Oregon’s track and field team started strong on the first day of the Columbia East West Challenge on Friday as the men and women sprinters and distance medley relay teams dominated, winning every event of the day except one.
The day began with a NCAA collegiate record when the women’s distance medley relay team finished in 10 minutes, 48.77 seconds, two seconds faster than the previous record set by Tennessee.
Freshman Lilli Burdon led off for the Ducks, running the 1,200-meter in 3 minutes, 20.55 seconds. She was followed by senior Ashante Horsley in the 400. After a 53.76 second leg, Horsley handed it off to Raevyn Rogers to run the 800 in 2:03.53. Freshmen Katie Rainsberger finished off with a 4:30.92 mile.
Then, it was the men’s turn. The team of Matthew Maton (1,200), Cameron Stone (400), Matt Stanovsek (800) and Edward Cheserek (1,600) finished in 9:30.86 for first place.
The Oregon women swept both the 60 meter dash and the 60 meter hurdles. Hannah Cunliffe won the 60-meter in 7.13 seconds — .01 second off her own school record. Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington followed in second and third, respectively, marking personal record times of 7.23 and 7.30.
In the 60 meter hurdles, Sasha Wallace improved her NCAA-leading time to 7.91 seconds, breaking Brianna Rollin’s Armory collegiate record. Alaysha Johnson and Rhesa Foster followed her across the line with times of 8.19 and 8.39.
The men also fared well in the 60 meter as Kyree King and Damarcus Simpson finished first and second. With a time of 6.62 seconds, King tied Samie Parker’s school record. Simpson’s time of 6.69 moved him to second in school history. Julius Shellmire finished in fifth in 6.86.
Follow Hannah Bonnie on Twitter @hbonnie03