The No. 1 Oregon women secured 17 entries to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships — including both the 4×100-meter and mile relay events — and the No. 2 Oregon men secured 16 entries as the Ducks made it through the NCAA West Regional competition at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Two of the Duck men will make appearances in more than one event. Senior Andrew Wheating qualified at 800 meters with a quarterfinal time of one minute, 46.44 seconds, the nation’s fastest time, as well as at 1,500 meters (3:37.52, a personal best).
“I got through both races and I feel pretty good, so mission accomplished,” Wheating said in a media release.
Senior Ashton Eaton, already entered in the field in the men’s decathlon where he is heavily favored to win a third NCAA title, uncorked a long jump of 26 feet, 4 1/2 inches to finish second in the competition in that event. Only Latin Berry, who recorded a leap of 26-8.5 in 1989, is ahead of Eaton on the Oregon all-time long jump list.
Six Duck women will be competing in more than one event at nationals: Mandy White in the 100 meters (a personal best 11.57 seconds) and the 4×100 meters relay; Keshia Baker in the women’s 400 meters (51.30) and the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays; Jamesha Youngblood in the long jump (21-3.25), triple jump (42-6.25) and both relays; Nicole Blood in the 5,000 meters (16:38.90) and 10,000 meters (34:33.32); Alex Kosinski in the 1,500 meters (4:19.99) and 5,000 meters (16:34.95); and Brianne Theisen in the heptathlon and 4×400 relay (3:30.23, a school record).
Beyond the decathlon, in which Eaton and senior Marshall Ackley have already qualified for nationals, the Oregon men will have multiple competitors in five events, including three of the four middle-distance and distance races.
Aside from Wheating, the Ducks saw freshman Elijah Greer (1:49.51) and junior Travis Thompson (1:47.60) break through at 800 meters, while Matthew Centrowitz (3:46.09) and A.J. Acosta (3:46.27) also qualified at 1,500 meters.
“My main race plan was to qualify,” Centrowitz said in a media release. “This regional is really nerve-wracking. I’m excited to get it over with and go to Eugene.”
Oregon got a pleasant surprise from senior Jordan McNamara (14:07.14), who qualified at 5,000m with senior transfer Michael Maag (14:02.63).
Eaton will be joined by Vernell Warren (24-10.5) in the long jump, and the javelin competition will feature Oregon’s Cyrus Hostetler (228-7) and Alex Wolff (227-3).
Senior Mattie Bridgmon (34:34.79) will join Blood in Eugene to give the Duck women two potential scorers at 10,000 meters. The women’s 800 meters competition will feature a pair of Oregon freshmen, as Anne Kesselring (2:06.71) and Becca Friday (2:07.01) made it through the weekend without incident.
Highly touted freshman Jordan Hasay (4:19.95) will make her first NCAA outdoor appearance in the 1,500 meters, along with senior Zoe Buckman (4:18.93) and Kosinski (4:19.99).
“I’m just happy I made it through,” Hasay said in a media release. “I maybe struggled with the heat a little bit today.”
Luke Puskedra (10,000 meters, 29:47.54), Jordan Stray (hammer throw, 209-3) and Melissa Gergel (pole vault, 13-9.25) round out the Ducks’ list of qualifiers.
The Oregon women suffered a major setback as sophomore Amber Purvis failed to quality at 200 meters. Purvis breezed through the opening round but false-started in the quarterfinal race, immediately disqualifying herself. She was considered a threat to win the 200 meters at NCAAs.
Freshman Mac Fleet, looking to extend his exceptional freshman season, finished 10th in his heat of the men’s 1,500 meters and failed to advance as well.
[email protected]