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2011 Pac-10 Track and Field Championships: Day One

By Kristi Rifenbark

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Day one of the Pac-10 Track and Field Championships has come to an end so let’s get the rundown of some of the day’s events:

Oregon men’s team:

A lot of excitement for this weekend’s meet was focused on Steve Finley, an Oregon senior, and his performance in the steeplechase.  Finley did not disappoint finishing 1st in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 9 minutes and 4.62 seconds.  Add 10 points to the Oregon score.

All eyes were on another Oregon senior, A.J. Acosta; he entered the 1500, 3000 and steeplechase.  Last year he placed in all three events, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.  Yesterday the preliminary heats for the 1500 meter race were run and with a time of 3 minutes and 48.46 seconds Acosta qualified for today’s final.  Oregon junior, Matthew Centrowitz also qualified with a time of 3 minutes and 57.51 seconds.  Acosta did not score points in the steeplechase, placing 14th.  The 5000 meter race will take place later today.  Oregon senior Justin Frick, senior Alex Wolff and freshman Ethan Powell also scored points yesterday for the Ducks.

Oregon women’s team:

The women are favored to win the championship and a lot of the focus has been on polar opposites, sprinting and distance.  Amber Purvis and English Gardner are slated to face each other in both the 100 and 200 meter dash.  As expected both Purvis (junior) and Gardner (freshman) qualified for the 100 and 200 meter finals, which are scheduled later today.  In the 1500 meter prelims Oregon sophomore Jordan Hasay finished with a qualifying time of 4 minutes and 30.35 seconds.  Oregon will make their presence known with four runners in today’s 1500 meter final.  The Oregon women scored points yesterday in the 3000 meter steeplechase, the 10000 meter run, long jump and pole vault.

As the competition came to a close on day one, Oregon’s men stand in first place with 53 points.  They ended the day with an 8 point lead over Arizona and Stanford.  The Oregon women’s team currently stands in third place with 49.5 points.  Arizona leads the women’s competition with 70 points and Arizona State holds second place with 53 points.  Make sure to check back for day two results of the Pac-10 Track and Field championships.  Click here to keep up-to-date with live results.