While football signing day tends to grab all the headlines, this week was a big day from recruits for other sports as well. Looking to maintain the hardware haul that has become routine over at the Bowerman Building, Director of Track and Field Vin Lanana announced incoming classes of seven men and eight women athletes.
Sam Crouser of Gresham adds to a deep pool of throwers for the Ducks on the men's side and 2009 Pan American games 5,000k champion Sarah Andrews strengthens Oregon's middle distance stable for the women's team.
courtesy Oregon Media Services
MEN
COLBY ALEXANDER, DISTANCE, STRONGSVILLE, OHIO/STRONGVILLE HS
Prep Bests: 800 Meters -1:53.1; 1,600 Meters - 4:14.95.
Alexander was a 2009 Foot Locker nationals qualifier in the fall after finishing seventh at the regional meet in 15:49. He also ran at the 2009 Nike Outdoor meet in the spring.
He begins his senior season at Strongsville High School as the top returning miler for the State of Ohio.
JACOB BUDWIG, THROWS, FOWLER, CALIF./FOWLER HS
Prep Bests: Discus - 185-0; Shot Put - 55-0.
Although Fowler High School has a smaller enrollment than most schools in the state, Budwig ranked fifth in California in the discus at 185-0. He was the 2009 California small schools champion in both the shot put (48-2) and the discus (169-0).
Budwig has a prep best in the shot put of 55-0.
SAM CROUSER, JAVELIN, GRESHAM, ORE./GRESHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Prep Bests: Javelin - 239-0.
Crouser led the nation in the javelin last season with a best throw of 239-0 (72.84m). As a junior, he also won the Oregon 6A state championship with a throw of 231-1 for Gresham High School last May at Historic Hayward Field. That mark broke a 21 year-old state record set by Art Skipper Jr. in 1988.
He also finished second in the shot put (54-7) and third in the discus (166-4) at the 2009 state meet.
Crouser's best throw of 239-0 came after the high school season at the 2009 Portland ThRose Festival, a mark just over two feet shy of the national high school record.
As a sophomore in 2008, Crouser won his first state javelin title with a mark of 199-6, and was also fourth in the discus (150-4).
Crouser's father, Dean Crouser, was a three-time NCAA champion for Oregon, winning the shot put and discus in 1982 and the discus in 1983. He was also a five-time All-American, four-time Pac-10 champion (twice each in the shot put and discus) and twice named the Pac-10 track and field athlete of the year (1982-83). Dean Crouser is still the Ducks' school record holder both in the shot put and discus. His shot put record, 69-1.5., came in 1982, while his discus mark, 216-2, followed a year later.
Sam Crouser's uncle, Brian Crouser, is a two-time NCAA javelin champion (1982, 1985) and was a key member of Oregon's last NCAA outdoor championship team in 1984, where he finished fourth in the javelin at the NCAA meet. Brian Crouser, a 1988 and 1992 Olympian, is also a two-time Pac-10 champion in the javelin (1984-85) and the school record holder at 312-0 using the old implement.
DAKOTAH KEYS, DECATHLON, SWEET HOME, ORE./SWEET HOME HS
Prep Bests: Decathlon - 7,204 points; Long Jump - 23-8.5; 110 Hurdles - 14.66; Pole Vault - 15-7; Javelin - 197-9.
Keys scored 7,204 points to break the state decathlon record at the 2008 USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships. The old mark was 7,029 points set by Jay Goff of Cascade in 1998.
He is also a four-time state 4A champion for Sweet Home High School. As a junior in 2009, Keys won the 110 meter hurdles (14.67), the pole vault (15-6) and the long jump (a personal-best 23-8.5). He was also the state runner-up in the javelin (196-10). As a sophomore in 2008, Keys won the long jump (23-4.5) and was second in the 110 hurdles (15.00), the 300 meter hurdles (39.44) and the javelin (185-7).
BRIAN SHRADER, MIDDLE DISTANCE, FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ./SINAGUA HS
Prep Bests: 800 Meters - 1:52.89; 1,600 Meters - 4:12.07; 3,200 Meters - 9:10.47.
Shrader is a two-time Gatorade Runner of the Year for Arizona. He was undefeated in cross country the past two seasons for Sinagua High School.
During the 2009 cross country season Shrader won the Queen Creek Twilight Meet, the 4A II Grand Canyon Regionals and the Arizona State meet.
Following the high school season, Shrader won the Foot Locker West Regionals before taking fifth at the Foot Locker Nationals.
