Geoff Hollister, Nike Track Legend, Is Dead
February 6, 2012 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
Runnerspace is reporting that he died today following a long battle with cancer.
Geoff Hollister–the running community legend and original Nike men who led the shoe-maker to sponsor races and set up running clubs such as Athletics West, the current Nike-sponsored Oregon Project and the two Oregon Track Club Elite groups is dead.
At this time, the exact cause of death is not know.
He admitted several years ago that he was fighting cancer. On Saturday athletes led by Galen Rupp, Matthew Centrowitz, Mo Farah and Ciaran O’Lionaird donned a special tribute singlet at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in honor of the former Nike executive.
Hollister got into early at Nike. He was a small-town Oregon farm boy who went on to the now-legendary University of Oregon to run for coach Bill Bowerman, the man behind Nike.
The former University of Oregon track athlete became a driving influence in leading Nike as a worldwide leader in sports equipment and apparel.
Incredible Performances Highlight Conference Weekend
May 16, 2011 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
2010 Prefontaine Classic
July 3, 2010 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
June 3, 2010
Eugene, Oregon
On TV:
NBC 4:30-6:00 pm ET
What the said, Day 1 NCAA D1 Outdoor Championships
DAY 1 QUOTES – NCAA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wed., June 9, 2010 | Historic Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
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Jamesha Youngblood - Oregon
Women’s 4×100m Heat 2 Relay Prelims (2nd place) Heat 2
“We will fix it next time. We got through.”
“We will watch video, see what happened, and go from there.
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Elijah Greer – Oregon
800m Heat 2 Prelims (3rd place)
“I felt good. The race was hard. The first lap was easy, I ran 54, 52. Some guys got in my way, but I ran hard and got a new PR. It is exciting.”
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Andrew Wheating – Oregon
Men’s 800m Heat 3 Prelims (1st Place)“I am a Duck, hopefully I can learn to swim in it.”—————————-
Ryan Whiting – Arizona State
Men’s Discus (1st Place)“I’ve been throwing well in practice, it just came out at the right time.”
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Robby Andrews – Virginia
Men’s 800m Prelims Heat 1 (1st Place)
On hand off:
On how to preparation for finals:
“ If the weather was better it would be more exciting, but it is still exciting.”
On the race:
On the windy and rainy conditions:
“My legs felt alive, I hammered that out. It was the easiest 1:48 I have ever run.”
“The final will be anybody’s race. I am really eager to get to it.”
On winning the title:
“I was just worried I was going to lose by an inch again.”
“At Regionals and Pac-10’s I’ve come through on my last throw so I know it’s in there. It’s not so much a mental thing.”
“Feels good. It’s real tough out there. Those guys are unbelievable.”
“It’s just so great running on this track.”
“It’s such a loaded final. Nothing is given. I’m just thankful to be in the final and just trying to have fun.”
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Anne Kesselring – Oregon
Women’s 800m Prelims Heat 2 (2nd place)
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Phoebe Wright – Tennessee
Women’s 800m Prelims Heat 2 (1st Place)On feeling of race:
“I felt surprisingly good, and I usually do not in prelims. I remained really comfortable around the curve and I held my ground for the last lap.”
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Joey Hughes – USC
Men’s 400m (1st Place, Heat 2)
On race conditions:
I’ve really small spikes on so I was slipping all over the place. I feel that if it’s going to keep raining like this they should let us have longer spikes.”
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Donald Sanford – Arizona State
Men’s 400m Prelim (1st Place, Heat 3)
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Jessica Beard – Texas A&M
Women’s 400m Prelim (1st Place, Heat 1)
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Francena McCorory - Hampton
Women’s 400m Prelim (1st Place, Heat 3)
“I got out in the first 100. It is a good practice race for Friday. I need to do a little better Friday, but I am getting a feel for it.”—————————-
Keshia Baker - Oregon
Women’s 400m Prelim (2nd Place, Heat 3)
On the 4×100m relay:
“We made it to the finals in the 4×1. One mishap but we did a great job.”
