Steele named UO assistant.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Dan Steele, a volunteer coach with the Oregon track and field team for the past two years, has been hired as a full-time assistant coach. The 34-year-old Steele will coach the sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and heptathletes for the Duck women's program.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Steele was a two-time all-American in the 400-meter hurdles at Eastern Illinois, and won the NCAA title in that event in 1992.

He specialized in the decathlon at the international level. Steele placed fifth in the decathlon at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, eighth at the 1999 IAAF World Championships, and second at the 1999 Pan-Am Games.

In 2002, Steele competed in the Winter Olympics, earning a bronze medal in the four-man bobsled with driver Brian Shimer. Steele was inducted into the Eastern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Stanford picked to win Pac-10 soccer title

Defending champion Stanford has been voted as the favorite to win this year's Pac-10 women's soccer title, while Oregon is picked to finish in last place.

The Cardinal received six of 10 first-place votes in the Pac-10 preseason coaches' poll. UCLA, which received the remaining first-place votes, was tabbed for second, followed by Arizona State, USC, California, Washington, Washington State, Oregon State, Arizona and Oregon.

Six teams from the Pac-10 competed in the NCAA women's soccer championships last season, tying the ACC for the most teams in the tournament. Stanford advanced to the quarterfinals, losing 4-2 in an overtime shootout to eventual champion Portland.

OSU women 3-0 on Costa Rica soccer tour

With two matches still to play, the Oregon State women's soccer team is 3-0 during a 12-day tour of Costa Rica. The Beavers will face the Costa Rica national team on Thursday and Saturday before returning home.

Janelle Joy leads OSU with four goals in three games, and Stacey Mescher has three assists and two goals. The Beavers have beaten first-division champions Desamparados twice, 3-0 and 4-1, and also own a 4-3 victory over Goicochea.

Coston leads by five

in Northwest pro tourney

SPOKANE - Jeff Coston of Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club in Bellingham, Wash., shot a 69 on Tuesday for a five-shot lead after two rounds of the Pacific Northwest Section Club Professional Championship at Spokane Country Club.

Coston's 132 pace leads Bryant Tunstill and Todd Erwin, who are tied for second.

Todd O'Neal of Emerald Valley Golf Course had a 144 total to tie for 17th place, and Vance Lynch of Shadow Hills Golf and Country Club was at 148 to tie for 40th.