Oregon Wins Signing Day Sweepstakes

Ducks stock up on nation’s top boys high school talent.

Year in and year out the University of Oregon prides itself in being one of the top collegiate cross country and track and field programs in the United States. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

On Wednesday the Ducks announced they’ve received national letters of intent from the following:

• Lukas Verzbicas, who has been unbeatable in the high school ranks the last two years, is the biggest name on the way to Eugene. The two-time Footlocker cross country champion will be graduating high school a year early. He’s already run 4:04.38 for the mile and 14:18 for 5,000. He will try to break 4 minutes for the mile this weekend in Boston at the New Balance Grand Prix against top professionals such as Alan Webb, Nick Willis and Leo Manzano.
• Florida’s Ryan Pickering, ninth at Foot Locker nationals in December, is also on his way to Eugene, as is Chad Noelle of New York, who won the Millrose Games high school mile last weekend.
• Oregon’s own Matthew Melancon, a sub-8:45 3,00 meter runner, will stay in his home state.

And there are many more! For a complete list of early signings, check out Track Focus.com