APRIL 2015 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Ben Blankenship ..................................2 Coaches, Athletes Honored Business Members ...................... 2, 3 First Call...................................................3 The University of Oregon’s Eric Jenkins Edward Cheserek led the Men of Oregon Fan Appreciation .................................3 was named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross with three All-American awards, while Jen- Event Calendar .....................................4 Volunteer Spotlight ............................4 Country Coaches Association Division I kins and Will Geoghegan each picked up a IAAF ...........................................................4 MASTERS NEWSLETTER Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year as pair of honors. For the women, Jenna Pran- Vin Lananna ...........................................5 the men and women cleaned up in the indoor dini earned a trio of All-American awards Bend to Host XC Champs ................ 6 Lavillenie at Pre Classic ................... 6 postseason awards. with her strong performances at the indoor Butte to Butte .......................................7 Run/Walk ................................................7 The awards weren’t limited to the student championships. NCAA Meet Results ............................7 athletes, as Robert Johnson and Andy Pow- In addition, Jenkins was named to the ell were awarded the Men’s Head Coach and Bowerman Award watch list, joining team- Final Preview Run Assistant Coach of the Year awards. mates Cheserek and Prandini. Set for April 11 Jenkins won titles in the 3000 and 5000 at As the outdoor season got underway, The Eugene Marathon will host its final Preview Run on April 11. the NCAA Indoor Championships. He also won senior Sam Crouser was named the USTF- This run will cover the second 3000 at the Millrose Games with the eighth- CCCA’s National Men’s Field Athlete of the half of the full marathon course, fastest time in collegiate history (7:44.91). Week in late March after a strong debut at with options for 13- or 17-mile runs. Water and Gatorade will Ten men and seven women from the UO USC’s Trojan Invitational. Crouser threw the be provided, plus post run-mini earned All-American status from the USTF- javelin 259-feet at the meet, which would massages from Lane Commu- CCCA by virtue of finishing in eighth place or have been the best throw in the entire NCAA nity College students. Go to www. facebook.com/eugenemarathon better in the finals at the Indoor Nationals. field last year. for more details. Use Your Discount for All Races OTC Elite Advise TrackTown Youth OTC members receive $10 off To build off the excitement and en- the full or half and $5 off the Run ergy from this year’s Oregon Track and TrackTown 5K at this year’s Eugene Field Fan Fest, including the Run, Jump & Marathon. Use the code EM15OTC when registering for the full or half Throw Clinic, members of OTC Elite offer marathon, and EM15OTC5 for the some great advice for TrackTown youth: Run TrackTown 5K. Mac Fleet, member of OTC Elite since Oregon Track Club Office July 2014. PRs of 1:46 in the 800, 3:56 in Hours: Monday-Friday, the mile. Competed for the University of 9:00 am to 3:30 pm PDT 2350 Oakmont Way, Suite 201 Oregon: “A quick tip to improving your fit- Mac Fleet wins the 1500 meter race NCAA title in 2014. Eugene, OR 97401 ness can be very simple and pretty fun at the same time: The most important key is to try Phone: 541-343-7247 Email: [email protected] and do some sort of physical activity every day, and to keep it fun. Don’t do the same routine, OnTrack is published by the sport or exercise every single day. An hour of playing Ultimate Frisbee, soccer or even capture Oregon Track Club Board of Directors. Oregon Track Club, P.O. Box 11364, Eugene, OR 97440 the flag can produce positive physical results even though you’re playing a fun game.” Issue #51, April 2015 Distributed free monthly. www.oregontrackclub.org • [email protected] continued on page 8 OnTrack APRIL 2015 www.oregontrackclub.org OREGON TRACK CLUB Business Members Running in Blankenship’s Genes AHM Brands Brown Contracting, Inc. For Ben Blankenship, running is in his Byrke Beller MD, - Pacific Women’s genes. Ctr Blankenship grew up in a small town C(IQ) Strategies in Iowa tagging alongside his father, who CAMERON MCCARTHY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS – ran to stay fit. His mother ran somewhat, CHAMPION SUPPORTER too, making running a family affair for the Cascade Dermatology Blankenships. Chambers Construction Company CORVALLIS HALF MARATHON & 5K – From that foundation, Blankenship has CHAMPION SUPPORTER emerged to become one of the country’s Creswell Health & Rehabilitation top milers. Center Blankenship ran at the University of Curtis Restaurant Equipment Custom Orthotics Minnesota and set the school’s indoor D2000 Safety, Inc. mile record (3:57.87) before eventually Dave Henry Real Estate Services, joining OTC Elite. He credits his friend, Inc. David E. Carmichael, Attorney mentor and college coach Steve Plasen- Jessica