By Becky Hoag
Oregon welcomed competitors of the Pac-12 championships first day with copious amounts of rain. This posed an extra challenge for those coming from warmer areas like Southern California and Arizona. Still, the competition did not let up.
Originally it looked like it would be a competition between Oregon and Oregon State during the women’s long jump, but USC sophomore Margaux Jones would not let the weather get in the way of placing.
“Being a SoCal girl, it is definitely different, but you can’t blame the competition or performance on weather,” said Jones. “You’ve just got to do the best you can.”
While she was hoping to get first place, Jones was satisfied with second place with 20 feet, ½ inch, scoring eight points for her team.
First place went to Oregon freshman Rhesa Foster, who jumped 20-6 ½. Foster was a slightly unexpected winner, as the seventh seed. She was in a bit of a rut earlier in her outdoor season this year. Rather, the more expected Duck to place would have been sophomore Chaquinn Cook, who ended up placing forth after Jones jumped from sixth place to second, moving OSU senior Kara Hallock to third.
Foster said that even though she wished Cook had placed with her, she looks forward to seeing Cook triple jump tomorrow because that is her main event. She was surprised she personally jumped as well as she did in the rain, saying that the last time she jumped in the rain was in high school.
“I just got really warm, came back from my hurdles race, got refocused and just went out there and did what I know I can do,” Foster said.
Earlier Foster competed in the women’s 100 hurdles, but her main focus was the long jump event. She achieved her best jump on her second attempt and then watched the other competitors try to surpass her.
“I like jumping ahead in the beginning,” Foster said. “It’s less nerve-wracking knowing that people are chasing you rather than you trying to squeeze in a really good jump later.”
Despite her seed mark, Foster did not consider herself a long shot. During the indoor season, she got second against Jones in the NCSF.
Earlier Saturday, junior Damarcus Simpson won the men’s long jump, making it the first time in many years that Oregon has gotten first for both genders in that event.
