Following a successful indoor regular season, and a repeat victory in the Big Ten Indoor Championship, Oregon men’s and women’s track and field headed out to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Mar. 13 through Mar. 14.

The Ducks placed second in both the men’s and women’s events. The University of Arkansas scored a total of 73.5 points over the weekend, beating the Oregon men out by 33.5 points. The women scored 44 points, just nine points behind the University of Georgia.

The men only had one athlete who placed first in the championships: Peyton Bair, in the heptathlon. The Mississippi State University transfer placed first on both days of the competition, and had a personal best on day two with 6,503 points — a facility and a University of Oregon record in the event. Bair also just received the National Field Athlete of the Year from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

His heptathlete counterpart, Aiden Carter, placed 10th on day one and ninth on day two. He also set a personal best, which
placed him fifth-best in the Oregon record books.

The Ducks were good through the rest of the events, but not as strong as in the heptathlon. In the 800-meter, the Ducks placed fifth after James Harding’s time of 1:46.98 for a 4-point performance. Tomas Palfrey placed ninth in the mile with a time of 4:00.94, and five Oregon athletes placed in the 3000-meter — leading the pack was Simeon Birnbaum, who ran a 7:41.85 good enough for 8 points and second place.

In the field events, the Ducks sent out shot putters Kobe Lawrence and Ben Smith. Lawrence and Smith performed well throughout the season, constantly setting personal bests and new Oregon records. They continued to do the same in the NCAA Championships as Lawrence threw 20.50-meters, a PB and first all-time in the Oregon record books and Smith threw 20.37m, a PB and second in the Ducks’ record books.

The Oregon women were runners up to the Georgia Bulldogs, who scored 53 points to Oregon’s 44.

Three athletes for the women placed first in individual events: Wilma Nielsen, Aaliyah McCormick and Liisa-Maria Lusti. Then, in the distance medley relay, Juliet Cherubet, Lakely Doht-Barron, Silan Ayyildiz and Nielsen collectively ran a 10:48.76 (10 points), and placed first.

Nielsen, who had a great indoor season as she set multiple PBs and took possession of the second fastest mile time in NCAA history, placed first in the mile with a time of 4:40.06 (10 points). She was followed up by Ayyildiz and Cherubet who ran a 4:41.06 and a 4:41.51 respectively. Ayyildiz also competed in the 3000m event, where she finished 13th.

McCormick was the fourth Oregon athlete on the weekend to put their name at the top of the Oregon record books. In the 60-meter hurdles, McCormick placed first after she ran the event in just 7.86 seconds. That time gave the senior a personal best and she took the top place in Oregon history.

The indoor season came to a close, but the Ducks still have the outdoor season to look forward to. Having already started at the Oregon State University PNW Open, the first time the Ducks will be at home this season will be during the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field on Apr. 17 through Apr. 18.