Ducks McGrath Opens Indoor Track and Field Season at Seattle

Last year, McGrath made UO’s first ever NCAA Championships appearance in the indoor mile after he ran a personal best of 3:59.25 last March

Photo: goducks.com

SEATTLE - University of Oregon redshirt junior Michael McGrath opened the indoor track and field season Saturday with a near-provisional mark in the mile in the UW Indoor Preview, hosted by the University of Washington in the Dempsey Indoor Center.

The Portland, Ore., native was the top collegiate finisher in the mile and placed third overall (4:04.08), and missed the NCAA provisional standard (4:04.00) by only .08 seconds.

Just ahead, the Oregon Track Club’s Nick Symmonds won the event in a personal best (3:56.72) over OTC teammate Courtney Jaworski.

Last year, McGrath made UO’s first ever NCAA Championships appearance in the indoor mile after he ran a personal best of 3:59.25 last March -- a mark that also ranked him second all-time for UO behind Steve Prefontaine (3:59.2, 1973).

Looking ahead to next weekend, the Duck track and field teams will send several pole vaulters to the Pole Vault Summit, Fri-Sat.-Jan. 19th-20th in Reno, Nevada.

A larger contingent of men and women will compete the following weekend in the University of Washington Invitational, Fri.-Sat., Jan. 26th-27th in Seattle.

Complete meet results are available at the University of Washington website at the http://gohuskies.cstv.com/sports/c-track/stats/2006-2007/07previewmeetprog.html URL address.

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