Before legendary coach Bill Dellinger retired he had become an expert in training 3,000 meter steeplechasers.  Oregon’s last all-American award in this event was Brett Holts’ seventh place finish in 2004.  Last year Chris Winter came very close to scoring for the Ducks at the NCAA meet.  He was out-run by two runners and finished ninth.  He finished a career with four top-four Pac-10 finishes (2009 crown) and ran in the NCAA final twice.

Top five of the ‘00s (top time, all-time (a-t) UO ranking, accomplishments, all-American awards, career)

1.      Brett Holts 8:42.03, a-a, 7^th ’04 NCAA steeple, 5^th ’05 Pac-10 steeple, (2x a-a, 1 xXC a-a), ’02-‘05

2.      Chris Winter 8:42.03, 2 time NCAA finalist, 2009 Pac-10 champion, 4x Pac-10 top 4, ’06-‘09

3.      Kyle Alcorn 8:44.72, ’05 NCAA semifinalist, 7^th ’05 Pac-10, top freshman in ‘04, ’08 NCAA champion for Arizona State ’04-‘05

4.      Junior Isaac Stoutenburgh 8:52.66, two-time Pac-10 competitor, ’08-

Top runners of other decades (top time, all-time (a-t) UO ranking, accomplishments, all-American awards in event, career)

            90s – Danny Lopez 8:28.44, #4 UO a-t, 2^nd 1990 NCAA and Pac-10 champion, ’92 Olympic semifinalist ’89-90

                   9 all-American awards by five runners, 4 by Rick Mestler (including one from 1989)

            80s – Ken Martin 8:20.97, UO SR, 2^nd ’80 NCAA, ’80 Pac-10 champion in Steeplechase and 5,000 meters, 13:37.49 #9 a-t 5k, 2x World Cross country competitor, ’79-‘80

                      Dan Nelson 8:34.19, #7 UO a-t, ’87 NCAA champion, ’91 and ’93 (10k) world championship competitor, 3x World Cross country competitor, ’82-’83, ‘87

            70s -  Steve Savage 8:29.6, #5 UO a-t, three times top three at NCAA, ’71 Pac-8 champion, ’72 Olympian, ’69-‘71

                      Don Clary 8:26.9, #3 UO a-t, 5^th ’78 NCAA, ’84 Olympian (5k), 3x World Cross Country competitor, 13:45.2 5k,’76-‘79

            60s – Mike Lehner 8:46.0, 2^nd ’63 and ’64 NCAA, 3^rd in ’62, ‘62-‘64

                      Clayton Steinke three time all-American  (and one at six miles) ’62-‘64

Oregon has 32 all-Americans and two NCAA champions in this event.