Sunday, May 15
Eugene, OR
11:00 AM
University of Oregon
vs
Pac-12 Championships
Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto
Sweep! Ducks Win Pac-12 Team Titles
05/15/22 | Track and Field
The UO men won their 15th straight Pac-12 title Sunday, and the UO women also won to give the Ducks their first sweep since 2017.
EUGENE, Ore. — The Pac-12 Championship meet was back where it belongs, and so were the Men and Women of Oregon.
Hayward Field hosted the conference meet for the first time 2017, and for the first time since 2017 both UO teams stood atop the podium by day's end Sunday. Having racked up four event titles Friday and Saturday, the UO men and women tripled that total for the meet by taking home eight on Sunday, including sprint doubles by Kemba Nelson and Micah Williams.
The UO women amassed 167 points to take home their first team win since 2017, well ahead of runner-up Colorado (102.5). USC, the team that won the three previous Pac-12 women's titles — including last spring in Los Angeles — was fourth with 78 points.
On the men's side, Oregon piled up 161 points to win a 15th straight team title. Washington took second with 105 points.
"To continue to do that on the men's side for 15 years, and then for the women with all the drama and things that they've been through this year for them to rally around one another and support one another and be a super, super team-y team, I think that's outstanding for them to get back in their rightful place," UO coach Robert Johnson said. "You know, they were bridesmaids for a few years and so to have them back up there on top of the podium, I am super excited and proud."
Nelson took home three titles on the day, helping the 4x100-meter relay team win before taking first at both 100 and 200 meters. The Ducks also swept the triple jump events, with wins from Lexi Ellis and Emmanuel Ihemeje, and got a title from Elliott Cook in the men's 800.
Williams posted a meet record in the men's 100 by running 9.93, and doubled back in the 200 by edging Stanford's Udodi Onwuzurike at the line for a win in a personal-best 20.05. Nelson shot out of the blocks in her two individual races, running a season-best 11.05 in the 100 and setting a new 200 PR of 22.74.
"They say you can't run fast in the Pacific Northwest," Johnson said. "But we continue to prove that wrong."
Williams arrived in the tent for his post-race media session as Ihemeje was wrapping up his own interview. As they passed each other they offered mutual congratulations on winning Pac-12 titles.
"It's what we do," Williams said as they shook hands.
Ihemeje, the two-time defending NCAA Indoor champion who is looking to repeat as NCAA champ outdoors, was leading the triple jump entering his last attempt. Then he went ahead and improved his mark to 54 feet, 10 inches, from 53-2 3/4.
Afterward Ihemeja offered a "shoutout to Duck Nation" for the support offered Sunday by the crowd of 5,182. Ihemeje's win came shortly after Cook won the 800 in a personal-best 1:48.81. Like Ihemeje, Cook was fueled to victory by the home crowd — leading on the bell lap, Cook was caught by Dayton Carlson of Arizona State in the home stretch before Cook pulled back ahead over the final 20 meters.
"I was like, I don't know how much I've got in the tank, just coming off the 1500," Cook said. "But I'd say I had just enough recovery in between to bounce back. And yeah, that Hayward magic, that roar kind of brought me through."
Cook won the 800 after also providing team points with a fourth-place finish in the 1,500. Cook led a 4-5-6 finish by UO runners in the 1,500, one of several examples of the Ducks stacking team points thanks to their depth.
Another was the women's 100, in which Nelson led a 1-4-6-8 finish for the Ducks. Jadyn Mays was fourth, Jasmine Montgomery took sixth and Jasmin Reed was eighth — after those three and Nelson had teamed up to bring home a win in the 4x100 in 42.91 seconds, a season-best effort.
"The team was very positive after that race," Nelson said. "We were positive coming in, but after that race it kind of cemented it."
Not everyone wearing Oregon's "championship yellow" jerseys Sunday felt as positive on an individual level, but the promise of hoisting a first-place team trophy at day's end provided a lift. In the women's triple jump, Lexi Ellis was favored to win and did so; while she wasn't overjoyed with her winning mark of 42-11 1/2, the 10 team points it provided had her smiling for a post-event interview.
