Several members of the Oregon St. football team detachment that is the Beavers' men's track and field team were in the hunt in the Husky Invitational today in Seattle.
With 16 of the top 25 teams men's teams in the country participating, the event, held in the Dempsey Indoor Facility on the University of Washington campus is one of the premier events, and one of the toughest, in the indoor track and field season.
Oregon St.'s Obum Gwacham, also a redshirt freshman on the football team, finished in a three way tie for second in the high jump, with a mark of 6'11.5", his season best. Gwacham, Jeremy Taiwo of Washington, and AJ Maricich, also of Washington, all finished 2 inches behind Ed Wright, who attended and competed for California, and is now competing unattached, which is track and field lingo for being good enough to compete professionally.
In the 60 meter sprint, which conducted two heats in the finals, Beaver WR Marcus Wheaton finished second in his heat, with a 6.96, which actually placed him in a tie for seventh overall, after winning his qualifying heat, and placing 11th. overall in the preliminary heats, with a 6.95, in a field of 48. OSU CB Keynan Parker also won a qualifying heat, and placed ninth in the preliminaries, and also finished tied for ninth overall in the finals, with a 6.98.
OSU's red shirt freshman RB Malcolm Marable placed 39th. overall in the 60 meters.
Washington St.'s Greg Hornsby claimed the 60 meters, with a time of 6.84, and Oregon RB LaMichael James finished tied for second, with a mark of 6.88.
All four will also compete Sunday, in the UW Open Meet, in the same events. and Gwacham will also compete in the triple jump.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com