On the track, Shrader was a three-time Arizona champion in 2009. He won at 800 (a personal-best 1:52.89), 1,600 (4:13.01) and 3,200 (a personal-best 9:10.47) meters. A week later at the Arizona meet of champions, Shrader won the 1,600 meters in a personal-best 4:12.07.
As a sophomore in 2008, Shrader was the state 2A 1,600 (4:20.04) and 3,200 meter (9:23.47) meter champion and was eighth in the 800.
PARKER STINSON, DISTANCE, AUSTIN, TEXAS/CEDAR PARK HS
Prep Bests: 3,200 Meters - 8:54.70.
Stinson won the national title in the 10,000 meters at the 2009 USA Junior Track & Field Championships at Historic Hayward Field, running 31:18.13. He went on to finish third at the 2009 Pan American Junior Championships.
Stinson also had one of the nation's top 3,200 meter times last year. He ran 8:54.70 in winning the 2009 state 3,200 meter title for Cedar Park High School. That time led the state of Texas and ranked ninth nationally. It is also the top returning prep time for 2010. Stinson took third in the state at 3,200 meters as a sophomore in 2008 (9:19.45).
After placing third in the Texas State cross country championship last November, he ran 15:36.40 in the 5,000 meters at Nike Cross Nationals in December, placing 16th.
COLE WATSON, MIDDLE DISTANCE, ROGUE RIVER, ORE./ROGUE RIVER HS
Prep Bests: 800 Meters - 1:52.48; 1,500 Meters - 4:00.36.
Watson put on an impressive performance at the 2009 state 3A championships for Rogue River High School. He was a three-time state champion, taking titles at 400 meters (50.57), 800 meters (1:56.85) and 1,500 meters (4:06.32). Watson was also the state 800 meter champion as a sophomore in 2008 (1:54.71).
Most recently, Watson captured the 2009 state cross country title and his time was the fastest of all six classifications.
Watson was a 2009 USA Track & Field Junior Championships competitor in the 800 meters and was the 2009 recipient of the Nike Oregon Sports Awards Steve Prefontaine Award.
He is also a three-year starter for the Rogue River basketball team.
Women
SARAH ANDREWS, DISTANCE, THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS/THE WOODLANDS HS
Prep Bests: 1,600 Meters - 4:54.64; 3,200 Meters - 10:21.34; 5,000 Meters - 16:42.38.
Andrews is a four-time Texas 5A state champion for The Woodlands High School. After breaking the 2009 Woodbridge Invitational cross country three-mile record in 16:01, she captured the state 5A cross country title, covering the 3,200 meter course in 10:45.1. She followed that win by placing 10th at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland in December, running 18:01.9 over a slow 5,000 meter course. That was a year after winning the 2008 Texas cross country title as a sophomore and leading The Woodlands to the team title for the first time since 1989. She also took second at the Nike Cross Nationals as a sophomore.
Her 2009 best on the track at 5,000 meters, 16:42.38, came in a victory at the 2009 Pan American Junior Championships in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and ranked second nationally among all U.S. high schoolers. She advanced to the Pan Am Games by finishing second at the USA Track & Field Junior Championships last June at Historic Hayward Field (16:47.47).
Andrews won both the Texas 1,600 meter (4:55.40) and 3,200 meter (10:21.34) track titles as a junior in 2009 after winning the 3,200 meters in 10:43.78 as a sophomore in 2008. Her time at 3,200 meters ranked 11th nationally last year.
PHYLLIS FRANCIS, MIDDLE DISTANCE, LAURELTON, N.Y./CATHERINE McAULEY HS
Prep Bests: 400 Meters - 55.80; 800 Meters - 2:04.65
Competing for Catherine McAuley High School in Brooklyn, Francis is one of the nation's top 800 meter runners. Her time from the Hispanic Games in December, 2:12.82, ranks third nationally this season. A week ago at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden, Francis took third in the 400 meters in 55.82 on a slow track. Her 1:32.14 600 meter time during the Stanner Games is the country's top performance at that distance this season.
Francis burst on to the running scene by breaking the meet record in the 800 meters at the 2008 USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships in Omaha, Neb. She clocked a personal best 2:04.83 in claiming her second straight USATF victory. She followed that with a win at the 2009 National Scholastic Indoor Championships in 2:07.69.
She won the 2009 New York State Division 2 final in the 800 meters in 2:12.71 and followed that with a second-place run in 2:10.03 championship finals (all divisions). She was ranked 11th nationally as a junior with a seasonal best time of 2:07.69.
