Coach Robert Johnson and the Oregon track team cam now turn their attention to the postseason: The Pac-12 meets next week in Los Angeles, the west regionals in Austin, Texas and the NCAA championships at Hayward Field in early June.
Towards the end of the Oregon Twilight meet, the Ducks recognized their 19 seniors, including the most decorated senior class ever for the women’s team. The Ducks won four straight indoor national titles and added a cross country title this year, setting up an outside chance of a rare triple crown if the Ducks can capture the team title at the national championships.
It was also a homecoming for several former Ducks, including hammer throw winner Britney Henry and Galen Rupp, among others. Rupp was initially listed on the heat sheets for the 8o0 meters but made a late switch to run the 3,000. Rupp spent the first six laps running comfortably in second place before gliding into first on the final lap and clocking a 7:46.34, the second-fastest time in the world this year.
Fellow Olympian Matthew Centrowitz took first in the 800 in 1:47.95.
Though De’Anthony Thomas was once again a late scratch, members of Mark Helfrich’s squad went 1-2 in the 100 meters with Dior Mathis barely edging out B.J. Kelly for first. The pair was also part of the Ducks’ winning 4×100 meter team and Kelly added another third place finish in the 200.
The surprise of the meet was the performance of Oregon’s pole vaulters. Sammie Clark established a new personal record to win the women’s competition, and, not to be out-done, Matt Hidalgo set a PR on his way to winning the men’s pole vault.
“I definitely had a rough start (to the season),” Clark said. “I no-heighted my first three meets, but that only inspired me. I’m excited about the future.”
Austin Ouderkirk made it a 1-2 finish for Oregon in the men’s pole vault, clearing a seasonal best 5.10m, just behind Hidalgo’s 5.20m clearance that made him the first Duck to clear that height in three years.
The pole vaulters weren’t the only ones setting personal bests. Liz Brenner won the javelin competition — her first collegiate victory — with a PR, and Jillian Weir finished second in the hammer throw with a new PR, the third-best mark in Oregon history.