THIS WEEK

Oregon welcomes Indiana, Kansas State and Utah State to Historic Hayward Field when the Ducks host the 20th Pepsi Team Invitational on Saturday, April 4 at 11:30 a.m. The Oregon men and women have each won the Pepsi 14 times, including dominating performances the last two years by the men. Minnesota clipped the Duck women by a point in 2008, 193-192, to snap Oregon’s two-year winning streak.

TUESDAYS IN TRACK TOWN

Next Tuesday, April 7, will mark the next date in the popular series of "Tuesdays in Track Town" town hall meetings. Associate head coach Dan Steele will be the featured speaker and will be joined by UO student-athletes Brianne Theisen and Chad Barlow. The 60-minute session runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be held at the Bowerman Building. Future dates include May 5 and June 2.

SCORING

The international scoring system will be in place for the Pepsi Team Invitational, which allows schools to score a maximum of two competitors in each event (one team per relay). Individual event scoring is 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Relays are scored 9-7-6-5.

RESULTS

Live results will be available on www.goducks.com. Final results will also be posted on www.goducks.com.

LIVE TELEVISION

The Oregon Sports Network will broadcast the Pepsi Team Invitational live on Comcast Sports Net Northwest (Channel 37) beginning at 1 p.m. Announcers are Joe Giansante and Prefontaine Classic meet director Tom Jordan. The meet will also be televised live on the O-Zone on www.goducks.com.

HIGH (JUMP) ANXIETY

The marquee event of the day might well be the men’s high jump. The competition features the 2009 NCAA indoor champion, runner-up and ninth-place finisher. Scott Sellers of Kansas State won the 2009 indoor title and was also fourth at the 2008 NCAA outdoor meet. Derek Drouin of Indiana was second at the 2009 indoor meet, while Clint Silcock of Utah State tied for ninth. All three men have cleared the 7-0 bar during the first three months of 2009, meaning the Pepsi meet record of 7-3.25, set by Greg Jones of Washington State in 1988, could be in jeopardy.

WHAT TO WATCH

In addition to the high jump, the Pepsi Team Invitational should provide its usual number of exciting competitions. Some that may bear watching:

Women’s Javelin

This event almost always seems to be one of the more memorable Pepsi competitions, and the 2009 meet should be no exception with Oregon’s Rachel Yurkovich, the defending NCAA champion, back for her last Pepsi. In 2008, Minnesota’s Ruby Radocaj stole the title - along with Yurkovich’s meet record - with a heave of 184-6. Yurkovich already has a season-best throw of 190-11, which ranks second nationally. In the wings are teammate Ashley McCrea, ranked No. 3 in the country, and Kansas State’s Ali Pistora (No. 24).

Men’s Javelin

The men’s competition could be just as spirited with Oregon’s Cyrus Hostetler coming off a 245-3 throw last week that would put him within reach of Art Skipper’s 1992 meet record of 251-3. Hostetler is ranked third nationally. Other ranked throwers on Saturday will be Oregon’s Alex Wolff (No. 8) and Britton Nelson (No. 24) and Cory Boulanger of Kansas State (No. 32).

Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles

Oregon’s David Klech and Utah State’s Nick Karren rank fourth and fifth in the nation, respectively. Klech is coming off a 50.75 last week, while Karren clocked 50.78. That puts both men within reach of the meet record of 50.43, set by Mikael Jakobsson of Minnesota in 2003.

Women’s Hammer

The women’s hammer field is led by Kansas State’s Loren Groves, who finished fifth in the event at the 2008 NCAA championships. She’s currently ranked fourth nationally with a throw of 204-0. She’ll be chased by Utah State’s Krista Larson (No. 29) and Oregon’s Megan Maloney (No. 38).

Women’s Pole Vault

Two All-Americans, Oregon’s Melissa Gergel and Indiana’s Vera Neuenswander will resume their battle from the 2009 NCAA indoor championships, where they tied each other for sixth. Utah State’s Sonja Grobowska figures to be in the mix, too, ranking fifth in the nation with a clearance of 13-9.25. That’s just a half an inch behind Gergel who stands at No. 3 with a clearance of 13-9.75.

Women’s 1,500 Meters

Three of the top nine times in the country are on the entry list and they're all All-Americans from Oregon -- No. 2 Alex Kosinski (4:19.84), No. 6 Nicole Blood (4:22.07) and No. 9 Mattie Bridgmon (4:27.12). Indiana’s Wendi Robinson also posts a very good seed time of 4:26.20.

