University of Oregon
Pepsi Team Invitational (vs. Washington/Kentucky)
Track And Field Teams Sweep Pepsi Invitational
04/12/15 | Track and Field
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — Host Oregon swept the Pepsi Team Invitational at Hayward Field on Saturday, besting both Kentucky and Washington in a triangular meet before 3,428 fans and a national TV audience watching on Pac-12 Networks.
How It Happened: While it's early in the outdoor season and the Ducks are in the middle of rigorous training, the team fielded most all of its top contenders in both the men's and women's competitions. Edward Cheserek and Eric Jenkins led a 1-2 finish in the 5,000 to help the UO men pile up 162 team points, well ahead of both the Huskies (115) and Wildcats (110).
On the women's side, Oregon scored 138 points to best Kentucky (124) and UW (119), with the Ducks getting a strong showing in the middle distances and wins in the field events from the likes of Jenna Prandini in the long jump and Jasmine Todd in the triple jump. "It's always fun to compete here, jump in front of the crowd and feel a little bit of the Hayward magic," Prandini said.
Chambers Breaks Out: On a day when the weather was all over the map, and with the championship season still well off in the distance, Saturday wasn't a day for many dramatic marks. An exception was provided by Oregon's Marcus Chambers, who put on a show in the sprints.
Chambers won the 200 meters in a wind-aided 20.71 seconds, took the 400 in a personal-best 47.09 and answered a kick by Kentucky's runner in the third turn of the 4x400-meter anchor leg as Oregon won in 3:12.30. "We have the best fans in the country, so we just want to go out there, compete, try to win every single race," Chambers said. "We want to dominate everybody we go against and show them that we're working hard, and we're trying to bring back another outdoor title."
Cabral Makes His Return: Senior hurdler Johnathan Cabral made his return to Hayward Field from a knee injury suffered in the 2014 postseason, winning the 110 hurdles in 13.71. "It felt great," Cabral said. "I missed it. I missed coming out and competing here, I missed being cheered on by the crowd and running with my teammates. It was just great."
Blue Ribbon Day for UO Women: Hammer thrower Jillian Weir and javelin thrower Felicia Odle kicked off the day for the UO women by winning their events. It was Oregon's first home meet since the departure from the program of Haley Crouser, and Odle stepped up with a personal best of 141 feet, 10 inches for her first career win.
Prandini and Todd added wins in the jumps, and the Ducks cleaned up in the middle distances. Molly Grabill and Maggie Schmaedick went 1-2 in the 5,000, Frida Berge and Alli Cash did likewise in the 3,000 steeplechase and Annie Leblanc and Ashley Maton followed suit in the 1,500.
Taking The Long View: Oregon's men's distance team continues to position itself for the postseason. A week after Edward Cheserek and Eric Jenkins ran a controlled pace to put up a likely qualifying time in the 10,000 meters, they and Will Geoghegan finished three abreast in the 5,000 on Saturday.
That same trio finished 1-2-3 in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March. "You take some time to soak it up, but once the weekend's over it's back to work," Jenkins said. "This community loves outdoor track and field. We want to put on a show for them in a couple months when the championships come around."
Dual-Sport Threats: Two UO football players, Charles Nelson and Tony Brooks-James, contributed points Friday. Brooks-James won the 100 in 10.72, with Nelson taking fifth in 10.94. Nelson was third in the long jump, and the two were on the 4x100 relay team that dropped the baton and did not finish.
"It's been a little difficult managing football and track practice at the same time," said Nelson, who participated in the football team's full-contact scrimmage Friday. "A little stressful and a little wearing on the body, but it's been fun so far."
Teachable Moments: The men's 4x100 relay provided one of a few of what UO coach Robert Johnson called "teachable moments" from the meet. Brooks-James led off for the Ducks and was part of the missed first exchange.
The UO women's 4x100 team also had a messy exchange, the third, and steeplechaser Tanguy Pepiot cost himself a win by slowing up before the finish line and being passed by a Washington runner.
Odds and Ends: Kentucky's Kendra Harrison had a strong day, winning the 200 meters and 100 hurdles. Her 200 in a wind-aided 23.69 was the fourth-best all conditions time in the NCAA this season. … The Wildcats' Raymond Dykstra turned the tables on Oregon's Sam Crouser in the javelin. Crouser overtook Dykstra on his last throw to win the 2014 NCAA Outdoor title, and on Saturday Dykstra put up the winning mark on his final throw, relegating Crouser to second.
Up Next: Hayward Field will host the Oregon Relays beginning Thursday through Saturday, and members of the women's team will head to the Mt. SAC Relays.
