Women of Oregon Successfully Defend DMR Title

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For a second-consecutive year, the Women of Oregon capped the opening day of the NCAA Indoor Championships with a title in the distance-medley relay. The team of Amanda Gehrich, Makenzie Dunmore, Susan Ejore and Jessica Hull combined for a time of 10:53.43, becoming the fourth program to win back-to-back DMR titles in NCAA history.

The Ducks' time is the eighth fastest in collegiate history and is a Birmingham CrossPlex facility record. With Friday's performance, the Oregon women own four of the top eight DMR times in NCAA history. The Women of Oregon have now won at least one NCAA indoor title in 10-consecutive years.

Oregon also picked up a fifth-place finish from junior Rhesa Foster in the long jump, adding four points to the team's total. Foster sat in ninth place with just one jump remaining but responded with a mark of 6.31m/20-8.5 to secure a top-five national finish.

From ninth ?? fifth place on her last attempt...

Junior Rhesa Foster scores four points for the Ducks in the #NCAATF women's long jump!#FlyInFormation pic.twitter.com/LuD4bQ3zgt
— Oregon Track & Field (@OregonTF) March 9, 2019

Moving On…
Cravon Gillespie (60m) |Final: Saturday at 3:20 p.m. (PT)
Charlie Hunter (mile) | Final: Saturday at 2:20 p.m. (PT)

Making his debut at the national indoor meet, Hunter turned in the fifth-fastest time of the semifinal. He stopped the clock in a time of 4:07.54 to secure his spot in Saturday's final.

Men's #NCAATF mile | Moving on...

Charlie Hunter advances to Saturday's final (2:20 p.m. PT) in Birmingham.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/KNfzw56V7n
— Oregon Track & Field (@OregonTF) March 9, 2019

Gillespie was the second Duck to advance to an event final. Running in the first of two heats, the Oregon senior matched his personal best of 6.61 to move on. Gillespie entered the meet as the No. 16 national qualifier but will now have a chance to score for his team in Saturday's final.

Coupled with their qualifiers from Friday, the Men of Oregon will have four scoring opportunities on the final day of the meet. In the final individual event of the meet, Cooper Teare and James West will be on the track for the 3,000-meter final at 4:25 p.m.

On the women's side, the Ducks have two chances to add points Saturday with Hull at 3,000 meters and Chaquinn Cook in the triple jump. Oregon is in second place after day one with 14 points.

2019 NCAA Indoor Championships
Day 1 – Friday, March 8

Men's 60 Meters (prelim)
7. Cravon Gillespie – 6.61q

Women's 400 Meters (prelim)
13. Hannah Waller – 53.83

Men's Mile (prelim)
5. Charlie Hunter – 4:07.54q
13. Blake Haney – 4:09.93
14. Reed Brown – 4:10.14

Women's Mile (prelim)
13. Susan Ejore – 4:42.31

Men's 60m Hurdles (prelim)
14. Braxton Canady – 7.90

Men's DMR
9. Teare/Harvey/Haney/West – 9:41.27

Women's DMR
1. Gehrich/Dunmore/Ejore/Hull – 10:53.43 [10 points]

Men's Long Jump
13. Tristan James – 7.46m/24-5.75

Women's Long Jump
5. Rhesa Foster – 6.31m/20-8.5 [4 points]

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