Photo by: Matt Parker
Flock Of Ducks Advance Thursday
06/24/21 | Track and Field
Cooper Teare, Cole Hocker, Jack Yearian and Jonathan Harvey joined several UO alums in advancing through preliminaries Thursday in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
EUGENE, Ore. – The Men of Oregon who brought home NCAA championships are still in contention for U.S. championships.
NCAA 1,500-meter champion Cole Hocker and 5,000 champ Cooper Teare each advanced through his opening heat in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Thursday at Hayward Field. Hocker advanced to Friday's semifinals in the 1,500, and Teare advanced to Sunday's 5k final, which was rescheduled for 10 a.m. due to expected temperatures potentially above 110 degrees.
"I think NCAAs just showed I'm ready to run with these guys, and today kind of confirmed that for me," Teare said. "Some of the best guys in the world, to be running with them and closing — knowing I've done the work and showed that through NCAAs, now's the fun part."
Hocker ran 3:39.72 to win his heat in the 1,500, then scratched out of the 5,000. Teare ran 13:43.78 to finish fourth in his heat of the 5k, which was won by UO alum Eric Jenkins in 13:43.18.
Teare was part of a group of six runners in the lead pack of his heat on the final lap — the top five would advance automatically to the final — and he stumbled briefly with about 200 to go before regaining his rhythm and finishing comfortably.
"I was kind of prepared for anything," he said. "It was a little scary — 200 to go, that's where you're staring to chug down a little bit. I used it as fuel, I guess. It gives you that little boost of adrenaline."
Click HERE for live results from the U.S. Team Trials.
And in competition for UO athletes internationally, in Poland, UO standout Aneta Konieczek sailed past the Olympic standard to win the national title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She stopped the clock in a lifetime best of 9:25.98, nearly two seconds ahead of runner-up and sister Alicja Konieczek.
Kemba Nelson, competing in the Jamaican National Championships, clocked a time of 11.05 in the first round of the 100 meters in Kingston. She posted the fifth-fastest qualifying effort and advances to Friday's semifinal; the final will be run later that same night.
Additionally, former school-record holder in the steeplechase Claire Michel announced via Instagram that she was selected to compete in the triathlon for Belgium. It will be her second Olympic appearance.
FOLLOW THE DUCKS
5:45 p.m. – women's long jump | qualifying
Who: Rhesa Foster, Alysah Hickey, Jasmine Todd
What: Three jumps each; top 12 advance to final (6/26 – 6:30 p.m.)
Result: Alum Jasmine Todd popped a big mark on her first attempt, which advanced her to Saturday's final rounds but unfortunately was the only recorded mark of the day for any of the three jumpers with Oregon ties. Two-time Pac-12 champion Rhesa Foster scratched on all three of her attempts, as did UO sophomore Alysah Hickey, who was fifth in the NCAA Outdoor championship meet earlier in the month. Todd's opening mark of 21 feet, 9.5 inches was a season best and put her third in the field at that point, and she ended up sixth in the preliminary round after passing on her final two jumps.
6:04 p.m. – men's 1500 meters | first round
Who: Colby Alexander, Matthew Centrowitz, Johnny Gregorek, Cole Hocker, Sam Prakel, Jack Yearian
What: Three heats; top six in each heat + next six fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 4:05 p.m.)
Result: There will be a six-pack of Ducks in Friday's two semifinals after all six runners with UO ties in the three first-round heats advanced. The top six finishers in each automatically advanced, as did the next six fastest runners, but all six Ducks were automatic qualifiers out of their heats. In the opening heat, 2016 U.S. Team Trials finalist Colby Alexander was sixth in in 3:45.87.
Reigning NCAA 1,500 champ Cole Hocker ran 3:39.72 to win the second heat, which also included defending Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz (3:40.09) and UO senior Jack Yearian (3:40.19). "I just wanted to make a good effort race," Hocker said. "Get in the top five was the only priority. … I have been able to trust myself more and more from the confidence I have given myself from racing." Alum Sam Prakel won heat three in 3:39.02, and Johnny Gregorek also advanced, in 3:39.26.
6:31 p.m. – women's 200 meters | first round
Who: Jenna Prandini
What: Five heats; top two in each heat + next six fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 4:25 p.m.)
Result: Fresh off a fourth-place finish in Saturday's 100-meter final, Jenna Prandini exploded into the lead of her opening heat of the 200 and cruised through the finish line in 22.14 seconds. Despite jogging the last several meters, Prandini ran a personal best, was the No. 2 qualifier overall — trailing only Gabby Thomas in 21.98 — and won her heat by 0.35 seconds. "The plan was to get out there and execute the first 150 and then just relax," said Prandini, who most certainly executed according to plan. She advanced to Friday's semifinal round, bidding for her third U.S title in the 200 and first since 2018.
7:00 p.m. – women's 800 meters | first round
Who: Brooke Feldmeier, Raevyn Rogers, Sabrina Southerland
What: Five heats; top two in each heat + next six fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 3:02 p.m.)
Result: Five-time NCAA champion and 2019 World Championships silver medalist Raevyn Rogers and 2018 NCAA Indoor champion Sabrina Southerland advanced to Friday's semifinals with automatic qualifying times. Southerland won the fourth heat, in a very controlled 2:00.85. "That's exactly how I wanted it to be," she said. "Comfortable, controlled, relaxed."
Rogers reclaimed the lead in the fifth heat in the final backstretch, then held off two challengers at the tape to cross first in 2:00.75. "I went into the race just free," Rogers said. "Last race I ran was Portland Track Festival; I did some work in the meantime, really worked on some things. Just taking my experience and what my coach and I have been working on, that's what got me through today." Feldmeier was sixth in the opening heat, in 2:03.10, and did not advance.
7:32 p.m. – men's 400m hurdles | first round
Who: Jonathan Harvey
What: Four heats; top three in each heat + next four fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 3:18 p.m.)
Result: After making the NCAA final and matching the UO record earlier in June, Jonathan Harvey advanced through his heat Thursday as an automatic qualifier in 49.95 seconds. The four qualifying heats saw several stumbles and falls, but Harvey maintained his poise and was second in his heat to reach Friday's semifinals.
"There's always nerves coming into a race, but one of the things I do is change my mind, change my thinking to replace those nerves with excitement," Harvey said. "I was really excited to go out and compete in these U.S. Trials. And being home always eases the nerves as well, because I practice on this track every day."
8:04 p.m. – men's 5000 meters | first round
Who: Cole Hocker, Eric Jenkins, Cooper Teare
What: Two heats; top five in each heat + next six fastest advance to final (6/27 – 4:30 p.m.)
Result: Cooper Teare ran 13:43.78 to finish fourth in his heat of the 5k, which was won by UO alum Eric Jenkins in 13:43.18. Cole Hocker opted not to compete at 5k after winning his 1,500 heat earlier in the day.
For more news and information about Oregon Track and Field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
NCAA 1,500-meter champion Cole Hocker and 5,000 champ Cooper Teare each advanced through his opening heat in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Thursday at Hayward Field. Hocker advanced to Friday's semifinals in the 1,500, and Teare advanced to Sunday's 5k final, which was rescheduled for 10 a.m. due to expected temperatures potentially above 110 degrees.
"I think NCAAs just showed I'm ready to run with these guys, and today kind of confirmed that for me," Teare said. "Some of the best guys in the world, to be running with them and closing — knowing I've done the work and showed that through NCAAs, now's the fun part."
Hocker ran 3:39.72 to win his heat in the 1,500, then scratched out of the 5,000. Teare ran 13:43.78 to finish fourth in his heat of the 5k, which was won by UO alum Eric Jenkins in 13:43.18.
Teare was part of a group of six runners in the lead pack of his heat on the final lap — the top five would advance automatically to the final — and he stumbled briefly with about 200 to go before regaining his rhythm and finishing comfortably.
"I was kind of prepared for anything," he said. "It was a little scary — 200 to go, that's where you're staring to chug down a little bit. I used it as fuel, I guess. It gives you that little boost of adrenaline."
Click HERE for live results from the U.S. Team Trials.
And in competition for UO athletes internationally, in Poland, UO standout Aneta Konieczek sailed past the Olympic standard to win the national title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She stopped the clock in a lifetime best of 9:25.98, nearly two seconds ahead of runner-up and sister Alicja Konieczek.
Kemba Nelson, competing in the Jamaican National Championships, clocked a time of 11.05 in the first round of the 100 meters in Kingston. She posted the fifth-fastest qualifying effort and advances to Friday's semifinal; the final will be run later that same night.
Additionally, former school-record holder in the steeplechase Claire Michel announced via Instagram that she was selected to compete in the triathlon for Belgium. It will be her second Olympic appearance.
FOLLOW THE DUCKS
5:45 p.m. – women's long jump | qualifying
Who: Rhesa Foster, Alysah Hickey, Jasmine Todd
What: Three jumps each; top 12 advance to final (6/26 – 6:30 p.m.)
Result: Alum Jasmine Todd popped a big mark on her first attempt, which advanced her to Saturday's final rounds but unfortunately was the only recorded mark of the day for any of the three jumpers with Oregon ties. Two-time Pac-12 champion Rhesa Foster scratched on all three of her attempts, as did UO sophomore Alysah Hickey, who was fifth in the NCAA Outdoor championship meet earlier in the month. Todd's opening mark of 21 feet, 9.5 inches was a season best and put her third in the field at that point, and she ended up sixth in the preliminary round after passing on her final two jumps.
6:04 p.m. – men's 1500 meters | first round
Who: Colby Alexander, Matthew Centrowitz, Johnny Gregorek, Cole Hocker, Sam Prakel, Jack Yearian
What: Three heats; top six in each heat + next six fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 4:05 p.m.)
Result: There will be a six-pack of Ducks in Friday's two semifinals after all six runners with UO ties in the three first-round heats advanced. The top six finishers in each automatically advanced, as did the next six fastest runners, but all six Ducks were automatic qualifiers out of their heats. In the opening heat, 2016 U.S. Team Trials finalist Colby Alexander was sixth in in 3:45.87.
Reigning NCAA 1,500 champ Cole Hocker ran 3:39.72 to win the second heat, which also included defending Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz (3:40.09) and UO senior Jack Yearian (3:40.19). "I just wanted to make a good effort race," Hocker said. "Get in the top five was the only priority. … I have been able to trust myself more and more from the confidence I have given myself from racing." Alum Sam Prakel won heat three in 3:39.02, and Johnny Gregorek also advanced, in 3:39.26.
6:31 p.m. – women's 200 meters | first round
Who: Jenna Prandini
What: Five heats; top two in each heat + next six fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 4:25 p.m.)
Result: Fresh off a fourth-place finish in Saturday's 100-meter final, Jenna Prandini exploded into the lead of her opening heat of the 200 and cruised through the finish line in 22.14 seconds. Despite jogging the last several meters, Prandini ran a personal best, was the No. 2 qualifier overall — trailing only Gabby Thomas in 21.98 — and won her heat by 0.35 seconds. "The plan was to get out there and execute the first 150 and then just relax," said Prandini, who most certainly executed according to plan. She advanced to Friday's semifinal round, bidding for her third U.S title in the 200 and first since 2018.
7:00 p.m. – women's 800 meters | first round
Who: Brooke Feldmeier, Raevyn Rogers, Sabrina Southerland
What: Five heats; top two in each heat + next six fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 3:02 p.m.)
Result: Five-time NCAA champion and 2019 World Championships silver medalist Raevyn Rogers and 2018 NCAA Indoor champion Sabrina Southerland advanced to Friday's semifinals with automatic qualifying times. Southerland won the fourth heat, in a very controlled 2:00.85. "That's exactly how I wanted it to be," she said. "Comfortable, controlled, relaxed."
Rogers reclaimed the lead in the fifth heat in the final backstretch, then held off two challengers at the tape to cross first in 2:00.75. "I went into the race just free," Rogers said. "Last race I ran was Portland Track Festival; I did some work in the meantime, really worked on some things. Just taking my experience and what my coach and I have been working on, that's what got me through today." Feldmeier was sixth in the opening heat, in 2:03.10, and did not advance.
7:32 p.m. – men's 400m hurdles | first round
Who: Jonathan Harvey
What: Four heats; top three in each heat + next four fastest advance to semifinals (6/25 – 3:18 p.m.)
Result: After making the NCAA final and matching the UO record earlier in June, Jonathan Harvey advanced through his heat Thursday as an automatic qualifier in 49.95 seconds. The four qualifying heats saw several stumbles and falls, but Harvey maintained his poise and was second in his heat to reach Friday's semifinals.
"There's always nerves coming into a race, but one of the things I do is change my mind, change my thinking to replace those nerves with excitement," Harvey said. "I was really excited to go out and compete in these U.S. Trials. And being home always eases the nerves as well, because I practice on this track every day."
8:04 p.m. – men's 5000 meters | first round
Who: Cole Hocker, Eric Jenkins, Cooper Teare
What: Two heats; top five in each heat + next six fastest advance to final (6/27 – 4:30 p.m.)
Result: Cooper Teare ran 13:43.78 to finish fourth in his heat of the 5k, which was won by UO alum Eric Jenkins in 13:43.18. Cole Hocker opted not to compete at 5k after winning his 1,500 heat earlier in the day.
For more news and information about Oregon Track and Field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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