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Brianne Theisen - Oregon
Women’s Heptathlon (2nd Place after Day 1)
On today’s events:
“I can’t say that I’m not a little disappointed. Especially with the high jump and shot put. I lost my rhythm in the high jump and I was a little rattled going into the shot put.”
On bad weather:
“We’ve had a couple of practices like this in the winter and with cross country. It’s just how it is and you have to race whatever you get.”
On finals:
“This year I have been working on not getting over anxious. I promised myself I would go into the NCAA like every other meet.
On expectations:
“I do not perform well unless I have pressure.”
On mindset going into final:
“Do what my coaches have been telling me to do. They’ve preached staying consistent. You don’t want to change anything at a big meet like this.”
On the race:
“It was a competitive race. Everyone wants to get through.”
“I do whatever it takes to get the win. I had to run a guy down to get it.”
On the finals:
“Nobody wants to go home. I will work hard to prepare for the final.”
On the race:
“I was trying to run through the conditions, win my heat, get a good enough time to get a good lane so that I can worry about the final.”
On the team:
“Just trying to get used to the conditions and get prepared. We’re going to try and get as many people into the finals as possible.”
On heat:
On finals:
“Once you get to the finals, it is the finals, and you go all out. I am glad we only get to run twice.”
“I will try my best to try to break 50.”
On emotions of today:
“It’s so exciting. Graduation on Monday, having my family here, having the race at my home track. The crowd was beautiful and they really made me feel special. It’s just overwhelming with all of the emotions.”
On nerves:
“My nerves are a lot more calmed down. The 4×4 is something that’s really special to me so I want to get a good cool down and be ready to come out tomorrow.”
On weather conditions:
“I’m fine with the weather! I’ve been here four years!”
On the hurdles PR:
“The hurdles was amazing. Usually I run my best races when there’s someone ahead of me. It didn’t rain that much when we were out there. So overall it was a pretty good day.”
On position going into tomorrow:
“I feel good. All year long I haven’t had the strongest second days. If I can get a really solid long jump that will put me in good position.”
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Jeff Demps – Florida
Men’s 100m Prelim (1st Place, Heat 1)
On the race:
“I was pretty satisfied to come out and run it like that with the conditions. Not the best start though. Get through and prepare for the finals.”Blessing Okagbare - UTEP
Women’s 100m Prelim (1st Place, Heat 2)
On today’s race preparing for the finals:
“I felt good. I’m much more ready for the finals.”
Jeneba Tarmoh – Texas A&M
Women’s 100m Prelim (1st Place, Heat 3)
On losing a teammate at the regionals:
“Of course it affects us. In a meet like this we’ve all got to step up. It’s unfortunate we lost her but we have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”
On conditions:
“It was cool and wet, but it was cool and wet for everyone else too, so I can’t complain.”
On scoreboard watching:
“We’re just going to focus on Florida and how we go out and execute.”
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On the 100m:
“I’m really excited. It was probably the best race I’ve had all year.”
On conditions:
“We’ve been through it all this year so nothing new with the rain and the cold. Coming here earlier helped with getting used to the atmosphere and the time change.”
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Mandy White – Oregon
Women’s 100m Prelim (6th Place, Heat 3)
On the weather:
“It gives us more of an advantage, the wind being behind us helped us out.”
On PR:
“I had a really good start, drove hard, and relaxed at the end.”
On 4×100 finals:
“I still have the 4×100 with 80 degree weather and hopefully a new PR.”
On this year:
“I seem to get faster everytime I run. I have had a lot of PRs and worked really hard. Not too many people can say they have been on indoor and outdoor national championship teams.”
On competition:
“Texas A&M will be stiff competition. We just have to do what we do. We need to get the baton around and run fast.”
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Matt Hughes - Louisville
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Prelim (1st Place, Heat 1)
“It got out to a 5:56 pace. I wanted to stay out of traffic at the beginning.”
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On the pace:
On the conditions:
“I’ll run in anything. It was a little windy so I didn’t really want to be out there in the front like that.”
On Hayward Field:
“I’d never ran in front of that many people before. I had heard all about it. It was great.”
