Indoor tracks might still be smoking after a weekend of personal records and big 2012 openers!  Oregon athletes were scattered across the country this weekend and many returned to the state with great results to launch them into the Olympic year!

Oregon coach Vin Lananna’s quote from the Texas A&M Challenge Meet in College Station summed up the two-day meet for the Ducks: “Almost everyone who traveled hit a PR or did what they set out to accomplish this weekend.”

Highlights on the women’s side included a 1-2 punch in the mile with Jordan Hasay and Becca Friday, a top time in the 60 hurdles by Amber Purvis, and a Canadian National and NCAA record in the pentathlon by Brianne Theisen. Go to GoDucks.com for full recap and results.

OTC Elite decathlete Ashton Eaton joined that successful contingent of Oregon athletes in Texas, winning both the Olympic Development 60-meter hurdles (in a personal-best time of 7.73 seconds) as well as the long jump in another PB of 26 feet, 4 1/2 inches.

Photo taken by Jason Szenes for The New York Times

Farther east, the 2012 Visa Championship Series began in Madison Square Garden at the US Open.  Local athlete Jesse Williams opened his campaign seven centimeters higher than he did last year to capture the high jump title (with a mark of 7-6). While keeping a good perspective on the year ahead, he used this meet to work some kinks out of a slightly new jumping technique.

“I guarantee you, in the next couple, I’m going to go a lot higher,” he said in the New York Times. Click here for a more complete recap.

A little closer to home, many Oregon professionals traveled to Seattle for the UW Invitational.   Lining up alongside many Portland and Portland State collegians for the 5K on Friday night, OTC Elite/Portland runner Lisa Uhl crossed the line first in a time of 15:29.85.  The next day, Uhl’s teammates Andrew Bumbalough and Matt Tegenkamp went 1-2 in the men’s mile, while Eugene-based Geena Gall kicked for a women’s win at the  same distance.

Former OTC athlete Mark Wieczorek won the men’s 800 in a time of 1:48.51 while 2011 world silver medalist at the 10K Sally Kipeygo breezed to a win and a venue record in the 3k in 8:47.91.  For complete results visit UW Invitational Results.

What a great start to the year! It’s already getting us excited about the U.S. Olympic Trials.