University of Oregon
Mt. SAC Relays
Ducks Get Three-Meet Weekend Off to Strong Start
04/19/18 | Track and Field
The Oregon track and field teams kicked off a busy three-meet weekend on Thursday with good showings in the heptathlon, steeplechase and 5,000 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., as well as in the hammer throw at the Mt. SAC Relays in Torrance, Calif.
How it Happened - Bryan Clay Invitational: Freshman Keira McCarrell (5,161 points) and senior Kylee O'Connor (5,084) finished first and second, respectively, in the second group of the women's heptathlon, with both Ducks coming away with personal-bests their first time competing in the event collegiately. McCarrell's final total was more than 800 points better than her high school PR.
After besting her previous PR by nearly two feet in the shot put on Wednesday, McCarrell took the lead for good with a dominant victory in the javelin (151-11), before closing it out with a big career-best (2:26.91) in the 800 meters. O'Connor won the 100-meter hurdles in a PR 14.39 and the 200 meters in a wind-aided PR 24.49, and she also set a personal-best in the long jump (18-5.25).
Jackson Mestler (below) ran a PR of almost nine seconds in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to kick off the evening of distance events for UO. The sophomore finished in 8:55.77 to take second in his heat and eighth overall, breaking the nine-minute mark for the first time in his career and putting himself safely into NCAA West Regional qualifying position. Sophomore Judy Pendergast followed suit in the women's steeplechase, finishing in 10:41.45 for a nine-second PR of her own.
Freshman Cooper Teare moved into the fast heat of the men's 5,000 meters and finished as the top Duck, eighth overall, with a nearly 20-second PR of 13:46.46. Redshirt sophomore Tanner Anderson also performed well, crossing the line two spots behind Teare in 13:48.64, a career-best of almost 14 seconds. The race moved both Ducks firmly into position to qualify for the NCAA West Regional meet.
In the top heat of the women's 5,000 meters, redshirt senior Samantha Nadel (below) ran 15:57.48 to place third overall and second among collegians, and Carmela Cardama Baez was 10th in 16:12.15. Sophomore Katie Rainsberger wrapped up the night with her first 5,000 of the season, finishing in 16:48.11.
How it Happened - Mt. SAC Relays: A pair of hammer throwers got the Ducks' weekend at the famous Mt. SAC Relays started. Redshirt sophomore Max Lydum threw a career-best 200-8 to finish second in the men's collegiate hammer, surpassing the 200-foot mark for the first time in his career. The Oregon native bested his previous best of 196-6 by more than four feet.
Sophomore Maddie Rabing finished with a top throw of 180-10 in the women's collegiate hammer.
Up Next: The Ducks will be spread out between three California meets on Friday. Oregon will be in action in 13 events at the Mt. SAC Relays, as well as the men's and women's 1,500 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational and the men's javelin at the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Calif.
Players Mentioned