WHO TO WATCH

In addition to the event battles, there a number of individuals who are among the nation’s best at their specialties. Some to keep an eye out for:

Nicole Blood, Oregon

The six-time All-American currently leads the nation at 5,000 meters, and her season best, 15:42.13 is easily better than the current meet record of 15:54.13, set by Amy Skierez of Arizona in 1997. Blood is double entered in the 1,500.

Mike Myer, Kansas State

Wildcat speedster could threaten meet record in the 100 meters (10.30) and is also in the 200 meters.

Kiwan Larson, Indiana

A 2008 All-American in the long jump.

Keshia Baker, Oregon

The All-American is entered in her first 400 of the outdoor season and is also on the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams.

Loren Groves, Kansas State

In addition to the hammer, is one of the nation’s top in the discus with a seed mark of 180-6.5.

Chad Barlow, Oregon

The All-American is ranked No. 12 in the 400 meters.

Tiffany Howard, Indiana

Was the Big Ten indoor champion in the shot put.

Brianne Theisen, Oregon

All-American in the heptathlon and pentathlon is currently No. 6 in the high jump (5-10.5).

Ashton Eaton, Oregon & John Strang, Utah State

The two multi-athletes waged an entertaining day one battle in the heptathlon at the 2009 NCAA indoor championships, before Eaton pulled away to win on day two. Eaton, now the defending NCAA decathlon and heptathlon champion, has a light day with only an entry in the shot put; Strang, who finished eighth in the heptathlon, is in the long jump, 100 meters and 200 meters.

Women’s 4x100 Meter Relay

The Ducks (Mandy White, Amber Purvis, Keshia Baker and Jamesha Youngblood) set the school record a week ago at Stanford, running 44.64, and rank seventh nationally.

ENTRIES

A complete list of entries can be found at www.goducks.com.

INDIANA, KANSAS STATE, UTAH STATE AT THE PEPSI

Indiana will be making its fourth all-time appearance in the Pepsi Team Invitational, while Kansas State is making its second and Utah State is making its inaugural appearance. Kansas State last appeared in the Pepsi in 2007, while Indiana’s last trip to Eugene was 2005. Kansas State’s best finishes are second for the women (2007) and third for the men (2007). Indiana’s best finishes are third for the women (1991) and third for the men (1991 & 2003).

NCAA REGIONAL QUALIFIERS PILE UP

Just two weeks into the outdoor season and Oregon has already amassed 34 NCAA qualifying marks, 12 for the men and 24 for the women. By comparison, at the same point last season, the Ducks had 22 NCAA marks.

WOMEN’S 4x100 RELAY MARK FALLS

Two school records have already fallen by the wayside in 2009. The women’s 4x100 meter relay team (Mandy White, Amber Purvis, Keshia Baker, Jamesha Youngblood) ran 44.64 March 28 at Stanford to break a 16-year-old mark that was held by some of the great sprinters in the program’s history -- LeReina Woods, Camara Jones, Lisa Bedwell and Jamila Godfrey. Sophomore Claire Michel also broke her own record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, running 10:23.14 March 27 at Stanford.

Other 2009 marks are showing up all over the Ducks’ top 10 lists, including Dana Buchanan (2nd, women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase, 10:28.53), Cyrus Hostetler (3rd, men’s javelin, 245-3), Ashley McCrea (3rd, women’s javelin, 172-1), Nicole Blood (4th, women’s 5,000 meters, 15:42.13), Shadrack Biwott (4th, men’s 10,000 meters, 28:28.83), Brianne Theisen (5th, women’s high jump, 5-10.5), Mattie Bridgmon (6th, women’s 10,000 meters, 33:37.73), Rita Santibanez (7th, women’s shot put, 48-10.75), Diego Mercado (8th, men’s 10,000 meters, 28:48.54), David Klech (9th, men’s 400 meter hurdles, 50.75), Amber Purvis (10th, women’s 400 meters, 54.27), Danny Mercado (10th, men’s 10,000 meters, 28:53.02), Alex Wolff (10th, men’s javelin, 224-11).

SEA RAY RELAYS ADDED TO SCHEDULE

Javelin thrower Rachel Yurkovich, the defending NCAA champion and three-time Pac-10 winner in the event, will lead a Duck quartet headed to compete April 10-11 at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn. Yurkovich will be joined by fellow 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials javelin competitors Cyrus Hostetler and Ashley McCrea and fellow All-American Alex Wolff.

