For Immediate Use

June 3, 2012

Track Teams Announce Honors

EUGENE, Ore. - Members of Oregon's three-time women’s indoor NCAA champions and six-time men's Pac-12 champions were celebrated at the track and field teams' annual banquet on Sunday.

Six-time NCAA Champion Brianne Theisen was presented with the Bill Bowerman Award, while sophomores English Gardner and Mike Berry were recognized with the Mary Officer Award and the Harry Ritchie’s Jewelers Award, respectively.

The Bowerman Award, given for world-class achievement and a historical collegiate career, went to Theisen, who has won three NCAA indoor pentathlon titles, two NCAA heptathlon crowns and three Pac-12 heptathlon titles, including her most recent one in 2012, where she set a league record by scoring 6,353 points, third-most in NCAA history.

Berry won the Harry Ritchie Jeweler’s Award for his great contribution to the University of Oregon track and field program. The sophomore from Seattle, Wash., moved into the Bowerman Award Watch List with his amazing school record of 44.86 in the 400 meters at the NCAA West Preliminary meet. That time leads the nation this season. He helped the Ducks win the 2012 Pac-12 title with a runner-up showing in the 400. During the indoor season, he earned his third career All-America award by finishing third in the 400 meters.

Gardner led Oregon to its fourth straight Pac-12 women’s title by winning the 100 and 200 meters and running on the winning 4x100 meter relay. The sophomore from Voorhees, N.J., leads the nation in the 100 at 11.00. During the indoor season, she not only won the indoor title at 60 meters, she ran the fourth-fastest time ever by a collegian, 7.12 seconds.  The Mary Officer Award is presented to a member of the women’s team in recognition of her great contribution to the University of Oregon track and field program.

The Lynne Winbigler Women's Performer of the Year Award was shared by junior Jordan Hasay and senior Lauryn Newson. Hasay was the Pac-12 champion in the 1,500 meters and was a two-time scorer indoors for the NCAA champions. Newson was named the Pac-12 performer of the meet after winning the triple jump and scoring in the 100 and 200 meters, as well as the 4x100 meter relay. She had the second-longest triple jump in school history (43-4.25) in just her second career triple jump competition.

The George Scharpf Outstanding Athlete Award, presented in recognition of outstanding athletic achievement by a male track and field athlete, went to freshman Johnathan Cabral. He was the Pac-12 champion in the 110 meter hurdles and then at the NCAA West Preliminary meet, ran 13.45, the second fastest time in school history.

Senior Alex Kosinski and sophomore Phyllis Francis shared the Harry Ritchie's Inspirational Award, which goes to the female track & field athletes whose athletic achievement and leadership provide inspiration to their teammates. Kosinksi was the 2012 Pac-12 champion at 10,000 meters, while Francis was the league champion at 400 meters.

The Dow Wilson Inspirational Award, presented to the male track & field athlete whose athletic achievements and leadership provide inspiration to their teammates, was presented to senior Luke Puskedra and freshman Dakotah Keys. Puskerda was the Pac-12 runner-up in the 10,000 meters and fifth in the 5,000 as Oregon won its sixth straight league title. Keys was the 2012 Pac-12 decathlon champion for the Ducks.

A trio of freshman were honored as the newcomers of the year. Sam Crouser, the 2012 Pac-12 men’s javelin champion, and Pac-12 scorer Arthur Delaney shared the men’s Perry Holloman Newcomer of the Year. Claudia Francis, who what third in the 800 meters at the Pac-12 meet, was named the women's newcomer of the year.

The Tom Heinonen women's cross country award winner went to Hasay, the 2011 NCAA runner-up, while Puskedra won the men's Bill Dellinger Cross Country Award.

Cited for the Coaches Award, given to recognize athletic achievement, dedication and determination, were juniors Becca Friday, Anne Kesselring and Elijah Greer and sophomores Laura Roesler and Trevor Dunbar.

Also on Sunday, the University of Oregon Track and Field Hall of Fame Award was presented to Jack Anderson, who has been an Oregon Track Club member since 1978 and has volunteered at Hayward Field for the last 12 years.

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