Oregon signees bolster lineup.

Byline: Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

While the pursuit continues for some athletes, including Sandy High pole vaulter Tommy Skipper, the Oregon men's track and field program has fueled its hopes for future success.

Eight athletes have been signed to national letters of intent by the Ducks thus far this year, including five from the state of Oregon - Mike McGrath of Lincoln High in Portland, Alec Wall of Grant High in Portland, Sheldon's Travis Ramme, Brandon Tower of Beaverton High and Patrick Werhane of Southridge.

The three out-of-state signees include Leonidas Watson, a junior college transfer from St. Louis, Kyle Merz of Satanta (Kan.) High and Kyle Alcorn of Buchanan (Calif.) High.

"I think it's a good class," said Martin Smith, the UO men's team coach who becomes the director of track and cross country for the merged men's and women's programs on July 1. "We had certain targets we felt needed to be hit (in recruiting), and this class indicates that we have taken that step."

"We anticipate pursuing another half-dozen athletes to add to this class."

Included in that group is Skipper, who set the national prep pole vault record of 18 feet, 3 inches last weekend.

The brother of the late Art Skipper, a former UO javelin thrower, Tommy Skipper reportedly is not expected to sign with any college in the near future and reportedly is considering numerous options, including attending Earl Bell's pole vault school in Jonesboro, Ark.

Watson may be the athlete who makes the most immediate impact for the Ducks. A national junior college champion in the triple jump from Florissant Valley Community College, he has personal records of 25-8 1/4 in the long jump and 53-0 in the triple jump.

"One of the things I feel is imperative for the men's program is to sign athletes who can do two events and do them at the national level," Smith said. "That is Leon."

McGrath, a state champion, is the national prep leader in the 800 with his PR of 1:48.56 and has run the mile in 4:05.28. "Mike brings a lot to the table," Smith said. "He wanted to be a Duck and run at Hayward Field."

Wall was second in the 3,000 and third in 1,500 at the state meet last month. Alcorn ran 8:53 for two miles in the California state meet but is ticketed for possible steeplechase duty at Oregon.

Merz has thrown 223-1 in the javelin, though he missed the spring season because of an arm injury.

Ramme was third in the state meet's 100, fourth in the 200 and ran the anchor leg for Sheldon's winning 4x400 relay team. Tower won the state shot put title (59-1) and was second in the discus (182-2).

Scott Lamb, a 400 runner from Portland with a best of 47.42, has been re-signed by the Ducks after he spent half of last year on a Christian mission and the other half completing his junior college degree.