With spring rolling through Eugene, the city finally gets the chance to live up to its nickname of Tracktown, USA. The outdoor season is just around the corner.
Track and field has always been an important aspect of Oregon sports. Since the days of Bill Bowerman and Steve Prefontaine, the program has been considered one of the premier teams in the country, measuring success through trophies and hardware. This season shouldn’t be any different, as the expectations of winning National Championships are present once again.
Last season, the Oregon men’s team won its first NCAA team title since 1984 — setting a meet record of 88 points — fueled by three individual victories. The team followed that up by winning this year’s Indoor National Championship for the second consecutive season.
The women’s team has enjoyed plenty of success recently as well. The team finished third in the Outdoor Championships and placed second in this years Indoor meet, breaking its record of five-straight titles.
With so much returning talent on both teams, the Ducks are poised for a potential sweep of this year’s championships.
Sophomore distance runner Edward Cheserek is the name to watch on the men’s side. A finalist for the coveted Bowerman trophy, awarded to the sport’s top male and female athletes, Chesrek is poised to continue his run. The Kenyan native has already won six NCAA national titles in his short collegiate career, showing no indication of slowing down.
Seniors Sam Crouser (javelin) and Dakotah Keys (decathlon) should both also enjoy record-setting final seasons.
A speedy pair, Jenna Prandini and Jasmine Todd, lead the women. Both are solid performers in the jumps and sprints.
Prandini, a redshirt junior from Clovis, California, is a National Champion, eight-time All-American and five-time Pac-12 Champion. Todd, a redshirt sophomore, is a two-time All-American out of Chandler, Arizona.
In addition to their individual events, both athletes have also made an impact on the Oregon relay teams.
Joining the established stars of the program is a talented recruiting class. Both the 2015 men and women’s classes were ranked among the top two in the nation by Track and Field News. The women’s team claimed the top ranking for the second-straight year with five All-Americans, while the men’s team was No. 2 with three All-Americans.
Oregon football fans will also be interested to watch several football players participate this season on the track. Names that come to mind are Arthur Delaney, Tony James and Charles Nelson. Devon Allen, who has established himself as both a star wide receiver and hurdler, will miss most of the year after sustaining an injury during the Rose Bowl.
There will be plenty of opportunities to see the Ducks compete within the friendly confines of Historic Hayward Field this year. The Pepsi Team Invitational on April 11, Oregon Relays April 16-18 and the Oregon Twilight on May 8 all promise to be entertaining affairs — with the added bonus of free entry for all Oregon students.
The headliner will once again be the NCAA Championship meet. Beginning June 10, Eugene will play host to the top track and field athletes in the nation. If everything goes as planned, the Ducks should be hoisting up a couple of trophies.
Follow Christopher Keizur on Twitter @chriskeizur