Oregon teams aim for titles
Nothing predictable about NCAA Indoors
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Track coaches are often quick to talk about how unpredictable the sport is when a big meet is coming up.
On Thursday – the day before the start of the NCAA indoor track and field championships – Texas A&M’s Pat Henry and Arkansas’ Chris Bucknam came armed with data.
“There are 16 men running the mile, and everybody’s under four minutes,” Henry marveled. “Sixteen men running all under four minutes is incredible.”
“And you look at the 200,” Bucknam chimed in. “Three-tenths of a second separate one through 16.”
The Oregon men and Tennessee women are the defending indoor champions. Along with Oregon and Texas A&M, Florida is expected to be a major contender in the men’s meet.
On the women’s side, Oregon will have 16 entries, a healthy number of scoring opportunities for one of the nation’s top teams.
Oregon coach Vin Lananna said Wednesday he would not travel because of blood pressure issues, although he left open the possibility of coming later in the week.
Washington State will be represented by high jumpers Trent Arrivey and Holly Parent. Mykael Bothum will compete in the women’s shot put and Jeremy Klas in the men’s pole vault for Idaho. Nicole Luckenbach will vie in the women’s weight throw for Eastern.