INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Junior Tommy Skipper paced the University of Oregon in fourth day action Saturday in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and Finish Line USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the IUPUI campus.

In the senior men’s pole vault, Skipper tied for third place (18-4 1/2) with American record holder Jeff Hartwig and 2005 World Championships silver medalist Brad Walker who also converted the same height on their first attempts.

Skipper and Hartwig missed subsequent attempts at 18-8 1/4 (5.70m), while Walker passed to 18-10 1/4 (5.75m) and also missed his three tries.

In prior USA Championships, Skipper tied for ninth in 2005 (17-8 1/2) and 14th in the 2004 Olympic Trials prelims (17-8 1/2), and was the youngest competitor in the latter event.

Asics post-collegiate vaulter Russ Buller won Saturday’s event with a final clearance of 19-0 1/4 (5.80m) over 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson who also cleared 19-0 1/4 but on his second attempt, while Buller made his first try.

As the top finishers in their event, Buller and Stevenson earned spots on the U.S. team for the 2006 IAAF World Cup, Sept. 16-17 in Athens, Greece, while the top junior championships finishers earned invites to the 2006 World Junior Championships, August 15-20 in Beijing, China.

During the collegiate season, Skipper won his second outdoor NCAA title with a clearance of 18-8 1/4 two weeks ago, while in May he won his second Pac-10 title (18-0 1/2) and finished second in the West Regional (18-1). The Sandy, Ore., native opened the campaign with a school and Pac-10 record on his first and only attempt of the Oregon Preview (19-0) in mid-March.

Skipper also won the pole vault title in the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships in early March (18-6 1/2), after he led the regular season rankings (18-8 3/4) with his winning mark from the Mountain Pacific Championships in late February.

Overall in ’06, he has competed in 10 meets and has cleared 18 feet in seven of them, including three in which he has topped 18-6.

On the track, Duck senior Eric Mitchum made his third straight USA appearance in the senior 110 meter hurdles and ranked 28th overall (14.18, w:-1.0).

Overall in the event, Nike’s Dominique Arnold led the prelims (13.35, w:-1.0) by .07 seconds over unattached entrant Ryan Wilson (second, 13.42, w:-1.5) and Mizuno’s Terrance Trammell (third, 13.51, w:-1.8).

This season, the Calumet City, Ill., native has competed in 15 high hurdles races, and has broken 14.00 seconds in 14 of them. In May, he posted his third event wins in the Pac-10 and West Regional (13.56/13.52), then added his third All-America honor outdoors in the event in the NCAA Championships (fifth, 13.58). This season he ran a wind-legal season best of 13.52 (w:1.8) in his West Regional win, while his wind-aided season best (13.48w, w:2.8) came in the Oregon Invitational in Eugene in late April.

Indoors this season, Mitchum also claimed his third All-America honor in the 60-meter hurdles with his third-place finish in the NCAA Championships (third, 7.68) after he also finished top six in 2005 (fourth, 7.73) and 2004 (sixth, 7.74).

On the women’s side, senior Lauryn Jordan finished 15th Saturday in the senior women’s long jump (19-9 3/4, 6.04m, w:0.7) in her USA Championships debut. She opened with her daily best, and added marks of 19-7 3/4 (5.99m, w:1.7) and 19-5 3/4 (5.94m, w:0.0) on her second and third attempts of the prelims.

Overall in the long jump Saturday, Nike’s Rose Richmond (22-9w, w:2.2) won by 6 1/2 inches over fellow Nike post-collegians Tianna Madison (second, 22-2 1/2w, w:2.3) and Grace Upshaw (third, 21-10, w:0.9).

Upshaw, a former Duck athlete and Oregon letterwinner in 1994, won U.S. titles in 2003 and ’05, and placed top-10 in the finals of the 2003 and ‘05 World Championships (seventh/eighth) and 2004 Olympics (10th).

During the ’06 outdoor season, Jordan competed in the long jump in five meets – all of which she topped 19-10.

She made her NCAA debut in the event two weeks ago (21st-prelims, 19-10 3/4), after she placed fourth in both the Pac-10 and West Regional (20-4 1/4 / 20-10 1/2). The latter mark and personal best moved her to second all-time for UO, only 1 1/4 inches behind school record holder Julie Goodrich (21-0 1/2, 1988).

Jordan also ranks top-10 all-time for UO in the triple jump (second, 41-4 1/2, 42-11.75w, 43-2.5W), heptathlon (third, 5,499, 2006) and high jump (fifth, 5-10).

