May 13, 2006
Eugene, Or - Erica McLain is on the verge of something outstanding in the world of track & field.
On Sunday at the Pacific-10 Track & Field Championships, McLain could become the first woman in Pac-10 history to win the long jump and triple jump conference titles two years in a row.
Last year, McLain, then a freshman, won the conference titles in both events, and on Saturday on a cool, sunny day before a crowd of 5,791 fans at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, McLain won her second straight Pac-10 title in the long jump with a career-best effort of 21-5 1/4 (6.53m). That mark is the leading effort for a collegiate athlete in the United States this year, second-best in school history and eighth-best in Pac-10 history.
"I felt shaky at the start, but I've had some great practices in recent weeks," said McLain, a sophomore from Plano, Tx.
Just as McLain was enjoying her winning effort, Janice Davis is continuing to enjoy a highly successful outdoor track & field season.
Davis, a junior from Natchez, Mississippi, ran the second-fastest 200 meter time in school history to win her heat on Saturday. Davis ran a career-best 23.21 which is second-best in school history. Davis' time was the second-best time in the prelims behind Carol Rodriguez of USC at 23.10. Jakki Bailey also gained the Sunday finals in the 200 meters (24.01).
Earlier in the day, Davis ran the third fastest 100 meter time in school history to advance to Sunday's final as well as the 200 meters. Davis, competing in the first of two heats in the 100 meters, clocked a time of 11.34 which was just behind the winning effort of Pac-10 favorite Virginia Powell of USC (11.26). Davis' effort beat her previous best of 11.42 set last week at the Sacramento State Open. Cardinal teammate Jakki Bailey, running in the second heat, advanced to Sunday's final along with Davis with a wind-aided time of 11.49. The winner of the second heat was USC's Carol Rodriguez at 11.39.
Davis added to her busy day by running the leadoff leg on Stanford's 400 meter relay team. The women's 400 meter relay team of Davis, Nashonme Johnson, Jakki Bailey and Alana Walker easily won its heat and had the second-best time in the prelims. Stanford's time of 44.63 was just behind USC's time of 44.16.
The Stanford women, the defending Pac-10 champions, are expected to battle again for the conference title in a close race with Arizona State and USC. The Cardinal picked up valuable points in several events including a third place finish in the 3000 meter steeplechase as Lindsay Allen ran a season-best and NCAA regional qualifying time of 10:33.62. Danielle Maier, with an effort of 160-4 (48.88m) in the javelin, was good for third place. Katy Trotter also finished third in the 10,000 meters (34:53.10). Melissa Yunghans placed fourth in the shot put (51-8 1/4, 15.75m, season-best).
Heading into the second and final day of competition on Sunday, the Cardinal women advanced several other athletes for Sunday's final. The list included Amanda Trotter (4:29.90) and Arianna Lambie (4:29.84) in the 1500 meters; Ashley Freeman and Alicia Follmar in the 800 meters with respective times of 2:08.24 and 2:10.38; and Chauntae Bayne-Hackett and Nashonme Johnson in the 400 meters with a time of 54.41 and 54.55.
The Stanford men reside in fifth place place after day one with 35 points. Arizona is the first day men's leader with 53.5 points. A couple final results are worth noting. Sophomore Graeme Hoste moved into third place in the school record book with a third place finish in the pole vault (17-4 1/2, 5.30m). Hoste' effort beat his previous best of 17-0 3/4 (5.20m) set at this year's Texas Relays. Keith Avila's mark of 201-3 (61.34m) in the javelin is fourth-best in school history. In the finals of the 3000 meter steeplechase, Jonathan Pierce battled two Arizona State runners during the second half of the race, and finished third with a career-best time of 8:40.88 which also is fourth-best in school history. Pierces' previous best time was 8:45.84 set last year. ASU's Aaron Auayo won the steeplechase for the third straight year in that event, a Pac-10 first. His time of 8:35.04 is third-best for a collegiate runner in the United States this year. Neftalem Araia finished third (30:47.85), Brett Gotcher placed fourth (31:03.91) and Hari Mix placed fifth (31:05.66) in the 10,000 meters.
Russell Brown had the day's best time in the men's 1500 meters at 3:47.41.
Stanford will host the 2007 Pac-10 Track & Field Championships at Cobb Track & Angell Field.