"Especially knowing what I was meant to contribute (in the team race), it kept me going, for sure," Ellis said. "Because even though it wasn't a great performance, normally I'd beat myself up about that. But I definitely was a lot more zoned in just for my team and my girls, so I could put up the numbers I was supposed to."
The next stop on the Ducks' postseason journey is the NCAA West Preliminary (May 25-28) in Fayetteville, Ark. The top 48 declared individuals and 24 relays in the West region will vie for 12 spots into the NCAA Championships (June 8-11) in Eugene.
Full Sunday Results
MEN
100 Meters
1. Micah Williams – 9.93 (meet record) [10 points]
4. Xavier Nairne – 10.27 [5 points]
7. Ryan Mulholland – 10.35 (PR) [2 points]
200 Meters
1. Micah Williams – 20.05 (PR) [10 points] [No. 2 UO]
7. Ryan Mulholland – 21.13 [2 points]
800 Meters
1. Elliott Cook – 1:48.81 (PR) [10 points]
3. Matthew Erickson – 1:49.74 [6 points]
8. Tomas Palfrey – 1:51.87 [1 point]
1500 Meters
4. Elliott Cook – 3:40.98 (PR) [5 points]
5. Reed Brown – 3:41.03 [4 points]
6. James Gormley – 3:41.25 (PR) [3 points]
10. Jack Yearian – 3:42.14
5,000 Meters
6. Aaron Bienenfeld – 13:37.74 [3 points]
15. Quincy Norman – 14:09.75
18. Evan Holland – 14:15.60
19. James Gormley – 14:16.53
27. Jack Yearian – 14:32.47
37. Steven Neumaier – 16:03.61
--. Tomas Palfrey – DNF
--. Reed Brown – DNF
110m Hurdles
4. Will Mundy – 14.19 (PR) [5 points]
400m Hurdles
2. Will Mundy – 51.11 [8 points]
4x100m Relay
3. Rieker Daniel/Micah Williams/Will Mundy/Xavier Nairne – 39.39 [6 points]
4x400m Relay
7. Nathan Poff/Evan Mafilas/Matthew Erickson/Will Mundy – 3:09.61 (SB) [2 points]
High Jump
9. Jett Kinder – 2.00m/6-6.75 (PR)
11. Pierce LaCoste – 2.00m/6-6.75
Triple Jump
1. Emmanuel Ihemeje – 16.71m/54-10 [10 points]
7. Jonah Tactay – 15.18m/49-9.75 (SB) [2 points]
WOMEN
100 Meters
1. Kemba Nelson – 11.05 (SB) [10 points]
4. Jadyn Mays – 11.28 [5 points]
6. Jasmine Montgomery – 11.50 [3 points]
8. Jasmin Reed – 11.73 [1 point]
200 Meters
1. Kemba Nelson – 22.74 (PR) [10 points] [=No. 8 UO]
4. Iman Brown – 23.08 [5 points]
5. Jasmine Montgomery – 23.28 [4 points]
400 Meters
4. Ella Clayton – 52.04 (PR) [5 points] [No. 7 UO]
5. Katriina Wright – 52.60 (PR) [4 points]
800 Meters
6. Carly Kleefeld – 2:06.02 [3 points]
9. Ella Nelson – 2:07.62
1500 Meters
11. Izzy Thornton-Bott – 4:26.38
5,000 Meters
3. Alessia Zarbo – 15:54.25 [6 points]
14. Emilie Girard – 16:37.75
15. Harper McClain – 16:38.10
27. Malia Pivec – 17:00.85
--. Aneta Konieczek – DNF
--. Caramia Mestler – DNF
100m Hurdles
4. Alexandra Webster – 13.20 [5 points]
400m Hurdles
2. Alexandra Webster – 56.47 (PR) [8 points] [No. 2 UO]
4x100m Relay
1. Jadyn Mays/Kemba Nelson/Jasmin Reed/Jasmine Montgomery – 42.91 (SB) [10 points] [=No. 6 UO]
High Jump
3. Tori Sloan – 1.76m/5-9.25 [6 points]
10. Taylor Chocek – 1.66m/5-5.25
--. Dominique Ruotolo – NH
Triple Jump
1. Lexi Ellis – 13.09m/42-11.5 [10 points]
3. Dominique Ruotolo – 13.03m/42-9 [6 points]
Discus
3. Jaida Ross – 55.47m/182-0 [6 points]
15. Mine De Klerk – 49.10m/161-1
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Hayward Field hosted the conference meet for the first time 2017, and for the first time since 2017 both UO teams stood atop the podium by day's end Sunday. Having racked up four event titles Friday and Saturday, the UO men and women tripled that total for the meet by taking home eight on Sunday, including sprint doubles by Kemba Nelson and Micah Williams.
