News Release

CONTACT:
Ross Krempley—Team XO Director
Tel: 541.579.8326
Email: [email protected]
Mail: P.O. Box 3915 Eugene, OR 97403

lARGE TEAM XO CONTINGENT COMPETES AT OREGON INVITE

EUGENE, Ore—24 April 2004—Team XO competed with its largest group of athletes to date at the Oregon Invite at Hayward Field and had many successes, including a PR in the hammer from thrower Adam Kriz that also bested his Olympic Trials qualifying mark.

Kriz’s throw of 223-2 was also good enough for first place in the hammer competition. Team XO thrower Justin Carvalho, who qualified for the Olympic Trials last weekend at George Fox University, came in third in the hammer with a toss of 206-7.

On other parts of the field, it was another great run for the XO high jumpers. Kyley Johnson and Jason Boness both had a terrific day tying for first place, despite the windy conditions at Hayward. Both Johnson and Boness jumped 7-0.5. XO’s Joe Derieux also competed in the high jump, finishing tenth with at jump of 6-4.75.

On the runways, Team XO dominated. Long jumper Colin McArthur placed first in his event, leaping 23-7.50. In the women’s triple jump, XO’s Simidele Adeagbo took first as well with a jump of 40-11. Meanwhile, XO pole vaulter Niki McEwen took third in her event, vaulting 13-1.75.

Saturday also marked the first competition this year for XO thrower John Stiegeler, who has been hampered this season by two surgeries earlier in the year. Stiegeler placed eleventh in the javelin, throwing 194-3.

Stiegeler commented on his performace by saying:

“I am pleased with my performance today; it is nice to be healthy and throwing again.”

Also in the throws, Doug Sells had a solid performance, taking ninth in the shot put and twelfth in the discus.

In the running events, Team XO showed some bright spots, but overall it was a difficult meet, with heavy winds making a big impact on many marks. The following is the rundown by event:

In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Cameo Davis took eighth with a time of 65.8. In the men’s 800, Jay Woodard struggled, finishing a disappointing nineteenth in 2:00.36. In the women’s 1500, Eri MacDonald ran 4:28.11 for ninth place, while Brayce Forsha ran the men’s 1500 in 3:51.69, also for ninth. In the women’s steeplechase, Tara Crowley took fifth in a time of 10:49.79. Jenny Rodgers, running the women’s 5,000, placed fifth as well, coming in at 16:59.51. For the men’s 5,000, XO’s Paul Kezes placed eleventh, running an impressive 14:03.86, in his first track race of the season. Finally, in the 10,000, Jeff Sather took twenty-fourth place with a time of 31:53.45.

You can catch Team XO on the track again next weekend at Hayward Field for the Oregon Twilight meet. Also, don’t forget to come early for Team XO’s high school invitational, The XO Invite! You can find out more at www.xoinvite.com!