Cardinal Chatter
You never know who you might run into during a track & field meet ... At this year's Pac-10 Track & Field championship, the University of Oregon invited back all Pac-10 coaches that served ten or more years as a head coach or an assistant coach for a special Pac-10 Coaching Legends ceremony on Sunday midway through the meet ... The list includes Sam Bell of California and Oregon State, John Chaplin of Washington State, Bill Dellinger of Oregon, Bob Larsen of UCLA, and Stanford's Payton Jordan ... Jordan, Stanford's head coach for 23 years, has enjoyed numerous coaching and athletic honors, and was recently inducted into the Bay Area Hall of Fame ... Payton says he is feeling great, and continues to make his home in Santa Barbara along with his wife ... Payton, the 1968 United States Olympic head coach, wanted to extend a "hello to everyone at Stanford".
Television Time
Fox Sports Net will air a two-hour tape delayed show in several parts of the country starting May 18 ... In the Bay Area, the Pac-10 Championships can be seen on May 18 (Noon, Pacific Time), May 20 (4:00 p.m., Pacific Time), and May 23 (Noon, Pacific Time).
Meet Memo
Compete results are available on several websites (www.goducks.com, www.pac-10.org or direcathletics.com) ... A daily Stanford story is available at www.gostanford.com
2006 Pacific-10 Track & Field Championships
Saturday, May 13, 2006, Hayward Field, University of Oregon
Men's Team Results (first day)
1. Arizona 53.5; 2. UCLA 49; 3. Oregon 42.5; 4. Washington 39; 5. Stanford 35; 6. USC 34; 7. Arizona State 29; 8. California 24; 9. Washington State 6
Women's Team Results (first day)
1. Arizona State 82.5; 2. Oregon 50; 3. Stanford 40; 4. UCLA 38; 5. California 18.5; 6. Washington State 14; 7. Arizona 10; 8. Washington 8; 8. USC 8; 10. Oregon State 4
Men's Results (first day results)
800 Meters (prelims): 1. Duane Solomon (USC) 1:49.74q; 2. Ryan Brown (W) 1:50.85q; 3. Raphael Asafo-Agyei (USC) 1:51.06q; 9. Michael Garcia (S) 1:51.20nq; 10. Russell Brown (S) 1:51.48nq; 15. Jacob Evans (S) 1:54.90nq
1500 Meters (prelims): 1. Russell Brown (S) 3:47.41q; 2. Michael McGrath (O) 3:49.37q; 3. Austin Abbott (W) 3:47.55q; 13. Jacob Evans (S) 3:51.78nq; 14. Garrett Heath (S) 3:51.86nq; 15. Rolf Steier (S) 3:51.96nq; 21. Lauren Jespersen (S) 3:55.69nq
3000 Meter Steeplechase (final): 1. Aaron Aguayo (ASU) 8:35.04; 2. Ryan Warrenburg (ASU) 8:39.01; 3. Jonathan Pierce (S) 8:40.88
10,000 Meters: 1. Robert Cheseret (Az) 30:32.92; 2. Galen Rupp (O) 30:42.10; 3. Neftalem Araia (S) 30:47.85; 4. Brett Gotcher (S) 31:03.91; 5. Hari Mix (S) 31:05.66
110 Meter Hurdles (prelims): 1. Eric Mitchum (O) 13.71q; 2. Kevin Craddock (UCLA) 14.05q; 3. Kai Kelley (USC) 14.12q; 13. Josh Hustedt (S) 14.74nq; 14. Daniel Knickerbocker (S) 14.80nq
400 Meter Hurdles (prelims): 1. Shane Charles (W) 51.15q; 2. Kai Kelley (USC); 3. John Cassleman (WSU) 51.98q; 14. Daniel Knickerbocker (S) 55.83nq
Javelin (final): 1. Juan Romero (W) 233-11 (71.29m); 2. Paul Teinert (C) 221-10 )67.62m); 3. Saku Kuusisto (Az) 220-1 (67.09m); 9. Keith Avila (S) 201-3 (61.34m)
