Gillespie Shines at NCAA Championships

Friday, June 7

Austin, TX

All Day

University of Oregon

NCAA Outdoor Championships

Photo by: Ben Crawford

06/07/19 | Track and Field

Meet Results

By: Zach Lawson

AUSTIN, Texas – Redshirt senior Cravon Gillespie completed a sub-10, sub-20 double Friday evening at the NCAA Championships, posting a pair of national runner-up efforts at 100 and 200 meters. Gillespie accounted for 16.75 of the Ducks' 23 points this week with the Men of Oregon finishing tied for 12^th at the national meet.

In a pair of top-10 collegiate performances, Gillespie posted times of 9.93 at 100 meters and 19.93 at 200 meters. He lowered his own school records in both events. Gillespie ended up as the third-highest individual scorer at the 2019 NCAA Championships.

NCAA Championships: The Scorers
Cravon Gillespie (100 meters) – 2^nd place
Cravon Gillespie (200 meters) – 2^nd place
Max Vollmer (decathlon) – 5^th place [completed Thursday]
Spenser Schmidt/Cravon Gillespie/Julius Shellmire/Oraine Palmer (4x100m) – 6^th

"I'm not worried about who's in the race…just focusing on each step in the 200 and same for the 100," Gillespie said. "I always knew I was a sub-10 guy. I'm just trying to be the best I can be each day and I proved that today."

With his performance in the 100-meter final, Gillespie registered the No. 2 time in the world this year and the No. 3 mark in Pac-12 history. He also became the seventh-fastest performer in NCAA history. Gillespie entered the 2019 outdoor campaign with a wind-legal best of 10.12; he has six times faster than that this year.

Gillespie was back on the track less than 50 minutes later for the final of the 200 meters. Running out of lane nine, he ran the No. 3 time in Pac-12 history and the No. 5 time in the world. Gillespie also joined the all-time NCAA list with the No. 9 performance by a collegiate sprinter. His knocked nearly a quarter of a second off his previous PR (20.17) from the Pac-12 Championships.

"I came out here and PR'd in both races…didn't come out with the wins but I can't be too discouraged over that," Gillespie said. "I never like to lose but to PR by a lot, I'm happy with my times. At the end of the day, I'm pretty satisfied."

The Ducks got things started with a sixth-place showing in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 38.76, matching the second-fastest time in program history. The Oregon men end the 2019 campaign with a best of 38.72, a school-record performance—with Rieker Daniel—from the Pac-12 Championships.

Running in the first NCAA final of his career, Eric Edwards Jr.—the only freshman in the field—was disqualified after stepping off the track after a stumble and missing a hurdle. With his 13.49 outing in Wednesday's semifinal he established the top junior time in the world this year and lowered his own personal best which ranks No. 4 in Oregon history.

In an event delayed from Thursday, sophomore Keira McCarrell posted a season best of 48.82m/160-2 in her first attempt of the day.

The Women of Oregon enter Saturday's finals with 10 points and seven scoring opportunities. Day two coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. (PT) on ESPN2. On the track, the Ducks will be represented by Susan Ejore (800m), Jessica Hull (1,500m), Hannah Waller (400m) and their 4x100-meter relay. Chaquinn Cook and Lexi Ellis will look to add points in the triple jump.

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