Donn Cabral - Princeton
Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Prelim (1st Place, Heat 2)
“I didn’t feel as great as I would have liked to. It was ok though.”
On his heat:
On the conditions:
“Conditions were great really. There was not too much wind. I was tight in the pack and I usually like to be in the front”
On the Hayward Field atmosphere:
“The crowd was awesome I have never raced in front of a crowd like that.”
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Jeshua Anderson – Washington State
Men’s 400m Hurdles Prelims (1st Place, Heat 2)
“I feel good in this cold weather. I’m happy with my performance today. Getting the top seed was the goal for today.”—————————-
On today’s race:
“I exerted a little energy down the stretch. It all worked out. I’ll have tomorrow to rest.”
On the finals:
“I don’t think there’s a limit for anyone. I think there’s a world record out there to be had on this track. I know we’re going to blow out fast. Everyone’s hungry for that title.”
Johnny Dutch – South Carolina
Men’s 400m Hurdles Prelims (1st Place, Heat 3)
On semis:
“I am a little winded but, I felt pretty good. I opened up fast in the first round. This race prepared me for a good final.”
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On competition:
“These guys trained just as hard and have just as much heart.”
Queen Quedith Harrison – Virginia Tech
Women’s 400m Hurdles Prelims (1st Place, Heat 1)
On today:
“It felt really good. Not the best weather to be sprinting and hurdling. But the goal was to make the finals. I wanted to be the top qualifier. There’s something about having a target on my back.”
On running hard in first heat:
“You never know what the next heats are going to do. They could come out and jog. So you’ve got to sprint the first heat.”
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Ti’erra Brown – Miami
Women’s 400m Hurdles Prelims (1st Place, Heat 2)“I’m happy, it has not hit me yet. It will once all three of us are lined up on Friday night. We have all worked hard.”
On semis:
“We want to represent Hurdle U.”
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Fawn Dorr – Penn State
Women’s 400m Hurdles Prelims (1st Place, Heat 3)“It was really calm. I felt really controlled just doing what my coaches asked of me. The goal was to move into the finals. It’s more than just qualifying it’s about getting a good lane assignment.”
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On the conditions:
Christian Taylor – Florida
Men’s Triple Jump Final (1st Place)On the semis:
“It was great. I knew the weather would play a big part.”—————————-
“God bless really. I am glad I made it.”
“I was trying to get a feel and take advantage and make the most of the race.”
“Texas A&M had a big jump and I knew I needed to step up.”
“Every night I want to go to sleep knowing I did something better today than yesterday.”
On the Hayward field atmosphere:
“It is a great crowd. It is the best atmosphere I have ever jumped in and I thank Oregon for that. This really is Track Town USA.”
On preparing for other races:
“God bless that I am healthy. I will make the best of any situation.”
“I am running tomorrow but I am taking one event at a time. I will get my mind ready for that. Then I have long jump Saturday.
Jeneva McCall – Southern Illinois
Women’s Discus Final (1st Place)
It was on my last throw of the prelims. I was missing a lot and was going to go again and my arm kind of went dead. When I threw it I didn’t know what it would be.”—————————-
On the best throw:
On the conditions:
“I don’t worry about the conditions. Everyone has the same conditions and has to throw in the same ring. So it becomes about adjustments.”
On outcome of today:
“I was disappointed that I didn’t reach my full potential.”
On the trophy:
“Trophies just take up space. That’s not why I do this. I do this because I love the competition and I do it because I love it. Send this one to grandma.”
Lisa Koll – Iowa State
Women’s 10,000m Final (1st Place)“The plan was to go any time after 5k. I just kept looking at my coach and got a little antsy. But I got out with 7 laps to go and then tried to enjoy the last lap and smile. My coach kept trying to get me to relax and enjoy it. Looking back and knowing Iowa St. was going to go 1-2 was cool knowing that I was part of something that was bigger than me.”
On the race:
On Eugene:
“Eugene is such a great place to run. Hayward field with the crowd, you can’t help but feel the nostalgia.”—————————-
Nicole Blood - Oregon
Women’s 10,000m Final (3rd Place)
“Be tough, put myself in front, and run hard the last two miles. I wanted to hang on and finish strong.”
