Mestler Wins in XC Season Opener

Friday, February 5

Eugene, OR

10 a.m.

University of Oregon

Oregon XC Open

Photo by: Matt Parker

02/05/21 | Cross Country

Meet Results

By: Zach Lawson

EUGENE, Ore. – Redshirt senior Jackson Mestler made his season debut with a win Friday morning in the Ducks' cross country opener on the campus of Lane Community College. He led the Men of Oregon to a runner-up team finish. On the women's side, Moira O'Shea and Melissa Berry paced the team with a pair of top-30 finishes.

"The focus was solid all the way through the race," associate head coach Ben Thomas said. "I was really happy with our two freshmen, Abdinasir (Hussein) and Quincy (Norman), around 24:30…a very good first 8K with these conditions. Of course, Jackson was right where I thought he'd be. He looked pretty comfortable and got the win."

Men's 8K | Results
2. Oregon – 45 points
                1. Jackson Mestler – 24:01.3
                8. Quincy Norman – 24:36.8
                9. Abdinasir Hussein – 24:37.4
                19. Matt Wisner – 25:25.6
                21. Steven Neumaier – 25:31.9
                31. George Nowak – 27:11.3

Mestler was the first runner across the line in a time of 24:01.3, six second ahead of the second-place runner. The Eugene native led a trio of top-10 performers for the Ducks along with Norman (24:36.8) and Hussein (24:37.4) in eighth and ninth place, respectively. Newcomers Matt Wisner and Steven Neumaier rounded out Oregon's scoring lineup.

Mestler is a two-time NCAA all-region performer in cross country, and has twice turned in top-75 performances at the NCAA Cross Country Championships (2018, '19).

Women's 5K | Results
5. Oregon – 136 points
                17. Moira O'Shea – 17:35.1
                28. Melissa Berry – 18:03.2
                43. Lydia Russell – 19:18.0
                44. Carly Corsinita – 19:42.9
                46. Terra Trom – 20:20.1

O'Shea as the women's top finisher Friday with a 17^th-place result in 17:35.1 while Berry crossed the finish in a time of 18:03.2, good for 28^th overall. It was Berry's first appearance for the Ducks since 2018. The remainder of Oregon's lineup included the freshmen trio of Lydia Russell, Carly Corsinita and Terra Trom.

Between the men's and women's races, eight of the 11 finishers for the Ducks were making their UO debuts.

Carmela Cardama Baez, competing unattached, stopped the clock in 16:41.0 to win the women's 5K race Friday morning, finishing just over 10 seconds clear of the runner-up. Cardama Baez has an outdoor season of eligibility remaining for the Women of Oregon.

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