Oregon Adds Five More NCAA Track and Field Regional Qualifiers

Senior Colin Veldman became the second Duck to eclipse the 200-foot mark this season in the hammer with a winning effort of 206-1.

Rachel Yurkovich

SACRAMENTO - University of Oregon’s Rachel Yurkovich made her 2008 track debut a success by posting an automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Regional Championships on her first throw of the season in winning the women’s javelin at the Sacramento State Nike Elite Invitational Saturday.

The Newberg junior and two-time All-American won the event with a best of 175-4 on her second attempt. However she surpassed the NCAA standard of 142-6 on each of her first five throws before passing on her final attempt.

The Ducks qualified five more men and women to the regional meet in addition to sweeping the top three finishes in the men’s hammer throw for the second week in a row, as well as finishing with three women in the top four in the javelin.

Senior Colin Veldman became the second Duck to eclipse the 200-foot mark this season in the hammer with a winning effort of 206-1, while freshman Jordan Stray was second (204-0) and Steven Johnson third (196-9). Each had already surpassed the NCAA regional qualifying standard a week ago. But Veldman also added a regional qualifying mark in the discus was a season-best toss of 175-2 with his second-place finish.

Sophomore Kara Meeuwsen added a oersonal-best 152-11 in the women’s javelin to tie teammate Ashley McCrea for third in the event, with the Ducks now having a trio of NCAA regional qualifiers in the javelin.

Other regional qualifiers included senior Kasey Harwood, who posted a season best of 1:00.93 in winning the women’s 400-meter hurdles, junior Megan Maloney in the women’s hammer (177-10), as well as senior Phil Alexander, who finished second in the men’s 100 with a NCAA qualifying mark of 10.46. Alexander qualified for the post-season in the 200 meters last week.

Oregon did not enter any competitors in distances longer than 800 meters.

Source: goducks.com

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