FOR IMMEDIATE USE    October 17, 2009

Puskedra Runs to Victory at Pre-National Invitational
Hasay takes third to lead the women to their best-ever showing at the Pre-National meet.

    TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Luke Puskedra ran to a five-second victory to become the first-ever Duck to win the Pre-National Invitational Blue race Saturday morning at the LaVern Gibson Course. Meanwhile, Jordan Hasay took third in the women’s Blue race to pace the Ducks to their best-ever showing at the Pre-National meet.
    Puskedra led the seventh-ranked men of Oregon to their first team title at the Pre-National meet and was one of three Ducks in the top 11. Oregon scored 79 points to upset No. 3 Alabama, which won the 2009 Bill Dellinger Invitational two weeks ago. The Crimson Tide held on for second with 114 points, with No. 2 Northern Arizona a point back in third with 115. No. 9 William & Mary was fourth with 128 points and No. 14 Washington was fifth with 183 points.
    “That was a great race for Luke and the rest of the men’s team and a terrific performance from a freshman, Jordan Hasay, in the women’s race,” said Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna. “Although winning is great, both teams are concentrating their efforts on getting better each week. Our performances today were important steps in that direction. We’re looking forward to getting home, back to work, and continuing to improve.”
    Puskedra, a sophomore from Ogden, Utah, finished the 8,000-meter course in 23:40.2. Andy Baker of Butler was second in 23:45.4.
    Danny Mercado was the Ducks’ No. 2 finisher. The junior from West Covina, Calif., ran sixth in 23:59.6. Senior Kenny Klotz took 11th in 24:05.3.
    The Ducks also counted a 27th-place finish from junior Matthew Centrowitz (24:22.8) and a 34th-place finish from senior Diego Mercado (24:27.9).
    Oregon’s non-scoring runners were junior A.J. Acosta, who was 41st in 24:37.8 and freshman Mac Fleet, who ran 52nd in 24:42.3 as all seven Oregon runners finished among the top-25 percent of the field.
    In the women’s race, All-American Jenny Barringer of Colorado led the 19th-ranked Buffaloes to the team title with 94 points. No. 11 Florida State was second with 135 points, with fourth-ranked Oregon third with 169 points. No. 13 Stanford was fourth with 200 points, with sixth-ranked Stanford fifth at 206.
    It was Oregon’s best-ever showing at the Pre-National Invitational. The Ducks’ previous best was a tie for eighth in 2005.
    Hasay, a freshman from Arroyo Grande, Calif., finished the 6,000-meter course in 20:33.0, trailing only Barringer and Susan Kuijken of Florida State (20:20.8).
    The Ducks also counted a 12th-place finish from senior Nicole Blood (20:47.8) and a 26th-place run from sophomore Claire Michel (21:15.1). Sophomore Bronwyn Crossman was 51st in 21:36.9 and junior Alex Kosinski was 77th in 21:53.9.
    The Pac-10 dominated three of the four team races Saturday in Terre Haute. In addition to the Oregon men, top-ranked Washington won the women’s White race with 59 points, and No. 1 Stanford won the men’s White race with 47 points.

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