Track & Field | 3/16/2009 4:14:41 PM
[Oregon Preview schedule] [Charles Bowles Classic schedule]
What's happening:
The Western Oregon University track and field team will compete at two meets this week as it goes to Salem for the Charles Bowles Classic Friday, Mar. 20 and to Eugene for the Oregon Preview Saturday, Mar. 21.
The Charles Bowles Classic (in Salem, Ore.):
The Charles Bowles Classic will be held Friday, Mar. 20 at McCulloch Stadium. The one-day meet will start at 10:00 a.m., with the women's hammer throw. The field events will begin at 11:45 a.m., with the men's and women's combined 10,000m and conclude with the men's 4x400m relay at 4:20 p.m.
The Oregon Preview (in Eugene, Ore.):
The Oregon Preview will be held Mar. 21 at Hayward Field beginning at 12:30 p.m., with the men's javelin and the women's hammer. The track events will start at 1:00 p.m., with the women's 4x100m relay and will conclude at 3:57 p.m., with the men's 4x400m relay.
Head Coach Mike Johnson:
On the upcoming week: "The most important task for us this week is finals. We want our student-athletes to make progress in school and do well on their exams."
On the student-athletes competing: "Some student-athletes will run both days and some will just run at one meet. The ones that have been busy with the indoor season or that will be completing in the 10k on Apr. 4 will not be running this weekend."
On his teams short term goals: "We want to come out of finals, work on our best marks and get into the swing of the outdoor season which picks up full-bore Apr. 4 at the Willamette Invitational.
Van Patten named USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year:
Zeke Van Patten of the Western Oregon University track and field team was named the NCAA Division II West Region Track Athlete of the Year for the 2009 indoor track and field season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, Mar. 10.
Van Patten, a sophomore from Corvallis, Ore. (Corvallis High School), finished fifth in the 800m at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 1:53.71 to earn All-American honors.
Van Patten helped lead the Western Oregon men's track and field team to its second consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor championship as he notched 20 points in winning the 800m and the mile. For his efforts at the 2009 conference championships Van Patten was named the co-GNAC Outstanding Performer of the meet.
Johnson named USTFCCCA West Region Men's Coach of the Year:
Mike Johnson of Western Oregon University was named the NCAA Division II West Region Men's Head Coach of the Year for the 2009 indoor season by the USTFCCCA, Wednesday (Mar. 11).
In his sixth season at the helm of the Western Oregon track and field program, Johnson, coached the men's team to its second straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship and Van Patten to an NCAA automatic qualifying standard in the 800m with a time of 1:51.73. He also helped Van Patten and Jeff Long earn provisional qualifying marks; Van Patten in the mile (4:15.84) and the 5000m (14:48.40) and Long in the 800m (1:54.31).
This was the second straight season Johnson has earned the USTFCCCA West Region Coach of the Year award and it is his 26th coach of the year award in his career.
Top Returners:
Western Oregon men's track and field team will return five Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions and the women two as both teams look to defend their GNAC title in Monmouth Saturday, May 2.
The men's team will return Udell, who won the decathlon and the pole vault at the 2008 championships along with Ashtin Mott (400m), Jeff Long (800m), Van Patten (1,500m) and Andy Loscutoff (110 hurdles).
The women will bring back the heptathlon and 100 hurdles champion in Jacque Helbling along with GNAC champion and Western Oregon school record holder in the steeplechase, Jessica Harper.
Last Week:
NCAA Indoor Championships:
Zeke Van Patten of the Western Oregon University track and field team finished fifth in the men's 800m at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championship Saturday (Mar. 14) with a time of 1:53.71 to earn All-American honors.
Van Patten was just two-hundredths of a second out of third place (1:53.69) as he finished the race strong. "It was your typical national championship type of race," Western Oregon head coach Mike Johnson said. "It was a tight field and he ran into some congestion but he took everything available to him in the last 100m and closed hard."
Johnson would continue, "It was a competitive race. Zeke made lots of good decisions particularly at the end and he is going to keep getting better moving forward."
Annan Applebee just missed the cut, as she registered a time of 2:13.83 to finish 10th (top nine advance to the finals). She finished sixth in her heat.
"Annan was in good position but was just not aggressive enough to start her final lap," Johnson said. "She ran well but she was running too hard instead of fast."
Western Oregon - Willamette
The Western Oregon University track and field team completed its second of two scheduled dual matches with Willamette Saturday, Mar. 14.
The women's team had four individuals win events while the men had five. Winners on the women's side include Lacey Meusec in the 400m (1:00.73), Jacque Helbling in the long jump (17-3.25/5.26m), Alyssa Taylor in the hammer (133-11/40.82m) and Jillian Lorenzen in the javelin (117-4/35.76m).
Event winners on the men's side include Gabe Aguilar in the 100m (10.75), Dylan Wells in the 200m (22.93), Jeff Long in the 1500m (3:59.67), Robert Wegner in the high jump (6-2.75/1.90m) and Chris Freeman in the long jump (21-1.25/6.43m).
"Given the weather we had pretty good marks," noted coach Johnson. "The weather limited our opportunity for great marks but people gave a strong effort and competed hard."
Wolves leading the GNAC:
Eight members of the Western Oregon track and field team sit atop the Great Northwest Athletic Conference performance list through Mar. 14.
On the men's side, Gabe Aguilar leads the men's 100m with a time of 10.75, Bryce Johnson has the top mark in the javelin with a throw of 191-0 (58.24m) and Anthony Marin has the best toss in the hammer 175-9 (53.58m). Matt Lariza and Robert Wegner are tied for the conference lead in the high jump as both have cleared 6-2.75 (1.90m).
Lacey Meusec's time of 25.77 in the women's 200m leads the GNAC while Jacque Helbling's leap of 17-3.25 (5.26m) is tops in the long jump.