RUPP SETS ALL-AMERICA MARK

With 12 career All-America awards (nine track, three cross country), senior Galen Rupp is now the most honored student-athlete in school history. With three NCAA championships at the 2009 indoor nationals, Rupp passed Leann Warren, who earned 10 All-America awards combined between women’s track and cross country. Here’s a look at the top five:

Oregon Career All-America Awards, All Sports

1. 12 Galen Rupp, 2005-09 9 MTK, 3 MXC

2. 10 Leann Warren, 1980-85 8 WTK, 2 WXC

3. 8 Steve Prefontaine, 1970-73 4 MTK, 4 MXC

8 Kathy Hayes, 1981-85 5 WTK, 3 WXC

8 Matt Scherer, 2003-06 8 MTK

On the track-only list, his nine career All-America awards are also now tops in University history.

Oregon Career All-America Awards, Track & Field Only

1. 9 Galen Rupp, 2005-09 MTK

2. 8 Leann Warren, 1980-85 WTK

8 Matt Scherer, 2003-06 MTK

3. 6 Kedar Inico, 2004-05 MTK

6 Tommy Skipper, 2005-07 MTK

INDOOR PR’S

Not only did the indoor season produce an NCAA Championship for the men’s team and an all-time best showing for the women, it also yielded an unusually high number of personal bests in events that Oregon student-athletes will compete in during the spring.

At the top of that list is Galen Rupp’s American indoor record of 13:18.12 in the 5,000 meters.

IN THE INDOOR RECORD BOOKS

Oregon broke 15 indoor records during the recently completed season. Every men’s indoor record between 800 meters and 5,000 meters fell in 2009. That list included Galen Rupp’s American indoor 5,000 meter record of 13:18.12 that he ran Feb. 13 at Fayetteville. His time also set a collegiate record and broke Alberto Salazar’s 1981 school record (13:22.6). Rupp also set the American collegiate record at 3,000 meters at the Reebok Indoor Championships in Boston, running 7:44.69.

Other records on the men’s side included the 800 meters (Andrew Wheating, 1:47.03), mile (Matthew Centrowitz, 3:57.92), heptathlon (Ashton Eaton, 6,174 points) and distance medley relay (Jordan McNamara, Chad Barlow, Wheating, Rupp/9:29.39).

For the women, records have come in the 60 meters (Amber Purvis, 7.34), 200 meters (Purvis, 24.15), 400 meters (Keshia Baker, 53.27), 5,000 meters (Lindsey Scherf, 15:55.67), 60 meter hurdles (Brianne Theisen, 8.54), 4x400 meter relay (Jamesha Youngblood, Purvis, Leah Worthen, Baker/3:36.52), distance medley relay (Nicole Blood, Purvis, Zoe Buckman, Alexandra Kosinski/11:02.81), long jump (Youngblood, 21-1.25) and heptathlon (Theisen, 4,321).

MEN’S TRACK SIGNS FIVE

Five multi-talented high school student-athletes from across the country have signed national letters of intent to compete for the University of Oregon next season, as announced by Associate Athletic Director Vin Lananna. The five are Ben Dejarnette of Mechanicsville, Va., Mac Fleet of San Diego, Calif., Elijah Greer of Lake Oswego, Ore., Mitchell Hunt of Fremont, Neb., and Elliott Jantzer of Medford, Ore. Greer set a personal best of 1:47.68 to win the 800 meters at the 2008 USATF Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Not only did his finish earn him a spot on the U.S. Junior World Team, but his time led the nation’s prep ranks and was the fourth-fastest ever by a high school runner in the United States. Fleet cemented his status as one of the nation’s top prep runners by winning the junior mile at the Feb. 7 Reebok Boston Indoor Games. A Nike Cross Nationals qualifier, Jantzer is a six-time Oregon state champion over an impressive range of distances. Competing for Atlee High School, Dejarnette finished second in both the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters at the 2008 Virginia state meet. He ran 4:14.84 in the 1,600 meter race and 9:25.18 at 3,200 meters. Hunt was the 2008 Nebraska state champion at 3,200 meters where he ran 9:25.32, after finishing sixth in the 3,200 meters as a sophomore (9:53.08).

WOMEN’S TRACK SIGNS EIGHT

The Oregon women’s track and field team signed eight talented high school athletes to national letters of intent during the February signing period. The eight are led by Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year Jordan Hasay of San Luis Obispo, Calif. She is joined in the Ducks’ 2009 recruiting class by Laura Bobek of Astoria, Ore., Becca Friday of Bellingham, Wash., Alexandra Jones of Lake Oswego, Ore., Sarah Penney of Paradise Valley, Ariz., Chloe Steinbeck of Beaverton, Ore., Melanie Thompson of High Bridge, N.J., and Taylor Wallace of Klamath Falls, Ore.