ED NOTE: In addition to the attachments, here is a link to complete results: http://gohuskies.cstv.com/sports/c-track/stats/2008-2009/09inviteresults.html .

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
January 30, 2009

Ducks Rack Up Records, NCAA Marks at UW Indoor Invitational
Brianne Theisen sets two school records, three PR’s.

         SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Oregon indoor track and field record book was rewritten Friday night as four school records fell and the Ducks recorded seven NCAA qualifying marks at the UW Indoor Invitational.

         “We had a terrific day,” said Associate Director of Track and Field Dan Steele. “It’s not every day that goes like this, so we’re enjoying the moment.

         The records starting falling from the first event for the fourth-ranked Men of Oregon and the No. 10 UO women.

         Brianne Theisen, on her way to a school record in the pentathlon, snapped the school mark in the in 60 meter hurdles in the opening event. Theisen blazed to a school-record 8.65 seconds in the hurdles to break the mark of 8.73 set by Lauryn Jordan in 2006.

         Theisen, a redshirt freshman indoors competing in her first career pentathlon, was just getting started. She then set a personal best in the high jump with a clearance of 5-11.25, which was an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. That height was also just 0.75 off Laurel Roberts’ 1991 school record of 6-0 and ranked No. 2 all-time indoors. After throwing 36-10.5 to place fifth in the shot put, the Humboldt, Sask., native went 19-1.25 to win the long jump and then 2:21.78 in the 800 meters.

         She finished the day with a school-record 4,181 points to finish second in the pentathlon and was the top collegian. Her score not only set a new school record, but also automatically qualified Theisen for the NCAA Indoor Championships at Texas A&M in March. Theisen surpassed the previous school mark of 3,957 set by Jordan in 2007.

         Senior Kalindra McFadden scored 3,771 points in the pentathlon to finish fourth and notch an NCAA provisional-qualifying score.

         Senior Lindsey Scherf became the first Oregon woman to run a sub-16:00 indoor 5,000 meters when she ran 15:55.67 in her first 5K of the season. Scherf’s mark was nearly :09 seconds better than the previous Duck record, Magdalena Sandoval’s 16:04.40 from 2004. It was also an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships for the Scarsdale, N.Y., native, who won the Friday’s race by nearly :17 seconds.

         Just after Scherf reached the top of the charts, the men’s distance relay team set a school record for the third straight season, running 9:29.39 to finish second behind top-ranked Arkansas’ 9:28.35. That Oregon quartet had Jordan McNamara leading off, followed by Chad Barlow, Andrew Wheating and Galen Rupp. The 2009 squad bettered the mark set last year of 9:34.06 in breaking the 9:30 barrier for the first time in school history. The time was also an NCAA Indoor Championships automatic qualifying mark.

         A second Oregon distance medley relay team ran 9:39.25 in placing fifth. That squad, consisting of James Withers, Travis Thompson, A.J. Casteel and Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott, recorded an NCAA provisional time that also ranked No. 5 all-time for Oregon.

         “Brianne did a terrific job,” said Steele. “The distance medley relay team did what we hoped it would do and Lindsey Scherf exceeded our expectations and we’re very excited for her school record and automatic time in the 5,000. She ran a terrific race.”

         In the first day of the heptathlon, Ashton Eaton had the leading 60 meter time, 6.84 seconds, which ranked fourth on the UO list. The junior from Bend, Ore., also won the high jump in 24-11, which was yet another NCAA provisional mark for the Ducks.

         He then tied for first in the high jump at 6-10.25, which was a PR by 2.5 inches.

         Eaton held a sizable first day lead in the heptathlon with 3,394 points.

         “Ashton is off to a great start and on track to do what he came here to do,” said Steele. “I think we came here very focused on qualifying athletes and the first day really could not have gone any better.”

         The UW Indoor Invitational continues with a full day of events beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday morning.

- www.GoDucks.com -