The Oregon St. men's track and field program is back in action for a second year, as several members of the football team will accompany the women's track and field team this weekend to Seattle, for the Husky Classic in the Dempsey Indoor facility on the University of Washington campus.
Redshirt freshman Obum Gwachum, also a wide receiver, was the Beaver's highlight in the groups first outing of the season, placing second in the high jump at the UW Invitational back on Jan. 29. Gwachum cleared 6'11", but couldn't match his career PR of 7'1" from last year on three tries, the meet winning height that Oregon's Danny Marconi cleared.
Marcus Wheaton, another Beaver WR, turned in a time of 7.02 in his heat in the 60 meters, which didn't qualify for the finals, but was good enough for 10th. overall. Keynan Parker finished third in his heat, and wound up 18th. overall, with a time of 7.08. Notably, Gwachum, Wheaton and Parker were up against almost exclusively track specialists.Jordan Bishop, the only Oregon St. men's track athlete to score points at the national meet in the "modern" era of Beaver track that started last year, will join Gwachum this week in the high jump, and Rashaad Reynolds, a corner back on the Oregon St. football team, will join Wheaton and Parker this week in the 60 meters.
Oregon St. Track and Field head coach Kelly Sullivan is continuing what was a very successful first season joint endeavor with football head coach Mike Riley to restart the track and field program for the men, in anticipation of the opening of an on-campus track and field facility adjacent to the softball stadium, scheduled for next year.
The Beaver track athletes also have a chance to post qualifying marks that would earn them spots in the Pac-10 meet at the UW Final Qualifier meet on March 5.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com