After three days of action, the Oregon men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams left Nebraska as the Big Ten Champions. It was the first time since the 1996-97 academic year that one school’s men’s and women’s cross country, indoor track and outdoor track combined to win all six available conference championships in a single season.

On the first day, only one athlete from Oregon came in first in their respective event, but that number only got larger as the weekend progressed. Senior Luke Tewalt got things going for the Ducks on Friday, earning first place in the men’s 10,000-meter with a time of 29:49.24. Tewalt, a transfer from Wake Forest University, was one of five Oregon athletes in that event to finish in the top 10.

The following day, the Ducks picked up right where they left off and shone even brighter. Three more athletes came out on top: one in Tewalt’s event, and the other two in their qualification heats. Junior Benjamin Balazs clinched his second-straight Big Ten outdoor title in the 3000-meter steeplechase, which he finished in 8:49.02.

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, senior Aaliyah McCormick was the winner in the first round, finishing in 12.87. Senior teammate Micaela De Mello came in third place, which also qualified for the next round. She finished in 13.02. 

The men’s 100-meter hurdles had just one Oregon representative, who had no problem rising above his competitors. Junior Kai Graves-Blanks finished first in 13.49 to claim a spot in the next round.

On the final day, eight athletes from Oregon earned first place in their respective events to lead the Ducks to the Big Ten dual Triple Crown.

In the women’s triple jump, sophomore Sharifa Davronova jumped 14.13m in just one attempt to secure first place. Also on the podium was sophomore Cassandra Atkins, who secured third place with a 13.52m jump.

In the women’s discus throw, freshman Marie Josée Bovele-Linaka threw the farthest. She made four attempts, with her farthest throw going 59.01m. Despite hitting that spot on just her second try, no one else was able to pass it for the rest of the event.

The women’s 1500m saw Juliet Cherubet take first place, finishing in 4:16.53. Just a few steps behind her was Wilma Nielsen, who snuck into the top five with a time of 4:20.28. The men’s 1500m also featured multiple Ducks in the top 10. After setting a new NCAA record in the event earlier in the season at Hayward Field, Simeon Birnbaum secured the Big Ten title in 4:00.98. Less than five seconds later, Elliott Cook claimed eighth place in 4:03.07. Just a step behind him was Jeffery Rogers, earning ninth place in 4:03.15.

For the second day in a row, McCormick, the reigning NCAA champion in the event, came in first in the women’s 100m hurdles. She finished in 12.43 to claim her second consecutive conference event title. A couple steps behind her was De Mello, who earned third place in 12.63.

In the men’s shot put, freshman Ben Smith secured first place with a 20.88m shot, beating his first three attempts. Also in the top five was sophomore Kobe Lawrence, who earned fourth place with a 19.66m shot.

The women’s 5000-meter featured five Ducks, all in the top eight. Above them all was Dalia Frias, who finished first in 16:58.74. The men’s side saw three Oregon athletes in the top seven, but none faster than Tayson Echohawk, who took the first spot in 14:08.84.