EUGENE - The University of Oregon track and field team announced Tuesday its first signees of the spring signing period - top high school prospects Justin Cross and Chad Hall.

Chad Hall, a prep senior at Big Bear High School in Big Bear, Calif., won the 2006 Foot Locker national cross country title after he claimed the state cross country title and finished second in the West Regional last fall. As a junior, he finished second in the state cross country meet and also competed in the state 3,200m, and ran his current track bests of 1:57 (800m), 4:10 (1,600m) and 3,200m (8:58).

Justin Cross, a prep senior at Powell High School in Powell, Wyo.,  won state titles in the 110m and 300m hurdles as a sophomore in 2005, and added runner-up finishes in both as a junior in '06. He ran a 110m hurdles state record in the state meet prelims last spring (14.46), and then broke that mark again recently this season (14.44). 

"I'm very pleased to welcome Chad and Justin as the newest members of the historic University of Oregon program," said Vin Lananna, associate athletic director and director of track and field. "Coaches Dan Steele and Andy Powell did a great job communicating with these student-athletes and their families throughout the recruiting process. All of us are excited about the contributions that Chad and Justin will make during their career."

The duo join a group of nine fall signees that were officially introduced last December.

The men’s squad added sophomore transfer distance runner Jordan McNamara and pair of top prep seniors – distance runner Matt Centrowitz (Arnold, Md.) and hammer thrower Jordan Stray (Centralia, Wash.).

The Oregon women’s squad welcomed an early signing group of six athletes, composed of distance runners Elizabeth Bies (Yankton, S.D.), Zoe Buckman (Canberra, Australia), Alexandra Kosinski (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) and Claire Michel (Clackamas, Ore.), triple jumper and hurdler Jamesha Youngblood (Hercules, Calif.) and pole vaulter Melissa Gergel (Chicago Heights, Ill.).

Buckman joined the team this outdoor season and is a regional qualifier in the 800m, and the remaining fall and spring signees are set to join the Ducks next fall.
 

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