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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2001)
Women’s track eyes future ■ Despite a young team, Oregon had high hopes for this season that were not met By Peter Hockaday Oregon Daily Emerald Oregon women’s track and field was once synonymous with success and dominance. From 1981-85, the Ducks won the Pacific-10 Conference every year and finished in the top five at the NCAA Champi onships, even win ning the na tional title in 1985. This year, as the Ducks were in the middle of rebuilding, Oregon hit the opposite end of the success spectrum. The Ducks finished eighth in the Pac-10, not their worst-ever finish, but very close to last sea son’s last-place showing. Then, at the NCAA meet — at Hayward Field, no less — Oregon scored only two points and finished 60th overall in the country. It was the Ducks’ worst show ing since they failed to send any athletes to the meet in 1986.“We had hoped for more at the NCAAs,” Oregon head coach Tom Heinonen said. So how does Heinonen meas ure a season filled with disap pointment, low scores and shat tered dreams? “I think we made what people might view as small strides to wards success,” Heinonen said. “There were significant things that happened, that those inside the program know we’re poised to make a much bi'ggef stride soon.” The future is relatively bright for the team. A slew of new re cruits — especially in the field events — should continue to build on the Ducks’ newfound field success. And this year’s team is young, without a doubt. Of the four ath letes who qualified for the NCAA Championships, one was a freshman, two were sopho mores and one was a junior. Heinonen said he takes comfort in knowing those four will only be more mature next year. Mary Etter, a sophomore dis cus thrower, was one of those Adam Amato Emerald Oregon’s Charyl Weingarten is one of the many Ducks with high hopes for next year. four athletes who should come back stronger next year. “It was a big shock,” said Etter, who didn’t make the finals in her event. “When you go through 11 months of rigorous training and all those meets, you don’t expect that. Next year, I’ll probably prepare a little more.” Niki Reed, who also didn’t make the finals of the pole vault despite being ranked 10th in the nation heading in, said she will redshirt next year’s outdoor sea son. Other top returners include Sarah Malone and Charyl Wein garten in the javelin, Jordan Mc Daniels in the throwing events, Eri Macdonald in the distances, Ann Sullivan in the hurdles and Amanda Brown in the long jump. Of that group, Malone and Weingarten are the only athletes with NCAA Championship expe rience. Malone and Reed are the only two Oregon athletes with a little season left. The pair of perform ers will compete at the U.S.A. Track and Field Championships in Eugene in two weeks. Reed said she is looking forward to the event. “It’s another big meet to try and do well at,” Reed said. “It’s encouraging to see other women jumping 14 and 15 feet. It lets me know it’s possible to do it.” Etter’s season best is just short of the qualifying mark for U.S.A. meet, but she still may ^et a chance to compete. While it’s hard to measure team success on the track, this season Oregon undoubtedly failed the team test. Weak show ings at the Pac-lOs and NCAAs made the message clear for the Ducks: Rebuilding takes its toll. “It’s easy to talk about getting back on track,” Heinonen said. “Now we’ve got to go out and show what we’re capable of. I think there’s some determination there to do that.” Oregon will host the U.S.A. Championships June 21-24 be fore preparing for next fall’s cross country season. E ill Storage SERVING ALL OF EUGENE & SPRINGFIELD • Free Moving Guide mam • Free Use of Hand Trucks {mmm Sfc • Locks & Moving Supplies www.n.w.selfstorage.com Student Specials Electronic Gates 7 day access Resident Managers RV Storage Special rates Big Doors/Wide Drives FREE STORAGE Pay 3 months, 4th month FREE plds free rental lock ($16 Value) expires 6/30/01, new rentals only SAV-N-LOCK 485-8654 3210 West 11th (across from Fred Meyer) EUGENE MINI WAREHOUSE 485-0011 3550 West 11th (next to Pietro’s) SPRINGFIELD MINI STORAGE 746-8251 2656 Olympic Ave. (next to Coast to Coast) 002965 To earn a 4*00 in Brewology all you need to know is STEELHEAD* n 9 Award-Winning Micro-Brews □ Sonps, Salads □ Ribs n Fresh Pizza □ Sandwiches n Pastas n Burgers □ Spirits □ Home-Made Rootbeer TAKE A BREW HOME IN STEELHEAD'S BOX O' BEER Steelhead Brewing Company 199 East 5th Avenue Eugene, OR Phone 686-2739 Eugene, OR - Burlingame, FA - Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, FA - Irvine, FA ^flPizza Pipeline Not valid with any other offer. | Limited delivery area EXPIRES 6/15/01 I Urge 1-item Pizza 2 FREE 24 oz. soft drinks Not valid with any other offer. ^jjm iterhjeHvery are^ EXPIR E^/15/01^ tfizza Pipeline j PLEASE RECYCLE
