Ex-UW sprinter Jordan Carlson begins fundraising drive to compete outdoors this season...
Former University of Washington 400 meter runner Jordan Carlson (above/photo by Paul Merca) is quickly learning the ways of the post collegiate track and field athlete.
Carlson finished her eligibility at the UW after the indoor season. During her career at Washington, she ran the 400 leg on the Huskies' distance medley relay team that won the 2012 NCAA national title, and was third in the Pac-12 conference meet. She narrowly missed qualifying for last year's NCAA meet in the 400, and leaves the UW as the school record holder both outdoors at 53.03, and indoors at 53.75.
Some friends of hers have started a web page soliciting donations from friends, family, acquaintances, and folks in the local track and field community to help fund her training and racing opportunities, with the USA championships in Des Moines in June the goal.
According to the web page, "Her Coach as well as the University of Washington Athletic Community has offered to support her in anyway they can, but this cannot include financial compensation. We are trying to help raise money so that she can compete at the next USA opportunity in June. These expenses include traveling, entrance fees, membership fees, and other requirements that she may encounter."
"Please help Jordan reach her goal of competing this Spring at the USA Championship Meet by supporting her with any means necessary. Not only is she a great representation of local Washington high school athletics, as well as Washington collegiate athletics, but we are proud of her accomplishments as a Captain and as a leader. It is easy to pass up opportunities to support others like this, but please reconsider how to spend $10 dollars today."
In other news, Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry has been added by the USTFCCCA to its Bowerman Award Watch List, based on the strength of his victory at the Pepsi Team Invitational in Eugene.
The Oregon junior won the 400 at the Pepsi meet in 46.20, and was the runner-up at last month's NCAA indoor championships after winning the MPSF undercover title in late February.
In the latest USTFCCCA computer rankings, the UW women's squad has moved up two spots to #13 in the Division I poll.
In the Track & Field News national dual meet rankings, the Husky women are ranked #20, while Washington State is ranked #22.
In contrast, Washington State's men's squad is ranked #10 in the T&FN dual meet poll, while the Huskies are ranked #14.
Finally, the Eugene Register-Guard reports that a press conference will be held Thursday in Salem, Oregon to announce that the University of Oregon and the city of Eugene will once again host the 2016 US Olympic Team Trials-Track & Field at Hayward Field.
This will mark the sixth time that Eugene has been selected to host the trials, having hosted it in 1972, '76, '80, 2008, and last year.
NOTE: The USTFCCCA contributed to this report.
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