Mililani High School (Hawaii) three-star running back Vavae Malepeai will join Byron Marshall, Thomas Tyner and Royce Freeman in Oregon’s backfield, per multiple reports. 247Sports ranks Malepeai as the No. 34 running back in the 2016 class.
Oregon men’s and women’s outdoor track and field each captured 2015 NCAA championships over the weekend. Edward Cheserek, Eric Jenkins and Will Geohegan finished first, second and fourth in the 5,000 to defend their 2014 title. Oregon men won with 85 points, Florida finished second (56) and Arkansas took third (53).
Oregon women clinched their first track and field championship since 1985 with 59 points, finishing ahead of Kentucky (50) and Texas A&M (47). Jenna Prandini broke her own school record and set the fourth fastest time in the world with 22.21 in the 200; she collected 26 points for the Ducks. Freshman Raevyn Rogers won the 800 in 1:59.71, the fourth fastest time in school history.
Men’s track and field claimed two individual titles in their repeat championship quest. Cheserek earned his seventh individual title with a 28:58.92 finish in the men’s 10,000; Jenkins followed in second. Oregon senior Sam Crouser took first with a 259-foot, nine-inch toss in javelin.
Oregon infielder Mitchell Tolman was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-West Region second team and Gold Glove Team, one of nine players nationwide to receive the latter honor and the first Duck. The third baseman became Oregon’s all-time leader in doubles (47), RBI (128), on-base percentage (.433), multiple-RBI games (32) and consecutive starts (128) during the 2015 season and finished the year with a .982 fielding percentage. Tolman was picked Tuesday in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh round, one of six rostered Ducks selected.
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