BILLY PAPPAS QUALIFIES FOR US OUTDOOR NATIONALS…

May 10th (Billy Pappas Qualifies for US Outdoor Nationals) Meet Day Comments: "I am happy with the score that I put up. But I know there is much more in me." "I am excited because I know that I can improve even in the events that I had PR's in." "This meet was hopefully just a step towards higher marks at Nationals."

Read our story in the register guard "Team XO track club up and running" By Bob Rodman

Look for Team XO in the Register Guard sports section on 5/6/03!

Oregon Twilight: The injury bug bit Team XO this week with several athletes having to scratch their event due to injuries. Billy Pappas started the team off in the javelin with a PR heave of 197’0. Colin Mcarthur took one jump in the long jump, which was good enough for second place (23’8). Kyley Johnson got another Hayward field victory in the soaked men’s high jump with a leap of 6’9.50.

Team XO launches their new flash website 5/2/03!

Oregon Invitational: Team XO made their presence felt at the Oregon Invitational as many local fans got to get their first glimpse of the talented post collegiate track team. Former Pac-10 Champion Billy Pappas won the decathlon with a season best of 7390 on Thursday. Also on Thursday, Jenny Kenyon competed in the heptathlon and scored 4867, good for third. Two-time Pac-10 scorer Colin Mcarthur burst on the scene with a huge performance in the long jump eclipsing his pr of 24’1 en route to a second place finish edging Oregon’s Jordan Kent (23’11). Ross Krempley brought back memories of old, out kicking a stellar field in the 800 for yet another home victory at Hayward field. Teamates Kyley Johnson and Jason Boness also had outstanding performances in the high jump. The two both cleared 7’0.50, in going 1,2 in the event. Both jumpers narrowly missed the Olympic trial “B” standard bar of 7’2.50.

Mt. Sac Relays: Johnson, Krempley and Boness traveled down to Walnut California for the nation’s largest track and field meet, the Mt. Sac Relays. Jason Boness led the team with an outstanding performance in the High Jump. The Oregon school record holder cleared 7’1.50 to take second in the event. Teammate Kyley Johnson took fourth with a clearance of 6’11.50 and again narrowly missed attempts at 7’1.50. Krempley continued his consistency in running a time of 1:51.55 in the 800.

Mini Meet: Today the team was split between the Western Oregon Invite and the University of Oregon Mini Meet. In this meet, the newer members of Team XO carried the team. Cameo Davis 400h 65.9 2nd, and Grady O'connor 400 51.2 both notched soild performances to start their seasons. Mark Vanderville roasted the bar in the pole volt to a 17' 3/4" first place finish. Jenny Kenyon was the first member of Team XO to take home three first place finishes (200 25.9 : 100hh 14.5 : lj 17' 8 1/2"). Lastly Simon Kimata finished first in the 800 with a smoking time of 1:49.3. The old guys also added in completive performances for the conditions. Jason Boness cleared 7 feet in the high jump. While Krempley gets first in the 400 in 48.9, colin gets second in the lj with 21’2”, and Billy Pappas wins the 110 high hurdles in 14.5.

Willamette: Team XO competed with their largest contingent of athletes to date at the Willamette Inviational today and nearly all of them came away with victories as they dominated nearly every event they competed in. Not even the cold and rainy conditions could stop them, Aj Acker, Jason Boness and Kyley Johnson all tied for first with marks of 2.05m 6-08.75. While Ross Krempley ran two races in first (100 10.9h and 400 49.30). Others followed with more competitive efforts despite the conditions, John Mantalas 3000 9:11.07 2nd, Colin McArthur 22-05.25 2nd, and Billy Pappas 400 50.63 2nd.

Stanford Invitational: Ross Krempley, Kyley Johnson, and Jason Boness made the trip down to the prestigious Stanford Invitational. The meet was highlighted by 800 meter runner Ross Krempley who outkicked a national caliber field to take second in the invitational heat of the 800 meters(1:50.1). Krempley finished second only to 2000 olympian Michale Stember of Nike. Teammate Kyley Johnson had a near career day in the Invitational High Jump taking third with a leap of 6’11.50. Johnson narrowly missed three attempts at a PR height of 7’1.50. Teammate Jason Boness took 6th with a jump of 6’9.50.

Oregon Preview: The Oregon Preview was the first major outdoor competition for Team XO. It also marked the first meet in which the team had uniforms. Despite lousy weather conditions several athletes competed well in their first return to Hayward field since graduation. Former Pac-10 Champion Kyley Johnson paced the field events with a victory in the high jump with teammate Jason Boness taking second. 800 meter runner Ross Krempley took third in his specialty, while Billy Pappas had solid efforts in the 100 meters and pole vault.

Western Oregon Invite: Three athletes from Team XO traveled to Monmouth today to compete in a small Western Oregon meet. Colin McArthur made his initial return to the long jump runway for the first time since his senior collegiate season. McArthur took second in a rain drenched long jump. High Jumper Kyley Johnson had a big day for Team XO in the high jump. Johnson improved his seasonal best by three inches in winning the high jump and notching a 7’0 jump. Pappas had a big day as well getting a seasonal best in the 400 meters (51.74) and a near pr in the 110 hurdles (14.62)

Indoors recap- Team XO began their 2003 campaign in early January with the indoor track and field season. A small contingent of athletes traveled to compete at the Dempsey Indoor facility at the University of Washington for several very competitive meets. The team used these competitions as preparation for the upcoming outdoor season and several athletes secured numerous victories along the way. (Jason Boness HJ, Kyley Johnson HJ, Billy Pappas 60 hurdles, and Ross Krempley 800.) 800 meter standout Ross Krempley led Team XO with the finest indoor season of his career. The former duck ran an indoor personal best of 1:50.00 at the Husky Invitational which qualified him for the USA championships in Boston. Krempley made the most of his first major championship experience by getting second (1:50.08) in his preliminary heat, to David Krummenacker (eventual us and world indoor champion) and qualifying for the final. Despite a very tactical race Krempley finished strong capping his indoor season by being the fifth fastest half-miler in the country for the 2003 indoor season.

ROSS KREMPLEY QUALIFIES FOR US INDOOR NATIONALS…

February 2003 (Ross Krempley Qualifies for US Indoor Nationals) Race Day Comments: “I am very excited to be going to indoor nationals.” “My training had been going great and this was the first race in indoors that I had not had a cold, so I knew I was ready. I am very thankful that I was able to pull it all together today.” “I think the race went ok, but I know I can go faster in Boston.”

January 2003: indoor season begins/ work out the kinks phase