Before Saturday, her most recent competition was the NCAA heptathlon in which she finished seventh with a 73-point personal best (5,499) and placed three places higher than her pre-meet seed (10th). During the year she upped her personal best in the Mt. SAC Relays (5,426), and added third in the Pac-10 Championships heptathlon (third, 5,378).

On the junior side, the Duck men featured four freshmen-to-be in the men’s 1,500 meters final.

El Camino High School senior A.J. Acosta (Oceanside, Calif.) won by .18 seconds with the second-best time of his career (3:45.95) over Georgetown freshman Andrew Bumbalough (second, 3:46.13) and Samuel Borchers of the Miami Valley Track Club (third, 3:46.32).

Three other future Ducks also finished top-10 – Kenny Klotz (seventh, 3:52.35), Andrew Wheating (eighth, 3:54.28) and Isaac Stoutenburgh (10th, 3:55.81).

Acosta had run slightly faster in the Oregon Twilight at Hayward Field in Eugene on Sat., May 8 (3:45.73) which is the fastest high school time so far in ’06.

Complete results are available at the www.USATF.org website at the http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/schedule.asp URL link.

Action resumes Sunday in the fifth and final day of both events, although no current Oregon athletes are slated to compete.

FOURTH DAY FINAL RESULTS

http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/F13.asp

Men Pole Vault
==========================================================================
 Bar Progression: 5.40/5.50/5.60/5.70/5.75/5.80/5.85/5.90
 NO FIVE-ALIVE
       World: W 6.14m  7/31/1994   Sergey Bubka, UKR
    American: A 6.03m  6/14/2000   Jeff Hartwig, Nike
        Meet: M 6.02m  6/27/1999   Jeff Hartwig, Nike
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
==========================================================================
Finals
  1 Russ Buller                  Asics                    5.80m   19-00.25
     5.40 5.50 5.60 5.70 5.75 5.80 5.85 5.90 5.91
      PPP    O    O  XXO  PPP    O  XXP  PPP    X
  2 Toby Stevenson               Nike                    J5.80m   19-00.25
     5.40 5.50 5.60 5.70 5.75 5.80 5.85
      PPP    O    O  XXO  PPP   XO  XXX
  3 Thomas Skipper               Oregon                   5.60m   18-04.50
     5.40 5.50 5.60 5.70
      PPP  PPP    O  XXX
  3 Jeff Hartwig                 Nike                     5.60m   18-04.50
     5.40 5.50 5.60 5.70
      PPP    O    O  XXX
  3 Brad Walker                  Nike                     5.60m   18-04.50
     5.40 5.50 5.60 5.70 5.75
      PPP  PPP    O  PPP  XXX
  6 Jonathan Takahashi           unattached              J5.60m   18-04.50
     5.40 5.50 5.60 5.70
        O    O   XO  XXX
  7 Timothy Mack                 Nike                     5.50m   18-00.50
     5.40 5.50 5.60
      PPP   XO  XXX
  8 Justin Norberg               unattached              J5.50m   18-00.50
     5.40 5.50 5.60
      XXO   XO  XXX
  9 Brian Mondschein             Virginia Tech            5.40m   17-08.50
     5.40 5.50
       XO  XXX
 10 Derek Miles                  Nike                    J5.40m   17-08.50
     5.40 5.50
      XXO  XXX
 -- Jeremy Scott                 unattached                  NH
     5.40
      XXX
 -- Robert Mclean                unattached                  NH
     5.40
      XXX
 -- Graeme Hoste                 Stanford                    NH
     5.40
      XXX
 -- Gable Baldwin                Nebraska                    NH
     5.40
      XXX
 -- Jacob Pauli                  Nike                        NH
     5.40 5.50
      PPP  XXX
 -- Nicholas Hysong              Nike                        NH
     5.40 5.50
      PPP  XXX
 -- Derek Mackel                 New Mexico                 DNS
     5.40
      DNS
 -- Daniel Ryland                Bell/adidas                DNS
     5.40
      DNS

