University of Oregon
Stanford Invitational
Burdon, Nadel Lead Solid Distance Opener
03/30/18 | Track and Field
Lilli Burdon won the women's 5,000 meters and Samantha Nadel moved into fourth all-time at Oregon in the 10,000 meters
STANFORD, Calif. - Lilli Burdon won the 5,000 meters and Samantha Nadel moved into fourth all-time in the 10,000 meters to lead the Oregon track and field's distance runners to a solid outdoor debut late Friday night at the Stanford Invitational.
Friday's showing by the distance group comes on the heels of a strong opener for UO's sprinters, jumper and throwers last weekend, and gives the Ducks momentum as they return home to host the 28th edition of the Pepsi Team Invitational next Saturday, April 7, at Historic Hayward Field.
How it Happened: Coming off all-America cross country and indoor seasons, Burdon used a terrific kick on the final lap of the women's 5,000 meter invitational to win in 15:42.65, a big personal-best and the seventh-fastest time in UO history.
Nadel, a redshirt senior with only one season of outdoor eligibility remaining, ran 33:01.82 in the women's 10,000 meter invitational to take the No. 4 spot on the Oregon all-time list.
Nadel's terrific 2018 debut came in a loaded field that also featured the first races since cross country for proven veterans Katie Rainsberger and Alli Cash, and Carmela Cardama Baez ran a very respectable 33:36.73 in her first-ever 10,000 meters to place three spots behind Nadel. In the second section of the men's 10,000, Tanner Anderson ran a 14-second career-best of 29:07.39 to place third, and Travis Neuman was sixth in 29:09.59.
Sam Prakel (3:339.75), Mick Stanovsek (3:39.96) and Reed Brown (3:40.28), all NCAA Indoor qualifiers in the mile, embodied Oregon's 2018 motto of 'Fly In Formation' with a 3-4-5 finish in the men's 1,500 meter invitational. Stanovsek and Brown both ran new collegiate PRs.
Junior James West ran a nine-second PR of 13:52.29 to take third in section two of the men's 5,000, and Susan Ejore, another junior transfer, made a late charge over the final 100 meters to place third in section two of the women's 1,500 meters, running a PR of almost four seconds (4:21.39).
Both Cooper Teare (14:06.10) and Amanda Gehrich (16:32.34) ran the 5,000 for the first time and Jackson Mestler (14:06.03) was fifth in section three of the 5,000.
Up Next: The Ducks will welcome Washington, Washington State and BYU to Historic Hayward Field next Saturday for the 2018 Pepsi Team Invitational. The first field is tentatively scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. PT, with the first track event slated for 2:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
