Ducks doing well in Des Moines at NCAA track and field championships

Ducks doing well in Des Moines at NCAA track and field championships
Oregon's Andrew Wheating, right, leads Northern Iowa's Tyler Mulder, center, at the finish of a preliminary heat in the 800-meter run, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Oregon's Ashton Eaton has the lead after the first five events of the decathlon at the NCAA Track & Field Championships taking place in Iowa.
     
The sophomore from Bend set a meet record in the decathlon 400 and leads the field with 4,289 points. The favorite in the decathlon -- Jangy Addy of Tennessee -- is second with 4,238 points.
     
Washington State senior Rickey Moody is third with five events to go.

Though Eaton was the headliner, many other Ducks had solid days at the track and field championships.
     
Andrew Wheating won his heat in the 800 meters to advance to Thursday's semifinals, and Zoe Buckman finished second in her heat to advance in the women's 800 meters.
     
Nicole Blood and Sarah Pearson advanced to tomorrow's final in the women's 5,000 meters, and Alex Wolff and Mike Simmons advanced to the finals of the men's javelin.
     
Freshman Melissa Gergel advanced to the finals of the women's pole vault, and junior Chris Winter reached the final of the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase.
     
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)