http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/P8.asp

Men 110 Meter Hurdles
================================================================
       World: W 12.91  8/20/1993   Collin Jackson/Xiang Liu, GBR
    American: A 12.92  8/16/1989   Roger Kingdom / Allen Johnson
        Meet: M 12.92  6/23/1996   Allen Johnson, Nike
    Name                    Year Team                   Prelims
================================================================
Heat  1   Wind: -1.5
  1 Ryan Wilson                  unattached               13.42Q
  2 Joel Brown                   Nike                     13.51Q
  3 Antwon Hicks                 adidas                   13.62Q
  4 Aries Merritt                Reebok                   13.62q
  5 Clarence Glenn               Central Michigan         13.80q
  6 Brandon Hon                  unattached               13.94
  7 Jacoby DuBose                Howard                   14.02
  8 Rickey Pinkney               Purdue                   14.16
Heat  2   Wind: -1.0
  1 Dominique Arnold             Nike                     13.35Q
  2 Robby Hughes                 unattached               13.58Q
  3 Aubrey Herring               unattached               13.68Q
  4 John Yarbrough               unattached               13.75q
  5 Linnie Yarbrough             unattached               13.76q
  6 Eric Mitchum                 Oregon                   14.18
  7 Kai Kelley                   U S C                    14.26
  8 Tommy Moore                  unattached               14.47
Heat  3   Wind: -1.7
  1 Allen Johnson                Nike                     13.58Q
  2 David Payne                  Reebok                   13.74Q
  3 Ron Bramlett                 unattached               13.82Q
  4 Montrell Person              unattached               13.82
  5 Dominic Berger               Maryland                 13.84
  6 Dexter Faulk                 unattached               13.86
  7 Jermaine Cooper              unattached               13.98
Heat  4   Wind: -0.8
  1 Terrence Trammell            Mizuno                   13.51Q
  2 Jason Richardson             South Carolina           13.63Q
  3 David Oliver                 unattached               13.69Q
  4 Marlon Odom                  Texas Tech               13.83
  5 Jerome Miller                Baylor                   13.95
  6 Tyrone Akins                 Auburn                   13.99
  7 Terry Reese                  unattached               14.09
 -- Shawon Harris                Texas Tech                 DNS
========================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                   Prelims  Wind H#
========================================================================
Preliminaries
  1 Dominique Arnold             Nike                     13.35Q -1.0  2
  2 Ryan Wilson                  unattached               13.42Q -1.5  1
  3 Terrence Trammell            Mizuno                   13.51Q -0.8  4
  4 Allen Johnson                Nike                     13.58Q -1.7  3
  5 Joel Brown                   Nike                     13.51Q -1.5  1
  6 Robby Hughes                 unattached               13.58Q -1.0  2
  7 Jason Richardson             South Carolina           13.63Q -0.8  4
  8 David Payne                  Reebok                   13.74Q -1.7  3
  9 Antwon Hicks                 adidas                   13.62Q -1.5  1
 10 Aubrey Herring               unattached               13.68Q -1.0  2
 11 David Oliver                 unattached               13.69Q -0.8  4
 12 Ron Bramlett                 unattached               13.82Q -1.7  3
 13 Aries Merritt                Reebok                   13.62q -1.5  1
 14 John Yarbrough               unattached               13.75q -1.0  2
 15 Linnie Yarbrough             unattached               13.76q -1.0  2
 16 Clarence Glenn               Central Michigan         13.80q -1.5  1
 17 Montrell Person              unattached               13.82  -1.7  3
 18 Marlon Odom                  Texas Tech               13.83  -0.8  4
 19 Dominic Berger               Maryland                 13.84  -1.7  3
 20 Dexter Faulk                 unattached               13.86  -1.7  3
 21 Brandon Hon                  unattached               13.94  -1.5  1
 22 Jerome Miller                Baylor                   13.95  -0.8  4
 23 Jermaine Cooper              unattached               13.98  -1.7  3
 24 Tyrone Akins                 Auburn                   13.99  -0.8  4
 25 Jacoby DuBose                Howard                   14.02  -1.5  1
 26 Terry Reese                  unattached               14.09  -0.8  4
 27 Rickey Pinkney               Purdue                   14.16  -1.5  1
 28 Eric Mitchum                 Oregon                   14.18  -1.0  2
 29 Kai Kelley                   U S C                    14.26  -1.0  2
 30 Tommy Moore                  unattached               14.47  -1.0  2
 -- Shawon Harris                Texas Tech                 DNS        4