ENGLISH GARDNER, SPRINTS, VOORHEES, N.J./EASTERN SENIOR HS
Prep Bests: 55 Meters - 6.92; 100 Meters - 11.49; 200 Meters - 23.62.
Gardner has been a fixture on the New Jersey prep scene since her freshman season. Her sprint times are impressive: 6.92 in the 55 meters, 11.49 at 100 meters and 24.11 for 20- meters.
She opened 2009-10 indoor season with a 55 meter dash of 7.32 seconds for Eastern Senior High School in December and followed that with an impressive win at the Hispanic Games in 7.06. She also captured the South Jersey Coaches Relay Championships in 7.34.
As a freshman, she won the New Jersey Meet of Champions 100 meter title (11.62) and was second in the 200 (24.11) during the 2007 spring season after taking the Group 4 state championships in both events. As a sophomore in 2008, she won Group 4 and league crowns in both the 100 and 200.
She missed her junior season due to a knee injury.
LAURYN NEWSON, SPRINTS/JUMPS, RICHMOND, CALIF./PINOLE VALLEY HS/LANEY CC
Prep Bests: 100 Meters - 11.73; 200 Meters - 23.64; Long Jump - 20-5.25.
Newson helped Laney Community College take second at the 2009 California junior college championships by winning the 100 and 200 meters and the long jump. She set a school record in the long jump going 20-5.25.
Both her long jump and 200 meter time (23.64) were the best in the nation at the time last spring. Her top time in the 100, 11.73, came in a victory at the conference championships.
Before Laney, Newson represented Team USA at the Pan American Junior Championships and took third in the long jump (19-7.5).
After graduating from Pinole Valley High School, where she also played basketball, Newson was the 2008 junior regional winner in the long jump, going 20-2.5 to advance to the USATF Junior Championships.
CHIZOBA OKODOGBE, SPRINTS, ANTIOCH, CALIF./DEER VALLEY HS
Prep Bests: 400 Meters - 53.74.
Okodogbe had the 13th-fastest prep time in the 400 meters last season, 53.74 in a third place finish for Deer Valley High School at the California state championships. She was seventh in the 400 as a sophomore (55.91).
Representing her native Nigeria, Okodogbe finished sixth in the 400 meters at the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships in Sudtirol, Italy (56.01).
She also competed in cross country for Deer Valley.
MEGAN PATRIGNELLI, MIDDLE DISTANCE, MONROE, N.Y./MONROE-WOODBURY HS
Prep Bests: 800 Meters - 2:09.26; 1,500 Meters - 4:25.65
Patrignelli is another 2009 New York state champion. She captured the 1,500 meter championship final for Monroe-Woodbury High School in a personal-best 4:25.65. She had the No. 4 time nationally in the mile, 4:46.91 (converted from 1,600 meters), and the No. 23 time in the 800, 2:09.26, as a junior
Patrignelli was a 2009 NSIC All-American in the 800 meters and the distance medley relay, and also a Nike Outdoor All-American at 800 meters (sixth) and the sprint medley relay.
The former soccer player participated in her first cross country season in the fall and recorded an impressive top-10 finish at the New York state meet.
LAURA ROESLER, MIDDLE DISTANCE, FARGO, N.D./SOUTH FARGO HS
Prep Bests: 100 Meters - 11.92; 200 Meters - 24.81; 400 Meters - 55.10; 800 Meters - 2:03.08.
Roesler, a 2008 Olympic Trials semifinalist in the 800 meters, had the fourth best prep 800 time nationally last season at 2:06.2. Her personal best in the event, 2:03.08, came during her Olympic Trials year of 2008.
She has dominated the North Dakota state championships, winning four straight titles at four different distances: 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and 800 meters.
Roesler also was the 2009 Nike Indoor National Champion at 800 meters last winter despite the cancellation of North Dakota indoor track season due to extreme flooding in Fargo. She was second in the 800 at the 2009 USA Track & Field Junior Championships (2:07.41).
She was also the North Dakota cross country champion as a freshman and sophomore.
KORTNEY ROSS, POLE VAULT, SAN DIEGO, CALIF./WESTVIEW HS
Prep Bests: Pole Vault: 13-4.
One of the nation's top high school pole vaulters, Ross ranked third in the country in 2009 with a best clearance of 13-4, which was her winning height at the 2009 California state meet for Westview High School.
The defending state champion has been named to the ESPN RISE/DyeStatCal 2010 California All-State Preseason Track & Field first team.
Ross won every high school pole vault competition she participated in but one in 2009, and ended the season on a five-meet winning streak.
She was also a member of the 2009 USA World Youth Track and Field Team.
