Sports Editor:
Hank Hager
hankhager@dailyemerald.com
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Oregon Daily Emerald
SPORTS
Best bet
NHL Stanley Cup Finals:
Calgary vs. Tampa Bay
5 p.m., ESPN
Guiding Light
Oregon track and field assistant coach Rock Light returns to coaching after an eighty ear hiatus and successful stint at LSI
Geoff Thurner Oregon Media Services
Oregon assistant coach Rock Light oversees the women’s hurdles, sprints, relays and heptathlon.
By Alex Tam
Sports Reporter
Anew course at Oregon began last fall.
The professor of that course: track and
field assistant coach Rock light.
The 46-year-old Light, in his first year at Ore
gon, is one of several new teachers brought in by
head coach Martin Smith to revive a women's
program in flux the past couple seasons.
"The classroom is Hayward Field to me,"
Light said. "That's where I practice my teach
ing. Everyday that (my athletes) come to prac
tice, I want them to feel that they are going to
get better and learn."
Learning and listening to the Lamar, Colo., na
tive would be wise on the part of the track ath
letes. Light, who last coached in 1995 at
Louisiana State, assisted the Tigers to four NCAA
titles, 13 Southeastern Conference titles and 12
school records. He now oversees the women's
sprints, hurdles, jumps and heptathlon events.
"A few individuals have an opportunity to do
what they love to do," Light said, "and this is
what I absolutely love to do."
In 1995, he left LSII to become a financial ad
viser at Merrill Lynch after being given an offer he
"couldn't refuse." However, his love for track and
field stayed with him. For the next eight years,
Light served as an instructor at the USA Track and
Field Coaches Education program to develop cur
riculum for track coaches around the country.
The determination to return to coaching,
though, resurfaced last October as a result of the
resignation of Oregon assistant coach Steve Sil
vey. Less than a month later, Light received a
phone call from Oregon.
"Coach Smith asked how serious I was to get
back into coaching and I said it depends on the
situation," Light said. "1 got here in the morning
and by the afternoon, 1 was hopeful that they
would offer me the position."
In mid-November of last year, the Ducks an
nounced his hiring as the final piece of a new
coaching staff fully committed to a long-term
plan of becoming a national power.
Upon his arrival, many of the women athletes
immediately took notice of his credentials. They
believe his addition is one of the main reasons
behind the improved attitude surrounding the
team this season.
"He's just so motivated and encourages every
single one of us to be the best," junior sprinter
Michelle Donovan said. "There's nothing fun to
train for if you're not going to be the best, and he
wants to get all of us there."
Sofie Abildtrup, another junior sprinter, said
Light's care for his athletes on and off the field is
a reason for the success she and the team have
experienced this season.
"He's so involved with all his athletes,"
Abildtrup said. "He knows what to look for. 1 le
really looks at the individual and tries to figure
out how he can help that athlete the most."
Abildtrup, who is competing in her first and
final year at Oregon, remembers her first work
out with Light immediately after his hiring.
Abildtrup, a Denmark native, recalls her coach
telling her that he enjoyed what he saw and of
fered her a spot on the team.
She has now developed into one of Oregon's
top all-time sprinters, ranking in the top 10 in
the 200- and 400-meter events, and also serving
as the anchor of the 4x400 meter relay team.
"Even though 1 wasn't a part of the team at
that point, 1 felt like he really wanted me to be a
part (of it) eventually," Abildtrup said. "That
was really encouraging."
Light's versatility to coach successfully at sev
eral different events is proving to be an asset. In
addition to seeing new personal bests among
the sprinters, records are also falling within the
jumpers units.
Rachael Kriz, a junior from Toledo, Ore., began
high jumping last fall. Learning an entirely new
event was difficult at first for Kriz. But with her
continued work with light, Kriz earned a personal
best with a mark of 5 feet, 6 inches, placing her
fifth at the Pacific-10 Conference Championships
two weeks ago. The mark also earned her a spot at
NCAA Regionals this weekend.
"I have so enjoyed working with him," Kriz
said. "He is an awesome coach with lots of en
ergy and just out there for the kids. I really like
Turn to LIGHT, page 16
Colorado State
takes down UO
in first contest
The Ducks fall 10-1 against undefeated
Colorado State in the first game of the NCBA
World Series at McKechnie Field in Florida
By Kirsten McEwen
Freelance Reporter
Their first game in Florida was an eye-opening experience.
As No. 8 Oregon (19-7 overall, 13-5 Pacific Mountain Con
ference) took on the No. 1-ranked team
in the country on Wednesday at the Na
tional Club Baseball Association World
Series in Bradenton, Fla., the Ducks
knew they were going to need a little
vjpvl luck to get by their first round opponents.
Club
Oregon was introduced to Colorado
State, a ball club that has yet to lose a
game, at 9:30 a.m. EST at McKechnie Field. Hot and humid
weather welcomed the first game of the 2004 World Series.
The Rams (24-0 overall, 15-0 Rocky Mountain Confer
ence) took a one-run lead in the first inning, and Colorado
State scored in every frame then on except the third, en route
to a 10-1 win.
Oregon's only run came in the seventh and final inning.
"Colorado is a very well-coached team and they played with
Turn to SERIES, page 16
Injury slows Swinnen at NCAAs
Manuel Kost can't break through
against No. 9 Doug Stewart in Tulsa
at the NCAA Individual Championships
By Clayton Jones
Freelance Reporter
Sven Swinnen and Manuel Kost were bounced
in the opening round of the 120th Annual NCAA
Division I Men's Tennis Singles Championship in
Tulsa, Okla., Wednesday.
"It was a tough day for both players," Oregon
head coach Chris Russell said.
Swinnen, ranked 16th in the nation, was upset
by William Barker in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.
Swinnen was in control of the match early on,
jumping out to a 2-0 lead. He was up 30-love in the
third game when he went
wide on a back hand in the
comer and strained his back.
Russell said he almost
stopped the match because
the injury seemed to be in
terfering with Swinnen's
play, but the Switzerland native persisted.
"Swinnen doesn't like to make excuses, but I will
tell you that if he was healthy he would have won
that match," Russell said.
Swinnen fought through his injury, but he could
only muster one more point the rest of the match.
"Don't get me wrong, Swinnen played a good
player, but he just wasn't able to do what he usual
DUCK
TENNIS
ly does out there on the court," Russell said.
Turn to NCAAS, page 17
Danielle Hickey Photo Editor
Sven Swinnen, seen here earlier this season, Ipst in the first rpgnjj p(t|^ ^QA^.tqdjvifly^ls.