UA track teams finish third in cool, rainy meet

For the Arizona men's and women's track teams, it has become quite a foe over the past two weeks.

Both teams finished third at the four team Pepsi Invitational in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday amidst the rain and cool temperatures.

The Wildcat runners nonetheless had a good showing, led by senior Dameon Ortiz, who won the 400-meter (46.97 seconds) and 200m dashes (21.72).

Other winners for the men included senior Akin Akinremi in the 100m (21.72), senior Kyle Dorsey in the 400m hurdles (51.86), sophomore Tapio Kolunsarka in the hammer throw (212-feet, 9 inches), junior Bob Keino in the 5,000m (14:17.55) and sophomore Jussi Autio in the pole vault (17-4 1/2).

Overall, final scores for the men read: Oregon at 206.5, WSU at 175.5, UA with 163 and Indiana at 135.

Sophomore Amy Skieresz officially qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 5,000m run with a time of 15:54.13. She finished a full minute ahead of her nearest competitor.

She was joined in the winner's circle by freshman Carolyn Jackson in the 400m (54.91), senior Dee Dee Buzzi in the 100m hurdles (13.85) and freshman Erin Aldrich in the high jump (5-6).

Team scores for the women had Oregon finishing first with 190, WSU was in second with 163, UA had 148 and Indiana had 132.