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Pac-10 Spotlight: Galen Rupp
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Courtesy: GoDucks.com
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Release: 05/05/2009
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Galen Rupp defies defining.
He is a huge soccer fan who will probably be in the stands when his hometown MLS expansion Portland Timbers take to the field on opening day next season. He’s already looking forward to the Northwest rivalries with Seattle and Vancouver.
He loves waffles, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say he’s a connoisseur of the Belgian delicacies. And no, the irony is not lost on him; he’s well-versed in the place that coach Bill Bowerman’s legendary waffle iron holds in the history of Oregon track and field.
He is also a pretty fair runner.
 And a team player.
“If I am fortunate enough to win an NCAA outdoor title, that would be great, but it’s more important to get 10 points for the team,” said Rupp. “I’ll do whatever is best for the team because it’s our goal to win this year and we’re going to need every point we can get.
“It would mean so much to bring a national championship back to Eugene because of the tradition and everything it would mean to this community,” Rupp continued. “We’ve got a long way to go and we know it’s a big challenge, but I think we’re up for it.”
Not that Rupp would have any trouble rising to the task. His resume ranks among the best that have ever worn the Oregon singlet:
* Olympian.
* Four-time NCAA champion.
* Twelve-time All-American.
* American record-holder for the indoor 5,000 meters.
* American collegiate record-holder at 10,000 meters
and for the indoor 3,000 meters.
* Four-time Pac-10 champion.
* Holds every indoor school record between the mile
and 5,000 meters, plus the outdoor 10,000.
* Two-time first team academic All-American.
In all honesty, that list could go on for pages.
 But perhaps the most relevant part of Galen Rupp’s story happened at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships
The facts are almost inconceivable. He became the first person in NCAA history to win the 3,000 meters, the 5,000 meters and the distance medley relay.
The story is this: barely an hour after winning the 5,000 meters, Rupp was back on the track, this time taking the baton on the anchor leg of the distance medley relay.
A.J. Acosta opened the DMR for the Ducks and had them in sixth place after the first 1,200 meters. Then Chad Barlow ran a torrid 400 meters, moving the Ducks to fourth before handing off to Andrew Wheating for the 800-meter leg. Wheating put the Ducks into second behind Arkansas, setting the stage for Rupp’s come-from-behind anchor leg.
Taking the baton just a step behind Arkansas’ Dorian Ulrey, Rupp held second position, with California and Brigham Young in tow. He then challenged Ulrey with 300 meters remaining, and with just over a lap left, and in an all-out sprint, Rupp pulled away from Ulrey and finished the Ducks’ win in 9:29.59.
Though Oregon wouldn’t officially clinch victory until the next day, it was the win in the DMR that gave them the momentum that would not be stopped as the Ducks claimed the first indoor NCAA championship in school history.
“Coming back and running the DMR was something I wanted to do for my team,” said Rupp. “Track, and distance running especially, can be such an individual thing that it was amazing to win that race with my teammates.
“I was so excited when we won because they’re all such great teammates,” said Rupp. “That was one of the best moments of my college career.”
And most definitely a defining moment.
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