The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed Sophomore Hayley Oveson runs the 1,500-meter race during the Oregon Preview at Hayward Field during March.

With the Oregon Relays and the Pacific Twilight meets just around the corner, the Oregon State track team looks to improve its times at the Lewis and Clark Invitational this Saturday in Portland.

Coming off a weekend of nothing less than spectacular performances, the Oregon State women's track team is heading into the back stretch of its season with high hopes and expectations, looking forward to the Oregon Relays and the Regional Qualifiers.

"We've had some setbacks with injuries. We've been hit with illness," Head Coach Kelly Sullivan said. "Not everything has gone as planned, but despite all that they've really held together."

Early on in the season, the Beavers had to opt out of the Oregon Preview, a big meet that gives expectations for what is to come later on in season from the Pac-10 runners. Due to illness and injuries, only four athletes competed in the meet.

With the Oregon Relays only a week away, Oregon State is ready to show its stuff and compete with the best, running against more than 50 different collegiate and club track teams.

Last weekend, the Beavers made quite the showing in the Bay Area at the UC Davis Woody Wilson Open. With Regionals in sight, OSU freshman Casey Masterson broke the school record for the 1,500 meter dash with a time of 4:26:85, becoming a regional qualifier. Masterson has made this a habit, after breaking the indoor mile record early on in the season at the Huskies Icebreaker in Seattle.

"Despite all that [they've been through], we're still trying to measure where we're at," Sullivan said. "I'm pleased that we've had so many things thrown at us from every angle. A lesser group would've thrown it in."

Along with Masterson, sophomore Hannah Soza-Hodgkinson finished sixth in the 3,000-meter steeple chase with a time of 11:27, the fifth best time in Oregon State history. Krista Stangel, Abby Chesimet and Jennifer Macias also had personal bests in the 1,500 for the Beavers.

Other Beavers to watch out for include Hayley Oveson, a sophomore who has competed well this year. She placed 13th at the Woody Wilson Open in the 1,500 meter and won her section in the two mile at the Distance Carnival in San Francisco. She is also among the four Oregon State runners who attended and competed in the Oregon Preview earlier this spring.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools