University of Oregon
OSU High Performance
Washington Sees Sunny Skies Ahead
04/25/18 | Track and Field
Three-time NCAA champion Ariana Washington wants to put up fast times this spring, the better to distance herself from a disappointing season indoors.
Ariana Washington has seen the highs.
Double NCAA Outdoor titles, in the 100 and 200 meters, in 2016. A trip to the Summer Olympics later that year, as a member of Team USA's relay pool. Another 200-meter NCAA title, during the 2017 indoor season. A third-place finish in the 100 at the 2017 USA Outdoor championships, and a trip to the World Championships.
And now, Washington has seen the lows, too. During the recently completed 2018 indoor season, Oregon's eight-time all-American ran season bests of 7.38 seconds in the 60, and 23.73 in the 200. Neither was close to her personal records. Washington ran only the 60 at the MPSF championship meet, and didn't qualify for nationals.
How to describe that roller coaster?
" 'Whirlwind' is probably a good word," Washington said this week.
Washington met with local media this week, ahead of her appearances in the 100 and 200 meters in the Desert Heat Classic meet hosted by Arizona this weekend (another group of Ducks will compete in Corvallis at the OSU High Performance meet). Washington did so with the sun shining on her face, and aviator sunglasses providing a glittering reflection of all that light.
"Definitely better now that we're outside," she said.
With teammates like Deajah Stevens and Raevyn Rogers now in the professional ranks, Washington is a high-profile holdover from Oregon's Triple Crown winning team from 2016-17. She played a huge role in that success, earning four all-American honors during the 2017 indoor and outdoor seasons.
That proved to be a tough act to follow. During the 2018 indoor season, Washington never could get untracked. That weighed on her confidence. She got to the point of dreading race day.
"There was just a lot going on with me, mentally and physically," Washington said. "I didn't want to race, but I knew I had to; whatever the time was going to be, it was going to be. I definitely dreaded indoors. But I like outdoors. It's good to be outside."
Oregon coach Robert Johnson is happy to see his star sprinter back in a good place.
"She continues to progress and continues to get better," Johnson said. "We'll take all of that. For her to start getting back to the promise she showed a year or so ago is thrilling."
At the 2017 World Championships, Washington reached the semifinals in the 100. She didn't race again until January, kicking off her indoor season with two rust-busting 60-meter races at the UW Preview.
The only problem: The rust never really came off. Washington's fastest meet of the indoor slate was the Don Kirby Elite in early February; she posted season-best times in the 60 and 200, neither good enough to qualify for nationals.
"I've had a lot to deal with personally; no one else really knows that," Washington said. "But when it comes to the track, the race is always going to be there – and I'm either ready to run, or I'm not. I've learned that the last few months."
Spring break in early April provided a reset, she said. Both for Washington personally, and for a UO women's squad that finished just off the podium at the NCAA Indoor championships, in fifth place.
"Spring break was a total reset," Washington said. "I worked really hard during spring break, kind of got my mind together. Just ready for outdoors. I'm ready to run fast."
No longer is Washington dreading race day. The recent brilliant spring weather in Eugene could foretell, she has hinted, a brilliant final season for Washington at Hayward Field.
Last week at the Mt. SAC Relays, Washington posted the No. 12 time in the NCAA this season in the 100, 11.17 seconds. She also ran 23.31 for 200 meters, a big jump over her times indoors.
"I have pretty lofty goals; just to run really fast," she said. "And you'll know when I run them."
Bring it on, Johnson said.
"She's competed in the Olympics, she's competed in a World Championships, she's (won) medals," he said. "She's definitely one of the crème de la crème as far as goal-setting would be."
For Ariana Washington, it seems the sun is shining again.
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