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
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