Success indoors by the UO women raises outdoor expectations: Oregon track & field rundown

Robert Johnson, March 2019

Oregon track coach Robert Johnson previews the outdoor season. (Ken Goe/staff)

Oregon women’s track team surprised even coach Robert Johnson by returning from the NCAA Indoor Championships with a third-place trophy.

Now, after two weeks to retool, the Ducks venture into the outdoor season with an extended trip to California.

The Ducks open outdoors Friday at the two-day San Diego State Invitational.They will remain in California and train in Chula Vista before the distance runners head to next weekend’s Stanford Invitational.

In the first set of national rankings by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the UO women are No. 5 and the UO men No. 7.

“Hopefully, we can live up to those moving into outdoors, and maybe do better,” Johnson said.

We should see quickly how much of a bounce Oregon gets from an indoor season in which the UO women exceeded expectations thanks to mid-distance runner Jessica Hull and jumpers Chaquinn Cook and Rhesa Foster.

Hull anchored Oregon’s winning distance medley relay and won the 3,000 meters. Cook was second in the triple jump, and Foster fifth in the long jump. Hull was favored, and delivered. Cook and Foster over-achieved.

“I thought if we really hit it maybe we would be fifth,” Johnson said. "For us to get a trophy there and score 32 points was definitely gratifying. Really big performances by Rhesa and Chaquinn.”

The 2019 season has been transitional, with the Ducks adjusting to new distance coaches Helen Lehman-Winters and Ben Thomas, filling big shoes left by athletes who transferred out, and operating without a training and competition venue while Hayward Field undergoes a complete reconstruction.

The UO men struggled indoors. But, at least according to the rankings, they should be better outdoors. The UO women were formidable indoors.

“We talked a little bit about not letting this moment die and using it as momentum moving into the outdoor season,” Johnson said. “I think the kids have really taken that message to heart.”

OK, more links:

The experts at LetsRun.com hammer USA Track & Field again over procedures for selecting the U.S. Olympic Team in the Week That Was.

Toni Reavis: Here is how to fit the 5,000 into the TV window for Diamond League meets.

Prep distance star Katelyn Tuohy eyes the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Tuohy, incidentally, is the Track & Field News girls high school indoor athlete of the year.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, experts say the IAAF’s new testosterone rule has no scientific validity.

Desi Linden preps to defend her Boston Marathon title.

Kemoy Campbell says he basically died next to the track at the Millrose Games.

Looking behind the scenes at the design of the course for the 2019 World Cross Country Championships.

The Oregon State Beavers return to action this weekend at Willamette.

The George Fox women are No. 3, and George Fox men are No. 16 in this week’s USTFCCCA Division III rankings.

The front page from LetsRun.com.

The links package for Track & Field News.

The links from Duck Sports Now.

The links from Beaver Sports Now.

-- Ken Goe

kgoe@oregonian.com | @KenGoe

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