On strategy:
On the atmosphere:
“That crowd carried me the last 600 meters when I felt like I had nothing left. I heard Blood being chanted and people started standing.”
On the finish:
“It was a long race and I was not thinking about a PR. I would have liked a couple more points, but I ran my heart out. The weather added to the 10K.”
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Vin Lananna – Oregon“Not a lot happened. We advanced where we needed to advance. We will see what tomorrow brings.”“I am glad she was able to pull together and be tough as usual. She will comeback for Friday for the 5,000 meters.”“Fans did a great job of cheering people through the events.”
On the first day of the meet:
On Nicole Blood:
On crowd:
2009 National Championships Good, So Far
June 28, 2009 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
Despite the monsoon like winds in Eugene, the 2009 Nationals are holding up their high expectations, so far. Sure the high winds are impacting the races but they are in no way taking away from the fans enjoying pleasure.
The final day of competition still is to run the men’s and women’s 200 and 800 meters. Get ready because they are going to be definately worth watching.
Some will say that the automatic bids for the 2007 World Championships takes away from the meets drama.
That is complete baloney.
Just ask Michael Rodgers, Darvis “Doc” Patton and others who were gunning for an elusive individual spot on the U.S. National team competing in a World Championships and you might get a completely different response.
The race resulted in 9.91 (3.1) seconds and a national introductions of Rodgers and Monzavous Edwards, sprinters who has been on the grind trying to crash the party.
Edwards did just that running flat 10 and Rodgers built upon his undefeated record while running in the United States.
That race was drama and exciting because it was something fresh, new.
Ditto goes for Carmelita Jeter.
Those fans and observsors are familiar with the Rodgers, Edwards and Jeter but they ultimately performed at a high level. Therefore adding pressure to Tyson Gay and the like because he and others know the perfect race is needed to get the win.
The 200 meter preliminary heats start today along with the 400 meter finals and many other hot races. I will be watching the names with great anticipation and expectation to see who will make a new name for themselves or continue building a legacy.
Records highlight day 2 of USA Junior Champs
June 27, 2009 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
Press release by USA Track & Field.
EUGENE, Ore. - National high school record-holder Curtis Beach dominated the junior men’s decathlon Friday at the 2009 USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.
Duke-bound Beach finished the two-day, ten-event competition with 7,599 points, the best score ever by an American using the junior implements. In the final event of the competition, Beach pulled away from the pack to win the 1,500m in a world junior decathlon best 4:07.85. Florida’s Gray Horn held on for second with 7,114 points and Neamen Wise was third with 6,854.
2008 World Junior silver medalist Conor McCullough is finally out of the reigning world junior champions shadow. McCullough won the men’s hammer throw with a meet-record heave of 75.30 meters/247 feet. His nearest competitor, runner-up Justin Welch, was over nine meters back with a best mark of 66.04m/216-8.
American junior record-holder Natalie Willer of Nebraska added a meet record to her resume in the women’s pole vault with her winning clearance of 4.25 meters/13 feet 11.25 inches. Shade Weygandt was second at the same height.
The fastest qualifier out of the first rounds at 11.17 (+6.0mps), three-time Nike Outdoor National champion Chalonda Goodman decimated the field in the women’s 100m final, crossing the finish line in a windy 11.19 (+2.8mps). Hometown favorite Amber Purvis, a freshman at the University of Oregon, was the runner-up in 11.42. SEC freshman of the year Marcus Rowland, who took third at the 2009 NCAA Championships, won the men’s 100m in 10.02 (+2.4mps). Mississippi State freshman Dangelo Cherry, who had the fastest times out of the morning rounds at 10.02 (+2.8mps), took second in 10.07.
2007 World Youth champion Wayne Davis set the meet record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles in winning his first-round heat in 13.31 seconds, with the wind at a just-allowable +2.0mps. Davis came back four hours later to win the final in 13.16 (+3.8mps), the second-fastest junior time ever under any conditions. 2008 World Junior silver medalist Booker Nunley was second in 13.36.
