Ducks Net 12 Wins in Season Opener

NAMPA, Idaho – Jenna Prandini and Sam Crouser impressed in their indoor debuts as Oregon collected 12 wins Saturday at the Blue and Orange Opener to kick off the 2013 track and field season.

“It was a great opener for us coming off winter break,” said head coach Robert Johnson. “We had a number of personal bests, which is usually a good thing this early in the season.

“It was a good opportunity to see us implement what we’ve been working on in practice,” said Johnson. “At the same time, we also have a chance to realize some of the things we need to work on before our next meet.”

Prandini, a redshirt freshman from Clovis, Calif., won the 60 meters in 7.48 seconds, which was the fourth fastest time in school history. She came back later in the meet to take second in the 200 meters in 24.07.

Crouser, a sophomore from Gresham, Ore., made his indoor debut for the Ducks a memorable one by throwing the shot put 57-9.75/17.62m to finish second behind Boise State’s Chase Sexton, who had a mark of 57-11.75/17.67m. Crouser’s throw was the second best in Oregon history, trailing only Colin Veldman’s 58-8.75/17.90m effort in 2006. Lauren Crockett and Chancey Summers both cleared 5-8.75/1.75m in the women’s high jump. Crockett, a sophomore from Ogden, Utah, got the win based on fewer misses. Both jumpers made it into the UO indoor record book at No. 4.

Other winners for the Duck women included Junior Phyllis Francis who scorched the blue track to a time of 23.91 to win the 200 meters. Jillian Weir won the weight throw with a mark of 56-7.25/17.25m. Weir, a transfer from Long Beach State was making her Oregon debut on Saturday.

Junior Laura Roesler impressed in winning the 400 in 54.76. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Monteverde won the 60 meter hurdles in 8.68.

For the men, Boru Guyota led a 1-2-3 finish in the 800 meters. Guyota, a junior from Portland, Ore., won in 1:53.41 with Virginia transfers Patrick Todd (1:53.45) and Brett Johnson (1:54.27) in tow.

Sophomore Arthur Delaney set a PR to win the 60 meters in 6.84, while sophomore Johnathan Cabral just missed a PR in winning the 60 meter hurdles in 7.85. Junior Mike Berry was third in the 60 meters in 6.98.

Matt Hidalgo won the pole vault in his Oregon debut. The redshirt freshman from Banks, Ore., and senior Austin Ouderkirk both cleared 16-2.75/4.95m, but Hidalgo got the win based on fewer misses and set an all-conditions personal best in the process.

Sophomore Trevor Ferguson won the long jump with a leap of 23-4/7.11m, while junior Tyler Pinkney took the triple jump at 48-0/14.63m.