 Allen Johnson 67 Eugene Swift 68 Roger Kingdom 69 Kyle Vander Kuyp 70 Mark Crear 71 Larry Harrington 72 Dan O'Brien 73 Anthony Dees 11:48 200 Meters (Men) 9 Michael Johnson 7 Jon Drummond 10 Kevin Little 11 Koji Ito 12 Rohsaan Griffin 13 Allen Johnson 3 Maurice Greene 14 Floyd Heard JUNE 1 jHIIDJDliCK TICKETS AT ALL TICKETMASTER OUT LETS OR CHARGE BY PHONE 503-224 4400. 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