Oregon track and field has been busy winning this season.
Both the men’s and women’s teams won the NCAA Indoor National Championship in Birmingham, Alabama March 11-12. It was only the fourth time a team has swept both and the second time (2013 being the first) Oregon has accomplished such a feat. It was also the sixth title in the last seven years for the women and second in the last three years for the men.
Just last week, Oregon picked up several more victories during the Willie Williams Classic in Tuscon, Arizona and at the Lewis and Clark Spring Break Open in Portland.
In Arizona, redshirt sophomore Devon Allen looked to be in midseason form. He claimed wins in the 200-meter, 110 hurdles and open-100. The men’s and women’s 4×100 teams also took home first. Distance runners Annie Leblanc and Raevyn Rogers both took home several wins for the women, Leblanc in the 1500 and 800 and Rogers in the 400.
And up north in Portland, distance runner Jaremy Elkaim finished first in the 1500.
Now the Ducks turn towards the outdoor season. The men are looking to claim their third straight outdoor title, while the women are looking to go back-to-back after winning their first title in 30 years last season.
Oregon opens the outdoor season at Stanford competing in the Stanford Invitational. Both the Willie Williams and Spring Break Open were individual competitions for the Ducks, but the meet at Stanford is the first team meet for the Ducks where they will receive a team score against other schools.
Someone Oregon fans will be keeping an eye on this year is Allen. He suffered a knee injury in the 2015 Rose Bowl that derailed his football season and put his track future in jeopardy. But after stellar performances in the early going, the 2014 110 meter hurdles champ looks ready to help Oregon defend its title this season.
Another Duck of interest this season will be distance runner Edward Cheserek. Cheserek, one of the most decorated track athletes in Oregon history, is a junior this year. He will look to add to his already illustrious award collection, which includes being a 14-Time All American and a 13-Time NCAA Champion.
On the women’s side, Rogers will do her best to see that Oregon builds off of last year’s success. Rogers had a historic freshman campaign, which featured her winning the outdoor 800-meter title in the fastest time ever posted by a freshman. The NCAA Champion and All American will run the 800 and 4×400 this season.
The two day Stanford Invitational begins this Friday, April 1.
Follow Gus Morris on Twitter @JustGusMorris