Gabriel and Ben Blankenship. Douglas Gallagher Law Office cia, a two-time Olympian and long-dis- Eclectic Edge Racing tance standout, for playing a key role in highest levels of the sport. Eugene Airport amplifying his self-motivation and pas- “Ben plays up to the role of ‘lone wolf’ Eugene Marathon sion for running. with a single-minded and focused ap- Eugene Physical Therapy, LLC – Supporter Member This has been a busy year already for proach - qualities that are a must to suc- Eugene Running Club Blankenship. At the 2015 New Balance ceed at being an elite athlete,” Rowland Eugene Running Company Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, Ben ran a said. “He has a consistent application to Eugene Wellness Center his training regime since joining the OTCE Eugene, Cascades & Coast Sports personal-best 3:53.13 in the mile, placing Commission second. In February he won the AIT Grand and after (injuring his foot last spring), he European Touch Painting Co Prix: Deloitte Mile in Athlone, Ireland, has shown the tenacity to persevere with Fitness Link’s Performance and clocking 3:56.75. a methodical rehabilitation program. Ben Training Center Franklin R. Lulich, CPA, P.C. “He has performed fantastically well understands and appreciates the sport GANT Custom Homes – Supporter through this winter’s indoor campaign,” and is determined to maximize his poten- Member said OTC Elite Coach Mark Rowland. tial.” Garden Way Chiropractic Center Blankenship notes that while OTC Elite Gleaves Swearingen LLP, Attorneys Blankenship is currently in Flagstaff, at Law Ariz., for a month of altitude training with has a tremendous team environment, the Golden Realty his teammates. Though he hasn’t been elite side of running is highly individual- Health & Safety Institute able to enjoy much time in Eugene, he and istic and requires an intense focus and Home Federal Bank – Supporter Member his partner, Jessica Gabriel, and their dogs self-discipline. Hughes Financial Group of Wells Annabel and Tegan, try to spend their free But Blankenship also recognizes the Fargo Advisors – Supporter time outdoors visiting the Coast, Crater supportive network around him. “The Member Hutchinson, Cox, Coons, Orr & Lake or simply going hiking. Blankenship people in Eugene understand competitive Sherlock, P.C. credits Jessica with providing critical running. There is nothing that compares Kalen Electric & Machinery, Inc. support that keeps him on track. to this community.” Kathleen Dugan LMT Rowland says Blankenship has the nec- Kernutt Stokes LLP essary qualities one needs to excel at the 2 OnTrack APRIL 2015 www.oregontrackclub.org OREGON TRACK CLUB First Call: Membership Value Business Members Let’s Move LLC by Erin Regali, OTC President April 11 at Hayward Field. For more details, Lile/Eugene Moving & Storage This is a great time read the article below. Locklear Leatherworks LLC LPL Financial - Kelly G. Higgins, to be a member of the I am very proud to be a part of Oregon Financial Advisor Oregon Track Club and Track Club and honored to work with so Marilyn Milne at Public Relations support TrackTown many great people in our community. Services LLC – Supporter Member USA. The University Mark Stapleton DMD, MSD, PC of Oregon track and Dentistry For Children field teams did an out- Member Appreciation Michael Keller Realty of Spokane, WA – Supporter Member standing job at the NCAA Indoor Cham- at Pepsi Invitational Musgrove Mortuaries & Cemeteries pionships in Arkansas in March. The men The Oregon Track Club will again host National Fire Fighter – Supporter scored a big win and the women placed Member its popular members-only appreciation second. Congratulations to our Ducks! Norman Investments event at the Pepsi Team Invitational on On Track and Field, Inc. These exciting performances will lead Saturday, April 11, at Hayward Field. OREGON DENTAL CARE – CHAMPION us into the outdoor season at Hayward Join with other members of the OTC SUPPORTER Field, with the U of O hosting the NCAA Pink Buffalo Racing for light refreshments at 2:30 p.m. while Outdoor Championships June 10-13. If you Postal Pharmacy, Inc. watching the Oregon Ducks compete Prichard Partners, Inc. do not have your tickets yet, get them against University of Kentucky and Pac- RANDOM LENGTHS – CHAMPION quickly. 12 rival Washington. SUPPORTER As always, this time of the year is busy RBC Wealth Management, Todd G. There is no charge to attend the party, Bosworth with planning for our annual Hayward but you will need to purchase a ticket to Rexius Forest By-Products Classic (April 26), Prefontaine Classic the meet unless you are a season ticket Rogue Ales & Spirits– Supporter (May 29-30), Aquafina Butte to Butte Member holder. Tickets are available on GoDucks. (July 4), OTC All Comers Meets (Wednes- Runnin’ Wild com. Sapient Private Wealth days and Thursdays beginning July 1) and The social will be held on top of the Management our Pre’s Trail XC Challenge (August 21), Weights and Measures Building at the Sightline Property Inspections which raises funds for Pre’s Trail main- SLOCUM ORTHOPEDICS, PC – southeast side of Hayward Field.