The recruitment for John I. Leonard senior Ryan Pickering has come to an end. Tomorrow, the two time state champion will announce his decision to run for the University of Oregon. The camaraderie of the team and the potential to compete for national championship over his four year career is what sold Pickering on the Ducks.
“Well, I think it was just the potential of the guys that I heard were also going there and with some of the guys that are returning I think we have a good chance of winning a national championship in cross country over the next four years. I think we have a really good shot like maybe more than once. Everyone knows that Nike is right around the corner which is nice but that’s not why.”
The other finalist for his services was Florida State; a team many believed was the clear cut favorite. Pickering says he had envisioned leaving Florida all along but it was a late push from head coach Bob Braman that kept the Seminoles in the hunt.
“Initially, before I had met with Coach Braman I was trying to get out of Florida because you just don’t hear that much about people that are good in Florida but when I met him I actually liked it a lot in Tallahassee. When I went to Oregon though the atmosphere was totally different all the trails and thinks like that. I just liked the school and the people that we’re going there. Both places are good for running it was just the people I was running with is what I chose to base it on.”
The distance standout is unsure of the events he will be running his freshman year but is hoping to start out with the shorter events.
“I told them I don’t want to just jump in the distance and be put in the 5K or 10K. I’d like to try the 1500 or 5000 for my first year, I wouldn’t mind that. I wouldn’t mind running the longer stuff but if I turn out to be a good 1500 or 5K guy I’d like to stay in that event and validate if I’m good enough in that distance or should move up.”
On Pickering’s visit to Eugene he got experience the aura and the history of the Oregon program.
“There are billboards all over Eugene about track and field even at the airport. I went to Hayward field after and it’s a lot different than on television but it’s really big. The stadium is huge and there is a big jumbotron. I had a chance to meet the rest of the Oregon team. It’s sort of awkward at first because you see thee the people and you know how good they are and you wonder what to say to them but they are normal runners. There is such an aura there because everything is track and field oriented because that is what they do there.”
The future Duck plans to major in something math and science related with plans of going into marine biology. He has high hopes for the next four years including new personal bests and national title hopes.
“I’d like to win some national championship whether it is cross country or track. There is nobody saying can’t do it. I know it takes a lot of hard work and skill. Next year, I’d like to make the varsity team and travel in track and make it to national meets. So I’ll be working at those two goals next year and just build up. I’d like to get to get my record for the 1500M under 3:40. There is no reason I shouldn’t be able to do that and for the 5K next year hopefully, you never know, go under 14, then under 13:30. It’s a stretch but it’s possible.”
What kind of runner will the Ducks be getting?
“They are going to get a guy that is going to work very hard. That is why I am going there. They aren’t bringing me into slack off and not work hard. I’m going to contribute to the team and work as hard as I can to make the team better.”
