University of Oregon
Don Kirby Elite
Personal Bests Abound for Ducks
02/13/16 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – The small group of Oregon track and field athletes who competed Friday produced some big performances, setting the stage for tomorrow's full slate of action at the Husky Classic in Seattle and the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque.
Edward Cheserek ran the fastest 5,000-meter time in the NCAA this season while picking up a win at the Husky Classic. The junior was in front most of the race but put a gap on the field over the course of the final three laps, finishing in an indoor best of 13:35.86. Jake Leingang also ran a personal best while taking fifth in 13:46.41. The two now rank fourth and ninth on the Oregon all-time list, respectively.
The Ducks added three more personal bests in the 5,000 from Waverly Neer, Molly Grabill and Maggie Schmaedick on the women's side. Neer (15:48.93) and Grabill (15:52.94) placed fifth and seventh and moved up the Oregon record book to fourth and sixth, respectively. Schmaedick took 23rd in the loaded field, crossing the finish line in 16:23.82.
At the Don Kirby Invitational, Sasha Wallace and Alaysha Johnson also qualified to Saturday's semifinals in the 60 hurdles. The two did so with ease, running the two fastest times of the prelims and winning their heats. Wallace ran 8.09 while Johnson shaved two tenths of a second off her personal best and moved to second on the Oregon all-time list at 8.12.
It was a fast day for the women's sprinters, as three sophomores posted times which will be very competitive in terms of qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 200. Newcomer Deajah Stevens led the pack in 23.39 followed by Ariana Washington in 23.40 and Hannah Cunliffe in 23.45, taking first, second and fourth overall.
Cunliffe and Washington also ran the 60 earlier in the afternoon, winning their heats and qualifying for Saturday's semifinals. Cunliffe tied her personal best of 7.28 for the fastest time of the day with Washington just off her personal best in 7.37, for third.
Ben Thiel was the lone men's sprinter in action, setting a personal best of 21.41in the 200 for a fifth-place finish.
In the field events, Greg Skipper continued what has been a very consistent season for the senior, finishing as the top collegian in the weight throw competition, second overall. Skipper began the day with a throw of 72-3 (22.03m) but improved on his final throw to 72-5.75 (22.09m).
Travonn White and Nate Moore produced their best jumps of the season in Albuquerque, finishing fourth and fifth in the long jump with a pair of indoor bests. White tied Ashton Eaton for third in school history at 25-4.50 (7.73m) while Moore climbed to fifth with a leap of 25-2 (7.67m).
The Ducks will be back in action tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. in Seattle and 10 a.m. PT in Albuquerque.
