Oregon Represents At Track and Field World Championships
The track and field world championships are currently underway in Berlin, and a slew of 2008-2009 UO graduates (from what is arguably the greatest track team in school history) and Oregon-based runners have made strong showings. Here’s the breakdown on the UO grads, all of whom were NCAA champions in their respective events:
- Galen Rupp placed 8th in the men’s 10,000 meter. His Nike training partner, Dathan Ritzenhein, took sixth.
- Rachel Yurkovich, placed 12th in the javelin. She was the first U.S. woman to advance to the world championship final in the javelin throw since 1983.
- Brian Theisen took 15th in the women’s heptathlon, setting a lifetime best in the 800 meter.
- Ashton Eaton placed 18th in the decathlon. Eaton was in fifth place at the end of day one, taking second in the 100 meter dash and notching a lifetime best in the long jump.
And here’s the list for Oregon-based athletes:
- Amy Yoder Begley and Shalane Flannigan, both from Portland, took sixth and 14th in the women’s 10,000 meter, respectively. Begley was the highest placing U.S. competitor in the event.
- Nick Symmonds of the Oregon Track Club Elite has advanced to the semifinals in the men’s 800 meter.
- Three other runners for the OTC will be competing in the 5,000 meter: Matt Tegenkamp, Chris Solinsky and Evan Jager
- Portland runner Kara Goucher is looking to make a strong showing in the women’s marathon. Her main U.S. competition, world-record holder Paula Radcliffe, was forced to withdraw from the race.
She flies with her own wings indeed.
UPDATE: Nick Symmonds just advanced to the final. Get some!
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