The Oregon track and field team finished its second indoor meet of the year at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City. Over the two-day racing period, the Ducks set numerous personal bests and new NCAA-leading times.
Chaquin Cook, the defending Pac-12 Champion in the triple jump, set Oregon’s all-time indoor record in her season debut. The junior jumped 42 feet, 11 inches (13.08 meters).
Blake Haney, Cameron Stone, Sam Prakel and Mick Stanovsek won the distance medley relay in nine minutes, 31.87 seconds. For the women, it was the combination of Lilli Burdon, Hannah Waller, Sabrina Southerland, and Jessica Hull who propelled the Ducks to win their DMR heat in 11:00.13, another NCAA-lead time.
Redshirt Junior Cravon Gillespe ran 21.27 seconds in the 200-meter and places second overall. Gillespe is now seventh overall in Oregon history for that event, according to GoDucks.com. Gillespe also won the 60-meter in 6.64 seconds, now third in UO history.
Stanovsek (3:57.90), Reed Brown (3:59.05) and Cooper Teare (3:59.29) all finished under four minutes in the mile for the first time. Stanovsek, a walk-on, set a personal best by seven seconds.
Braxton Canady, a sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida, won his 200-meter heat in 22.10 and set a personal best. Canady said prior to the race that his main goal is just to qualify for indoor regionals.
“After I get the mark I’ll be able to relax and focus on the things I need to focus on,” Canady said. He also won the 60-meter hurdles by posting a meet record 7.78.
Alaysha Johnson, a redshirt junior, won the 60-meter final, in 8.10 seconds. After a rough debut in Washington, Johnson said her next race in New York “would be amazing.” When asked about what Johnson could improve on this track season, she said sharpening her technique was important.
“This year I just want to make sure I get off the blocks as quick as everyone else,” Johnson said. “I’ve found that in past races I’ve been left in the blocks, and it’s really hard for fast to catch fast.”
The team’s next race will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Don Kirby Elite on Feb. 9.