Arizona State’s Jordan Clarke won the men’s shot put with a meet record heave of 20.46m/67-1.5. Reigning Nike Outdoor National shot put champion Mason Finley took the runner-up position with his throw of 20.15m/66-1.5. On the women’s side, Anastasia Jelmini won her first national junior title, after last year’s fourth-place finish, with a throw of 16.15m/53-0. Iowa State’s Laishema Hampton was second with 15.32m/50-3.25 and teammate Danielle Frere was third with 15.06m/49-5.
Also at the track, Villanova’s Shericka Ward won the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.47 (+2.6mps). Mississippi high school state champion Ricky Robertson won the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.18m/7-1.25. Twentynine Palms High School junior Casey Kraychir stole the show in the women’s hammer throw, winning the competition with a heave of 57.22m/187-9 and Elizabeth Rohl took runner-up honors with 56.05m/183-11.
For more information, live video coverage and complete results, visit www.usatf.org.
2009 Indoor NCAA Championships - Andrew Wheating, Oregon
March 17, 2009 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
2009 NCAA Indoor Championships - Andrew Wheating, Oregon from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.
PreRaceJitters talks with Andrew Wheating, tired from the 800 preliminaries and the distance medley relay a day earlier. Wheating battled to a second place finish in the 800 meters to give Oregon important points of the championship. Wheating ran 1:48.54 to finish second behind Texas’ Jacob Hernandez who ran 1:48.04, as the two repeated their finish from the outdoor 800 meters NCAA Championships last June.
2009 NCAA Indoor Championships - Ashton Eaton, Oregon
March 17, 2009 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
2009 NCAA Indoor Championships - Ashton Eaton, Oregon from PreRaceJitters on Vimeo.
PreRaceJitters speaks with Oregon’s Ashton Eaton after completing the the 1,000 meters — the heptathlon’s final event — in 2:47.68 seconds and finished in first place with 5,988 points.
It was a strong effort for Eaton, which had the competition’s best mark in four events — the 60 meters, the long jump, the 60-meter hurdles and the pole vault.
Oregon Wins Jordan Hasay
February 3, 2009 by Jay Hicks · Leave a Comment
Vin Lannana and the University of Oregon Ducks showed their recruiting dominance, securing the commitment of high school distance standout Jordan Hasay. She announced at 5 P.M. EST today that she is heading to the University of Oregon.
Hasay reached the semifinals in the women’s 1,500 at the trials and holds the national high school record in the 1,500 and is the most highly sought after prospect of 2009, pulling in scholarship offers from the nation’s top programs.
They have become a hit factory of late on the distance scene. Many worship at the alter of Galen Rupp and his electric performances but seriously the University of Oregon men are coming off back-to-back cross country national championship title and schools 6th overrall. The women’s program completed a second-straight second place showing at nationals.
The University of Oregon athletes are treated like pro athletes by the media, and the fans, and deservedly so. Running in Eugene is like running for a professional team, the Oregon Track Club & countless other athletes train on-site, The Oregonian is among a handful of newspapers nationally with dedicated track & field beat writer, and oh yeah don’t forget it’s that Hayward Field is the home track for the U.S. Nationals for many years come.
The Mission Prep senior distance runner will be the dominant force in collegiate track & field, as a freshmen even more so than Bianca Knight was a year ago. Hasay could have picked any of the top 25 teams and turned them immediately into contenders. I don’t think that I’m overstating her potential here.
In high school, she won four CIF titles at the state meet, four Foot Locker West Regional titles and recently reigned in her second career Foot Locker National Cross Country Championship.
Hasay is making an incredible business decision. And you can’t blame her. She has the chance of becoming of the greatest college freshmen in history. Hasay will be at the center of the track universe with coach Vin Lananna . Why do you get the feeling that when is not cramming for midterms that she will be running with the likes of Dathan Ritzenhein, learning the tricks of the trade?
Collegiate track & field is abuzz with her to heading to Oregon. Believe me, the folks in Eugene, know how to put on a show. The question is how quickly she progresses and how many years before she leaves the ranks of an amateur athlete and gets a shoe contract to focus all of her energies on the European track circuit.