http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/F53.asp

Women Long Jump
===============================================================================
       World: W 7.52m  6/11/1988   Galina Christyakova, URS
    American: A 7.49m  5/22/1994   Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Honda  also 7/31/94
        Meet: M 7.12m  6/27/1987   Jackie Joyner-Kersee, WCAC
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals  Wind
===============================================================================
Finals
  1 Rose Richmond                Nike                     6.93m   2.2  22-09.00
     6.68m(1.0) 6.54m(1.4) 6.84m(1.4) 6.93m(2.2) 6.81m(0.2) 6.72m(-0.3)
  2 Tianna Madison               Nike                     6.77m   2.3  22-02.50
     6.77m(2.3) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI)
  3 Grace Upshaw                 Nike                     6.65m   0.9  21-10.00
     6.45m(0.7) 6.65m(0.9) 6.56m(2.1) 6.39m(1.5) 6.40m(0.9) FOUL(NWI)
  4 Akiba McKinney               Nike                     6.63m  -0.6  21-09.00
     FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) 6.63m(-0.6) 6.50m(1.9) FOUL(NWI) 6.37m(0.5)
  5 Brianna Glenn                unattached               6.58m   1.5  21-07.25
     6.33m(0.3) 6.40m(+0.0) 6.58m(1.5) FOUL(NWI) 6.34m(-0.0) 3.90m(-0.3)
  6 Shameka Marshall             unattached               6.52m   0.8  21-04.75
     FOUL(NWI) 6.38m(2.3) FOUL(NWI) 6.52m(0.8) FOUL(NWI) 6.52m(-0.2)
  7 Natasha Harvey               Jacksonville            J6.52m   0.4  21-04.75
     6.29m(1.6) 6.24m(0.4) 6.52m(0.4) 6.27m(-0.0) FOUL(NWI) 5.98m(-0.0)
  8 Marshevet Hooker             adidas                   6.35m   0.8  20-10.00
     6.35m(0.8) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) 6.35m(0.8) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI)
  9 Brenda Faluade               Miami                    6.32m   1.5  20-09.00
     FOUL(NWI) 6.15m(1.1) 6.32m(1.5)
 10 Antonette Carter             California               6.29m   1.4  20-07.75
     6.13m(-0.0) 6.29m(1.4) FOUL(NWI)
 11 Candice Mills                Kansas State             6.24m   1.3  20-05.75
     6.16m(1.2) 6.24m(1.3) 6.11m(1.1)
 12 Funmilayo Jimoh              unattached              J6.24m   1.5  20-05.75
     5.86m(1.4) 6.03m(0.8) 6.24m(1.5)
 13 Kierra Foster                unattached               6.23m   1.8  20-05.25
     6.02m(1.5) 6.23m(1.8) 5.53m(-0.6)
 14 Lynn Hernandez               unattached              J6.23m   0.6  20-05.25
     FOUL(NWI) 6.23m(0.6) 5.84m(-0.3)
 15 Lauryn Jordan                Oregon                   6.04m   0.7  19-09.75
     6.04m(0.7) 5.99m(1.7) 5.94m(+0.0)
 16 Tisifinee Taylor             Monmouth                 5.95m   0.1  19-06.25
     5.95m(0.1) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI)
 17 Lakadron Ivery               Nike                     5.88m   0.8  19-03.50
     FOUL(NWI) 5.88m(0.8) FOUL(NWI)
 18 Starlie Graves               unattached               5.87m   1.3  19-03.25
     FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) 5.87m(1.3)
 -- Lela Nelson                  Nike                      FOUL
     FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI)
 -- Ola Sesay                    unattached                FOUL
     FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI) FOUL(NWI)

http://www.usatf.org/events/2006/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/results/F104.asp

Men 1500 Meter Run
===============================================================
       World: W 3:30.24  7/19/2002   Cornelius Chirchir, KEN
    American: A 3:36.1h  6/17/1966   Jim Ryun, Kansas
        Meet: M 3:42.8h  6/15/1974   Tom Byers, Ohio TC
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals
===============================================================
Finals
  1 Andrew Acosta                unattached             3:45.95
  2 Andrew Bumbalough            Georgetown             3:46.13
  3 Samuel Borchers              Miami Valley TC        3:46.32
  4 Brandon Bethke               unattached             3:47.04
  5 Levi Miller                  Georgetown             3:47.78
  6 Miles Batty                  Brigham Young          3:49.99
  7 Kenneth Klotz                Cyo Track Cl           3:52.35
  8 Andrew Wheating              unattached             3:54.28
  9 William Noble                Clemson                3:55.09
 10 Isaac Stoutenburgh           Southern Ore           3:55.81
 11 De'Sean Turner               unattached             3:59.00
 12 Alexander Mason              Georgetown             3:59.98
 13 Tom Martin                   Indiana                4:02.27
 14 Chase Eckard                 Charlotte              4:03.18
 15 Korey Edwards                unattached             4:12.87