Trojans, Bruins possess ample speed
USC and UCLA enter the Pac-10
Champs loaded with top speed
By Jon Roetman
Sports Reporter
Speed kills.
While not all track and field events are
based on speed, the swiftness of each South
ern California school will be a major
weapon in the battle for the Pacific-10 Con
ference team title.
Southern California
and UCLA have been
dominant in sprints
and middle distance
events this year, hold
ing many of the con
ference's top times.
While the schools have been successful in
other areas, the advantage each holds in the
speed events is glaring.
Here's a look at what each team possesses
heading into the Pac-10 Conference Cham
pionship meet this weekend in Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona
The Wildcats feature one of the nation's
best distance runners in sophomore Robert
Cheseret.
A native of Kenya, Cheseret owns the Pac
10's top mark in the 5,000 (13 minutes,
22.65 seconds) and second best in the
10,000 (28:25.62). The Wildcats are tied for
the No. 17 ranking nationally according the
Trackwire.com top 25.
Arizona State
The Sun Devils are deep in the 400 and
own top times in the 4x100 (39.21) and
4x400 relays (3:01.51). Defending champi
on Lewis Banda (first, 45.23), Jason Barton
(third, 45.56) and Domenik Peterson
(fourth 46.01) should bring home favorable
marks in the 400.
California
Ihe Golden Bears have a legitimate shot at
four individual event titles. Sophomore Teak
Williams owns the conference's top high
jump mark (7-5), while senior Ahmad
Wright is a contender in the 400 hurdles
(third, 51.19).
pur*
io
Oregon
I he Ducks are highlighted by event lead
ers Tommy Skipper (pole vault, 18-8 3/4),
Eric Mitchum (110 hurdles, 13.50), Brandon
Holliday (400 hurdles, 51.08) and Brett
Holts (steeplechase, 8:44.57). Oregon is
ranked No. 20.
Stanford
Lead by Donald Sage (first, 3:40.31) the
Cardinal's strongest event is the 1,500, where
it owns three of the top four times. Stanford's
deepest event is the 5,000, where the Cardi
nal feature eight of the top 12 competitors.
Stanford is ranked No. 11.
UCLA
Led by Nick Thornton (first, 1:48.01), the
Bruins own three of the top four marks in the
800. Along with Craig Everhart in the 400 (sec
ond, 45.39) and Jon Rankin in the 1,500
(third, 3:43.10) the Bmins should score many
points in the sprints and middle distances.
use
When it comes to short bursts, nobody
can touch the Trojans.
Garry Jones blazed his way to the Pac- 10's
top mark in the 100 (10.26) and is joined by
three of his teammates to round out the top
five. Wes Felix is tied for the second-best
mark in the 100 (10.31) and the top mark in
the 200 (20.57). Felix is the defending Pac
10 champion in the 200. The Trojans also
feature one of the nation's top triple jumpers
in Allen Simms (first, 55-4 3/4).
Washington
The Huskies' chances at a Pac-10 title look
bleak. With few athletes near the top of the
standings, the javelin has been a bright spot
with Brian Harris (second, 221-0) and Rigel
Wise (third, 220-6) sitting in the top three.
Washington State
The Cougars' hopes for high marks fall on
the shoulders of Anthony Buchanan and
Matt Mason. Buchanan is the defending Pac
10 champion in the 100 (fourth, 10.33), and
Mason owns the top mark in the long jump
(26-6 1/4).
Contact the sports reporter
at jonroetman@dailyemerald.com.
USC Media Services
Wes Felix owns high marks in the 100 and 200.
UGENE
HARDWARE
. ..
• Hardware
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Paint
• Housewares
• Lawn & Garden
• Tools
342-5191
2825 Willamette
Eugene, Oregon
PHOTO
SPECIALS
MAY 10-16
PRINTS FROM
SLIDES
3x5 -2 for $1.00
4x6-2 for $1.50
5 X 7 - $1.50 each
8 X 10 - $4.00 each
8 X 1 2 - $4.00 each
From 35mm color slides,
glossy surface only. Allow
5-7 working days lor 3x5
and 4x6 prints, and 5-10
days for 5x7 and 8x10 prints.,
FUJICOLOR
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
BOOKSTORE
www.uobookstore.com
HAGER
continued from page 7
dropping Oregon to .267 for the sea
son.
The thing is, the .223 figure actually
improved Oregon's conference hit
ting. The Ducks are batting .218 in 18
Pac-10 games.
These numbers, of course, suggest
the Ducks should be in the basement
of the Pac-10.
However, further figures say Ore
gon belongs in the upper echelon of
the Pac-10, where it is now.
Duck hurlers are holding opposing
Pac-10 batters to a .221 clip this sea
son.
That's not a huge discrepancy when
compared to the offense. But buyer
beware: Defensive numbers that out
weigh an offense's could come back
to bite the Ducks in the tailfeathers.
Especially if the 0-3 streak slips to 0-6,
or even 1-5, against the Cardinal and
Golden Bears.
Well, why should all of this matter?
After all, the Ducks are most assured
of going to a regional. It's a foregone
conclusion. They've dominated op
ponents — at least up until last week
end — and have been the best team at
Howe Field in more than a decade.
All of that's true, without a doubt.
But in a conference where seven
teams are ranked, and the one team
that isn't — Arizona State — shuts
you out twice in a row, it could be a
concern.
Check that — it should be a con
cern.
Softball is much like its counter
part, baseball, and most other colle
giate sports. It's really not how a team
starts the season, it's how it finishes.
Momentum is everything, and fin
ishing on a losing streak — Oregon is
2-1 combined against Stanford and
Cal this season but 3-6 in its past nine
Pac-10 games — could doom what
has turned into a Duck dream season
so far.
Ask most athletes and it's harder to
turn on the "on" switch when it's off.
Toggling it back and forth is harder;
there's less consistency.
If Oregon can hold its own this
weekend, it could do something that
no Duck team will have been able to
do since 1994: Finish the conference
season with a record of .500 or better.
And the Ducks haven't had a winning
record since 1989.
With 21 games in the conference
season, Oregon is assured of having a
record above or below .500; an even
record is not possible this season. So
with at least two wins this upcoming
weekend, the Ducks can make
amends for 10 seasons of equal or
sub-.500 seasons — and maybe even
make up for 15 years of less-than-stel
lar play.
Beat Stanford on Friday, Oregon,
and don't let California turn the lights
off Saturday. It's not the only way to
head into the postseason, just the best
way.
The numbers are there. The Ducks
have proven them right all season, es
pecially in their last three games.
Let's see if they can prove those
numbers wrong.
My bet is numbers never lie.
Contact the sports editor
at hankhager@daiiyemerald.com.
STUDENT GROUPS
Advertise in the Emerald.
Call 346-3712 to speak with a rep.
We have great University rates.