Oregon track and field wrapped up NCAA Western Regionals with 32 entries to the finals in June. On the second day of competition, one Duck broke a school record while others qualified in multiple events.
Oregon will take 17 entries on the men’s side and 15 on the women’s to the NCAA Championships in June.
“Anytime you go through a championship meet there are going to be ebbs and flows,” head coach Robert Johnson said in an interview with GoDucks. “But to come out of it and have 32 entries going back to Eugene is great.”
Distance events highlighted the day for the Ducks, as they advanced three men’s and two women’s competitors in the 1,500 meters. Sam Prakel, Matthew Maton and Blake Haney will move on for the men’s team, and on the women’s Annie Leblanc and Lilli Burdon will compete for Oregon. In the 5,000, Edward Cheserek and Jake Leingang in the men’s and Alli Cash in the women’s, each qualified.
In shorter distance events, it was the the reigning Pac-12 women’s team that took the spotlight.
Alaysha Johnson and Sasha Wallace both made a splash to advance in the 100 meter hurdles. Johnson ran the first sub-13-second 100 meters in Oregon history for a school record, 12.97.
The women improved upon a strong day, advancing both the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays.
The men’s short relay team of Christian Sourapas, Travonn White, Marcus Chambers and Devon Allen took third in their heat for the advance. Allen went on to win the 110 hurdles, 13.37 and a PR in the 200 meters, 20.62.
“We’re excited to be going home and get that Hayward Field magic,” Johnson said to GoDucks. “We have a tough road ahead of us and we’re going to need all of the Eugene faithful over those four days.”
Follow Madison Layton on Twitter @MadisonLayton01