EUGENE, Ore. -- After breaking the U.S. junior record in the
10,000 meters, Oregon freshman Galen Rupp has been named USA Track
& Field's athlete of the week.
Rupp ran the 10,000 in 28 minutes, 15.51 seconds Saturday at the
Oregon Twilight meet at Hayward Field.
He broke the 29-year-old record of 28:32.7 set by former Duck
Rudy Chapa at the Drake Relays.
Rupp's run Saturday night also met the NCAA championship
qualifying standard of 29:00.
Rupp's time was the third-best in Ducks' history, behind Bill
McChesney Jr. (27:50.82) and Alberto Salazar (28:06.12). It was the
fastest ever run by an Oregon freshman.
Rupp, who graduated from Portland Central Catholic last June,
holds national prep records in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters.
He enrolled at Oregon last month, but had to wait for the NCAA
review over whether he compromised his status while training and
competing under Salazar.