XO Enters the Oregon Preview in Record Numbers

Eugene, OR – March 18 2006 - On a sunny and slightly breezy afternoon that saw University of Oregon pole vaulter Tommy Skipper pull legendary status with his single attempt 19 foot clearance, Olympian Dan Browne coming out of the darkness of two year’s worth of injury to win the men’s 3000, and Britney Kay Henry destroying the old UO school record in the women’s hammer throw, Team XO added a few highlights of their own.

Winning five events and placing in the top three in six more, the blue of XO was all over the track and field on Saturday afternoon. Claiming one of those wins was XO’s perennial stud, Simi Adeagbo in the women’s triple jump. Once again, Simi quickly disposed of a talented collegiate field by almost a foot and a half margin of victory. “It’s nice to get the opportunities to compete at Hayward, this being where the Trials will be held, but I just didn’t have a good day technically,” said Simi.

Next door on the infield, Kyley Johnson and Jason Boness were putting on the usual clinic in the men’s high jump. With his new technique coming along nicely, Boness posted a season best of 6-10.75; over seven inches clear of the nearest competitor to take second place. But it was Kyley Johnson who cleared the next height of 7-00.25 for the win and was able to focus on three solid attempts at the US Outdoor “B” Qualifier of 7-2.50. “I was over it on the third jump, but I wasn’t focusing quite hard enough and I sat down on it,” said Johnson of his final attempt that drew the heartfelt “ooh” from the west grandstand. “If I had just worked the bar a little more I could have been over it.”

Also in the jumps, Colin McArthur found an easy win the men’s long jump as he sailed out to 22-5.75 in the sand even while fouling on three of four attempts. “It was nice to get the wind,” said McArthur. “I’m going to get more speed work in over the next month before the [Oregon] Invite where I’m hoping for a big jump.”

XO also found success as the sprint corps grows to include Phil Alexander and Paris Ramsey who finished 1st and 4th in the men’s 200 and also took anchor and leadoff duties, respectively, in the winning 4x400 meter relay that also included Ross Krempley (3rd in the 800 – 1:53.61) and multi-event specialist Tyler May. Alexander’s mark of 21.31 is well on his way to his personal record (21.00) he set at Hayward Field last year. “My hip flexor was bothering me a little bit,” said Alexander who scratched from the 400 meters. “I just couldn’t pass up the good wind in the 200!”

Impressive multi-event efforts by XO newcomers Tyler May (3rd – 110 HH 14.82, 16th – Shot Put 11.69m 38-4.25, 10th – Discus 41.07m 134-09), Chris Samuels (3rd – Shot Put 14.84m 48-8.25, 5th – Discus 43.46m 142-07), and Emily Brown (6th – Discus 39.89m, 5th – Hammer Throw 50.59m 166-0) did not go unnoticed. Other new athletes to XO include: Travis Floeck (middle distances), Dylan Mason (distances), Eric Logsdon (distances), Jane Rudkin (steeplechase), and the two aforementioned sprinters Phil Alexander and Paris Ramsey. XO welcomes each of these new athletes to the team and looks forward to their continuing progress on the track and in the field.

Other noteworthy performances of the day were Cari Soong’s 2nd place Hammer Throw (62.51m, 205-1), Kevin Ullman’s personal record in the 1500 (3:58.96), Jane Rudkin’s season best in the women’s 3000 (9:52.07), Eric Logsdon’s 3rd place finish in the 3000 (8:13.45), Dylan Mason’s second place finish in the second heat of the men’s 3000 (8:38.20), Hammer specialist Adam Kriz’s 5th place finish in the men’s shot put (14.47m 47-5.75), and Travis Floeck’s 9th place finish in a windy men’s 800.

Kevin Ullman

800m specialist
XO PR Writer

Pictures from the Oregon Preview, by John Giustina.