Davis
continued from page 11
Her personal best set two weeks ago
put her into fourth all-time at Oregon
behind Grace Bakari (53.3), who set
her record in 1981.
“She had 53 written on her fridge
this fall,” sophomore Michelle
Donovan said. “At first you’re just
like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s such a
huge goal and so fast,’ but she sets
goals for herself and she can get
past it. Now it’s like she could push
to 52 since she did run a 53 in the
middle of the season.”
Davis will have to push the 52-sec
ond barrier to make the podium in
Southern California as the Pac-lO’s
top three in the 400 have all run under
53 seconds this season.
But the Medford native has never
failed at consistendy improving on her
times. She finished her 1999 final
prep season as the 4A state champion
in 56.99 seconds.
Davis improved slighdy as a fresh
man, finishing the season second on
the squad in 56.47. She broke the sec
ond barrier again as a sophomore and
led the team at 55.50.
Last year, Davis was a Pac-10 scorer
with a then-personal best of 54.31,
which was good enough for seventh
all-time at Oregon.
The road to Oregon’s all-time list
has not been easy. Out of high school,
Davis thought becoming a Duck
would be a last resort.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t
want to stay in Oregon at all,” she
said. “I wanted to go to Southern
California — anywhere was looking
better than here.”
After ignoring her parents’ advice to
make a visit, Davis finally made a stop
in Eugene and fell in love. Assistant
sprints coach Mark Stream knew that
Davis was the type of individual he
wanted on his team.
“I really like her gutsiness and she
ran with heart,” Stream said. “It’s hard
to tell somebody to do that; it’s some
thing you have or you don’t. ”
Davis entered the squad amidst
a large group of freshmen that will
graduate 14 seniors this season.
And with nine of last year’s Pac-10
scorers also leaving, this weekend
may be a last chance.
“This will be a meet with fabulous
performances and we want to put
good marks on the board,” head coach
Tom Heinonen said. “This is the kind
of meet where good things happen. ”
Oregon may need luck to knock at
its door as the squad has not won a
team tide since 1992.
But as a full-fledged senior, Davis
has the potential to score even 10
points for a team that finished sixth
last year. But to do that, she would
have to overcome UCLA’s Monique
Henderson, who has run 52.23.
Jeremy Forrest Emerald
Davis should have a shot to win a wide-open 400 race this weekend in Los Angeles.
in Klamath Falls,
Before Oregon: As a senior at
High, won state 400-meter title
third in the 200. In 400, finished seei
Oregon: Recently moved into fourthaii time at
Oregon in the 400 after entering senior season
ranked seventh. Ranked second on the team
the 400 in her first two seasons, but took o\
as Ducks’ best runner last year, taking sixth „
Pac-10 meet in 2002. Enters this year's Pac-1 (
meet as the conference's fourth-ranked runner.
“It’s been a huge adjustment for
me to get to the place mentally
where you feel that your good
enough to compete with people like
that,” Davis said. “Finally, I think
this year there came a point where
I was just like, ‘Why can’t I run with
them — why not?’”
That “Why not?” factor will be an
swered this weekend as Davis will toe
the line on Sunday at 2:10 p.m.
against a field she knows and one that
she can race with.
“Janette sees this as an opportunity
to just go out and find out what she
can do,” Stream said. “She’s willing to
sort of press the limits a little bit and
see where she can go. I’m excited to
see what will happen.”
Contact the sports reporter
atjessethomas@dailyemerald.com.
America’s laith in freedom
root in many nations. Our
Faith
in the creec
1Is the inborn
an ideal we carry but do not owi
a trust we i
in PUSH'S inaugural address was
, but not his Invocation of democratic faith.
, many in our country?
What role does it play in out current political assumptions?
A lecture and discussion on Democratic Faith will be presented by
Patrick J. Deneen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Politics, Princeton University
, May 15, 3:30 p.m.
Cawrence Hall
Dr. Deneen is the author of The Odyssey of Political Theory: The
Politics of Departure and Return. He has also published on ancient
and American political thought in Political Theory, Social
Research, Polity, Polis, Society, and Commonweal.
This lecture is co-sponsored by
The Christian Scholars Lecture Series funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, UO Department of
Political Science, Catholic Newman Center, Episcopal Campus Ministry, Presbyterian Campus
; Ministry, Wesley Foundation
Sftjjj THE ERB MEMORIAL UNION BOARD OF
pSj DIRECTORS IS ACCEPTING STUDENT
jjUl APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2003-2004 BOARD.
This is a great opportunity for you to:
■ develop outstanding leadership skills
■ represent the interests of 20,000
incidental fee paying students
• learn budgeting skills and create the
6+ million dollar EMU budget
■ advise staff in the day-to-day operation
of EMU
* create and approve long range plans
for the student union
■ work with other outstanding student
leaders
■ make a lasting difference at the UO
requirements:
At least two term's experience with either
an ASUO program
or an EMU program or service
stipend: $100.00 per month
Application deadline:
May 15th at 4pm
SPick up application at EMU
Administration Office
Position begins May 26th
The EMU Board complies fully with the provisions of the following
University of Oregon statement: “An equal opportunity institution
committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the American
Disabilities Act."
Softball
continued from page 11
this is not a big extended trip that we haven’t been
on in a while.”
The Ducks are expecting a familiar fan base in
Fullerton as six players grew up within a two-hour
drive to the regional site.
“We’re so excited to be close to home, and we’re
going to have probably all of our parents there,” third
baseman Lynsey Haij said. “California’s familiar to
all of us.”
The Ducks join Cal State-Fullerton and San
Diego State as the only West Coast schools in the
Fullerton regional.
“Other than the Fullerton folks playing at home, I
think we’re going to be one of the favorites there, and
people will be pulling for us,” Arendsen said.
If Oregon wins its game against Penn State, the
Ducks move on to play at 2 p.m. on Friday. A loss
would land Oregon in the one-loss bracket of the
double-elimination tournament, where the Ducks
would play at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Mark McCambridge Emerald
Lynsey Haij leads the Ducks into the NCAA tournament today.
Whether the Ducks win or lose, they will face ei
ther No. 2-seed Oklahoma State or No. 7 Boston in
their second game.
Contact the sports reporter
at mindirice@dailyemerald.com.