Saturday, April 7
Eugene, OR
All Day
University of Oregon
vs
Pepsi Team Invitational
Photo by: Eric Evans Photography/ University of Oregon
Despite Adverse Conditions, Ducks Soar To Team Titles In Pepsi Meet
04/07/18 | Track and Field
Oregon swept the team titles Saturday at Hayward Field, winning the Pepsi Invitational over BYU, WSU and UW.
EUGENE, Ore. — After Alli Cash missed the indoor season while rehabbing an injury, she wasn't going to let a little wind and rain dampen her spirits upon returning to competition at Hayward Field.
The UO track and field programs hosted the Pepsi Invitational on Saturday, and swept the men's and women's team titles. The Ducks did so despite less than favorable conditions, which couldn't dampen Cash's spirits after she completed a 3,000-meter race.
"It was good; I was really excited just to get back out there," Cash said. "Our team just does a great job of saying, 'We're the Ducks. This is us, this is Oregon.' "
Hayward Field magic might have appeared in liquid form Saturday, but it appeared nonetheless. The UO women built a strong base of points in the field events and throws, then got a sweep of the 100 and 200 from junior Venessa D'Arpino. On the men's side, Tristan James overcame the elements to win both the long jump and triple jump for Oregon, and Sebastian Barajas busted the form chart with a win in the shot put.
James and Barajas helped the UO men amass 171 team points, outdistancing Brigham Young (160), Washington State (157) and Washington (153). The UO women won even more easily, with 185 team points to separate from the second-place tie between WSU and BYU (152), and also UW (112).
Oregon head coach Robert Johnson said he gathered his team before the Pepsi meet, knowing the forecast called for wind and rain. Ducks, he told them, don't allow themselves to be affected by the conditions.
"One of the things we talked about was the competition factor," Johnson said. "To compete and put the big 'O' in front of the other emblems. And I think they did a good job of that."
Maddie Rabing and Kiana Phelps showed early Saturday afternoon they'd gotten the message. Rabing won the hammer with a throw of 194 feet, 10 inches, and Phelps took first in the discus with a mark of 156-3. Then, they went 2-3 in the shot put to squirrel away more team points for Oregon.
ChaQuinn Cook won the triple jump by soaring 41-5, and she was also second in the long jump to teammate Rhesa Foster (19-6 3/4). The Ducks also chalked up event wins from Briyahna DesRosiers in the 400 (54.02), Susan Ejore in the 800 (2:10.22) and Keera Stephen in the 100 hurdles (14.08w).
D'Arpino took the 100 in a very windy 11.33 seconds, but posted a wind-legal PR of 23.45 in the 200. She also ran legs on the two relays teams.
"It was a long day, but it felt good," she said. "… I'm excited to see what happens as the season goes on."
A native of Grants Pass, D'Arpino noted that she's used to running in Saturday's conditions. In high school, she would have been competing this weekend at a meet in Roseburg, she noted.
"So I understand the weather, and I actually used it to my advantage today, I think," D'Arpino said.
On the men's side, Johnson was pleased not just with the two wins by James, but his marks as well. The junior — also an Oregon native, from Salem — leapt 51-6 1/2 in the triple jump and 25-0 1/2 in the long jump. Barajas threw the shot 55-11 to finish first among a field in which he ranked fifth entering the meet.
On the track, Rieker Daniel won the 200 in a windy 21.02, Orwin Emilien ran the 400 in 47.79 to win, and Braxton Canady was timed in a windy 13.80 to win the 110 hurdles.
With the outdoor season still young, many Ducks competed Saturday in the midst of tough training blocks, and in events other than their specialties. In the 800, Mick Stanovsek took second in 1:52.21, and Sam Prakel was third in 1:52.48.
"I think we got as much a we could out of it," Stanovsek said. "Obviously every time you toe the line, you want to win; that's why we come to Oregon."
There was no higher directive than that Saturday for the Ducks from Johnson. Two team titles had the UO coach smiling widely at meet's end, and no amount of rain or wind could change that.
The UO track and field programs hosted the Pepsi Invitational on Saturday, and swept the men's and women's team titles. The Ducks did so despite less than favorable conditions, which couldn't dampen Cash's spirits after she completed a 3,000-meter race.
"It was good; I was really excited just to get back out there," Cash said. "Our team just does a great job of saying, 'We're the Ducks. This is us, this is Oregon.' "
Hayward Field magic might have appeared in liquid form Saturday, but it appeared nonetheless. The UO women built a strong base of points in the field events and throws, then got a sweep of the 100 and 200 from junior Venessa D'Arpino. On the men's side, Tristan James overcame the elements to win both the long jump and triple jump for Oregon, and Sebastian Barajas busted the form chart with a win in the shot put.
James and Barajas helped the UO men amass 171 team points, outdistancing Brigham Young (160), Washington State (157) and Washington (153). The UO women won even more easily, with 185 team points to separate from the second-place tie between WSU and BYU (152), and also UW (112).
Oregon head coach Robert Johnson said he gathered his team before the Pepsi meet, knowing the forecast called for wind and rain. Ducks, he told them, don't allow themselves to be affected by the conditions.
"One of the things we talked about was the competition factor," Johnson said. "To compete and put the big 'O' in front of the other emblems. And I think they did a good job of that."
Maddie Rabing and Kiana Phelps showed early Saturday afternoon they'd gotten the message. Rabing won the hammer with a throw of 194 feet, 10 inches, and Phelps took first in the discus with a mark of 156-3. Then, they went 2-3 in the shot put to squirrel away more team points for Oregon.
ChaQuinn Cook won the triple jump by soaring 41-5, and she was also second in the long jump to teammate Rhesa Foster (19-6 3/4). The Ducks also chalked up event wins from Briyahna DesRosiers in the 400 (54.02), Susan Ejore in the 800 (2:10.22) and Keera Stephen in the 100 hurdles (14.08w).
D'Arpino took the 100 in a very windy 11.33 seconds, but posted a wind-legal PR of 23.45 in the 200. She also ran legs on the two relays teams.
"It was a long day, but it felt good," she said. "… I'm excited to see what happens as the season goes on."
A native of Grants Pass, D'Arpino noted that she's used to running in Saturday's conditions. In high school, she would have been competing this weekend at a meet in Roseburg, she noted.
"So I understand the weather, and I actually used it to my advantage today, I think," D'Arpino said.
On the men's side, Johnson was pleased not just with the two wins by James, but his marks as well. The junior — also an Oregon native, from Salem — leapt 51-6 1/2 in the triple jump and 25-0 1/2 in the long jump. Barajas threw the shot 55-11 to finish first among a field in which he ranked fifth entering the meet.
On the track, Rieker Daniel won the 200 in a windy 21.02, Orwin Emilien ran the 400 in 47.79 to win, and Braxton Canady was timed in a windy 13.80 to win the 110 hurdles.
With the outdoor season still young, many Ducks competed Saturday in the midst of tough training blocks, and in events other than their specialties. In the 800, Mick Stanovsek took second in 1:52.21, and Sam Prakel was third in 1:52.48.
"I think we got as much a we could out of it," Stanovsek said. "Obviously every time you toe the line, you want to win; that's why we come to Oregon."
There was no higher directive than that Saturday for the Ducks from Johnson. Two team titles had the UO coach smiling widely at meet's end, and no amount of rain or wind could change that.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
S/H
/ Track and Field
DIS
/ Track and Field
J
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
SPRINTS
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
MD
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
J
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
TH
/ Track and Field
MD
/ Track and Field
TH
/ Track and Field
MD
/ Track and Field
S/H
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