That is the end game, right?
Eaton named USATF Athlete of the Week
February 3, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
INDIANAPOLIS - University of Oregon junior Ashton Eaton has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the men’s heptathlon over the weekend at the Washington Invitational Saturday in Seattle, Wash.
The 2008 NCAA Outdoor champion, Eaton set a personal and school record in winning the men’s heptathlon with 6,174 points. He won six of the seven events, including the 60m (6.84), long jump (7.59m/24-11), high jump (2.10m/6-10.5), 60mH (7.91), pole vault (4.97m/16-3.5) and 1,000m (2:39.92). It is the second-best indoor heptathlon in NCAA history.
Elsewhere, Stanford freshman Chris Derrick won the men’s 5,000m in 13:44.02, the fastest time ever run by an American junior. It also is the third fastest indoor 5,000m time in school history and the fastest collegiate time in the nation so far this year.
Now in its eighth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
2009 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 6, Mason Finley; January 13, Amber Campbell; January 20, Josh Cox; January 27, German Fernandez; February 3, Ashton Eaton.
BEST MARKS WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 1
MEN
60 - 6.51 Mike Rodgers (Nike) - New York City, NY 1/30
200 - 21.09 Gil Roberts (Texas Tech) - Albuquerque, NM 1/31
400 - 46.38 Greg Nixon (Asics) - Metz, FRA 1/28
800 - 1:48.40 OT Tetlo Emmen (Asics Aggies) - Seattle, WA 1/31
Mile - 3:58.44 Bernard Lagat (Nike) - New York City, NY 1/30
3000 - 7:50.86 OT Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas) - Seattle, WA 1/31
5000 - 13:44.02 OT Chris Derrick (Stanford) - Seattle, WA 1/30
60H - 7.45 Terrence Trammell (Mizuno) - New York City, NY 1/30
HJ - 2.31/7-7 Andra Manson (Nike) - Glasgow, GBR 1/31
PV - 5.70/18-8.25 Derek Miles (Nike) - New York City, NY 1/30
LJ - 8.00/26-3 Matt Turner (unat) - Flagstaff, AZ 1/31
TJ - 16.22/53-2.75 Tydree Lewis (Oklahoma) - Norman, OK 1/31
SP - 20.79/68-2.5 Adam Nelson (Nike) - New York City, NY 1/30
WT - 23.77/78-0 Jake Freeman (Iron Ball AC) - Riverdale, NY 1/30
Hept - 6174 Ashton Eaton (Oregon) - Seattle, WA 1/31
WOMEN
60 - 7.21 Gloria Asumnu (adidas) - Houston, TX 1/31
200 - 23.38 Porscha Lucas (Texas A&M) - College Station, TX 1/31
400 - 53.67 Queen Harrison (Virginia Tech) - University Park, PA 1/31
800 - 2:04.58 Sarah Bowman (Tennessee) - University Park, PA 1/31
Mile - 4:33.19 Kara Goucher (Nike) - New York City, NY 1/30
3000 - 8:53.88 OT Jenny Barringer (Colorado) - Seattle, WA 1/31
5000 - 15:55.67 OT Lindsey Scherf (Oregon) - Seattle, WA 1/30
60H - 7.95 Lolo Jones (Asics) - Glasgow, GBR 1/31
HJ - 1.92/6-3.5 Amy Acuff (unat) - New York City, NY 1/30
PV - 4.71/15-5.5 Jenn Stuczynski (adidas) - New York City, NY 1/30
LJ - 6.45/21-2 Brittney Reese (Nike) - Goteborg, SWE 1/28
TJ - 13.51/44-4 Erica McLain (Nike) - Seattle, WA 1/31
SP - 17.34/56-10.75 Jessica Pressley (unat) - Flagstaff, AZ 1/31
WT - 23.33/76-6.5 Amber Campbell (Mjolnir) - Riverdale, NY 1/30
Pent - 4276 Sharon Day (Asics) - Seattle, WA 1/30
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