Long Jump (final): 1. Norris Frederick (W) 25-10 (7.87m); 2. Jordan Powell (Az) 25-2 3/4 (7.69m); 3. Jesse Williams (USC) 24-9 1/4 (7.55m); 7. Tunji Munabi (S) 23-11 1/2 (7.30m); 8. Josh Hustedt (S) 23-10 1/4 (7.27m); 10. Solomon Welch (S) 23-0 3/4 (7.03m); 14. Feranmi Okanlami (S) 22-7 1/4 (6.89m)
Pole Vault (final): 1. Tommy Skipper (O) 18-0 1/2 (5.50m); 2. Mike Landers (UCLA) 17-8 1/2 (5.40m); 3. Graeme Hoste (S) 17-4 1/2 (5.30m); 15. Donell Hill (S) 16-0 3/4 (4.90m); Benjamin Dickens (S) nh
Shot Put (final): 1. Noah Bryant (USC) 64-6 1/2 (19.67m); 2. Sean Shields (Az) 63-11 3/4 (19.50m); 3. William Denbo (USC) 62-6 3/4 (19.07m); 12. Michael Macellari (S) 53-11 1/4 (16.44m)
Women's Results (first day results)
100 Meters (prelims): 1. Virginia Powell (USC) 11.26q; 2. Carol Rodriguez (USC) 11.39q; 3. Janice Davis (S) 11.34q; 4. Jakki Bailey (S) 11.49wa-q
200 Meters (prelims): 1. Carol Rodriguez (USC) 23.10q; 2. Janice Davis (S) 23.21q; 3. Marquita Taylor (Az) 23.79q; 8. Jakki Bailey (S) 24.01nq; 14. Alana Walker (S) 24.52nq
400 Meters (prelims): 1. Nicole Leach (UCLA) 52.52q; 2. Latosha Wallace (ASU) 53.95; 3. Chauntae Bayne-Hackett (S) 54.41q; 6. Nashonme Johnson (S) 54.55q; 9. Keisha Gaines (S) 55.06nq
800 Meters (prelims): 1. Ashley Freeman (S) 2:08.24q; 2. Rebekah Noble (O) 2:08.89q; 3. Sara Schaaf (O) 2:08.98q; 8. Alicia Follmar (S) 2:10.38q; 10. Kaylin Pennington (S) 2:15.19nq; Chinny Offor (S) dnf
1500 Meters (prelims): 1. Amber McGown (O) 4:27.96q; 2. Amy Lia (W) 4:29.87q; 3. MacKenzie Edwards (Az) 4:28.03q; 4. Amanda Trotter (S) 4:29.80q; 6. Arianna Lambie (S) 4:29.94q
3000 Meter Steeplechase (final): 1. Brooke Bennett (ASU) 10:20.08; 2. Anna Masinelli (ASU) 10:29.54; 3. Lindsay Allen (S) 10:33.62
10,000 Meters (final): 1. Amy Hastings (ASU) 34:03.85; 2. Victoria Jackson (ASU) 34:07.64; 3. Katy Trotter (S) 34:53.10
400 Meter Hurdles (prelims): 1. Latosha Wallace (ASU) 58.62q; 2. Nicole Leach (UCLA) 58.84q; 3. MacKenzie Hill (UCLA) 59.76q; 13. Idara Otu (S) 63.24nq
400 Meters Relay (prelims): 1. USC 44.16q; 2. Stanford (Janice Davis, Nashonme Johnson, Jakki Bailey, Alana Walker) 44.63q; 3. UCLA 45.36q
High Jump (final): 1. Rhonda Watkins (UCLA) 5-11 1/4 (1.81m); 2. Jacquelyn Johnson (S) 5-11 1/4 (1.81m); 3T. Lauren Correa (UCLA) 5-8 3/4 (1.75m); 3T. Caroline Sommers (UCLA) 5-8 3/4 (1.75m); 7. Lauren Stewart (S) 5-7 (1.70m); 8. Maura Burk (S) 5-7 (1.70m)
Javelin: 1. Rachel Yurkovich (O) 166-3 (50.68m); 2. Tiffany Zahn (W) 161-9 (49.30m); 3. Danielle Maier (S) 160-4 (48.88m)
Long Jump (final): 1. Erica McLain (S) 21-5 1/4 (6.53m); 2. Renee Williams (UCLA) 20-9 1/4 (6.33m); 3. Rhonda Watkins (UCLA) 20-6 1/4 (6.28m); 8. Lauren Stewart (S) 19-6 1/4 (5.95m); 13. Deborah Akinniyi (S) 18-2 1/2 (5.55m)
Shot Put: 1. Sarah Stevens (ASU) 57-2 (17.42m); 2. Karen Freberg (USC) 55-6 1/2 (16.93m); 3. Jessica Pressley (ASU) 54-5 1/4 (16.59m); 4. Melissa Yunghans (S) 51-8 1/4 (15.75m); 9. Michaela Wallerstedt (S) 45-3 (13.79m)