Oregon track and field won three events in its first meet of the season on Saturday, the Washington Preview in Seattle.
Head Coach Robert Johnson said earlier this week that he would evaluate much of his team’s young talent on Saturday, before entering more of the veterans next weekend in Kentucky.
“It was a chance to break up the monotony and compete against someone other than ourselves in practice,” Johnson told GoDucks.com.
The most impressive event of the day came on the women’s side in the 60m. Jasmine Todd ran a 7.15, qualifying as the best time this year and tenth all-time in the collegiate ranks. Bowerman Award candidate Jenna Prandini finished third (7.24), while freshman Ariana Washington clocked in at third (7.41).
Sasha Wallace took home the win in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.27. Lauren Crockett and Chancey Summers finished second and third, respectively, in the long jump.
Matt Jablonski stole the show for the Ducks’ men team, winning the 3000m with a time of 8.03.07. He bested former NCAA Champion German Fernandez and is now the collegiate leader in the event for this year.
Josh Melu finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 14.85m. Last year’s U.S. Junior Champion Cole Walsh (pole vault) Marcus Chambers (200m) and Jake Leingang (mile) each finished fourth in their respective events.
Oregon will next compete in a two-day meet meet in Lexington, Ken. beginning next Friday. The Ducks will face stiff competition before the second USTFCCA Polls are released on Jan. 26th, as five of the top ten teams will compete on the men’s side and seven of ten for the women.
Follow Jack Heffernan on Twitter @JHeffy13