EUGENE -- Andrew Wheating rode a sizzling kick to a dramatic victory in the 1,500 meters Friday in an Oregon Twilight track and field meet that was interrupted briefly by an appearance by Sen. Barack Obama.

Lagging on the back straight, Wheating shifted gears as the crowd of 5,124 gave an audible gasp, and he flew to victory in a time of 3 minutes, 38.60 seconds.

Wheating's time bettered the automatic qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Trials, is the best 1,500 run by an American this year and moves the 6-foot-5 sophomore to No. 6 on the all-time Oregon list, behind only Joaquim Cruz, Matt Centrowitz, Dub Myers, Steve Prefontaine and Arne Kvalheim.

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Wow. Andrew Wheating does it again, and Barack Obama shows he wasn't a college hurdler. There was a lot going on at the Oregon Twilight

Posted by Ken Goe, The Oregonian May 10, 2008 10:49AM