The UO women amassed 167 points to take home their first team win since 2017, well ahead of runner-up Colorado (102.5). USC, the team that won the three previous Pac-12 women's titles — including last spring in Los Angeles — was fourth with 78 points.
On the men's side, Oregon piled up 161 points to win a 15th straight team title. Washington took second with 105 points.
"To continue to do that on the men's side for 15 years, and then for the women with all the drama and things that they've been through this year for them to rally around one another and support one another and be a super, super team-y team, I think that's outstanding for them to get back in their rightful place," UO coach Robert Johnson said. "You know, they were bridesmaids for a few years and so to have them back up there on top of the podium, I am super excited and proud."
Nelson took home three titles on the day, helping the 4x100-meter relay team win before taking first at both 100 and 200 meters. The Ducks also swept the triple jump events, with wins from Lexi Ellis and Emmanuel Ihemeje, and got a title from Elliott Cook in the men's 800.
Williams posted a meet record in the men's 100 by running 9.93, and doubled back in the 200 by edging Stanford's Udodi Onwuzurike at the line for a win in a personal-best 20.05. Nelson shot out of the blocks in her two individual races, running a season-best 11.05 in the 100 and setting a new 200 PR of 22.74.
"They say you can't run fast in the Pacific Northwest," Johnson said. "But we continue to prove that wrong."
Williams arrived in the tent for his post-race media session as Ihemeje was wrapping up his own interview. As they passed each other they offered mutual congratulations on winning Pac-12 titles.
"It's what we do," Williams said as they shook hands.
Ihemeje, the two-time defending NCAA Indoor champion who is looking to repeat as NCAA champ outdoors, was leading the triple jump entering his last attempt. Then he went ahead and improved his mark to 54 feet, 10 inches, from 53-2 3/4.
Afterward Ihemeja offered a "shoutout to Duck Nation" for the support offered Sunday by the crowd of 5,182. Ihemeje's win came shortly after Cook won the 800 in a personal-best 1:48.81. Like Ihemeje, Cook was fueled to victory by the home crowd — leading on the bell lap, Cook was caught by Dayton Carlson of Arizona State in the home stretch before Cook pulled back ahead over the final 20 meters.
"I was like, I don't know how much I've got in the tank, just coming off the 1500," Cook said. "But I'd say I had just enough recovery in between to bounce back. And yeah, that Hayward magic, that roar kind of brought me through."
Cook won the 800 after also providing team points with a fourth-place finish in the 1,500. Cook led a 4-5-6 finish by UO runners in the 1,500, one of several examples of the Ducks stacking team points thanks to their depth.
Another was the women's 100, in which Nelson led a 1-4-6-8 finish for the Ducks. Jadyn Mays was fourth, Jasmine Montgomery took sixth and Jasmin Reed was eighth — after those three and Nelson had teamed up to bring home a win in the 4x100 in 42.91 seconds, a season-best effort.
"The team was very positive after that race," Nelson said. "We were positive coming in, but after that race it kind of cemented it."
Not everyone wearing Oregon's "championship yellow" jerseys Sunday felt as positive on an individual level, but the promise of hoisting a first-place team trophy at day's end provided a lift. In the women's triple jump, Lexi Ellis was favored to win and did so; while she wasn't overjoyed with her winning mark of 42-11 1/2, the 10 team points it provided had her smiling for a post-event interview.
"Especially knowing what I was meant to contribute (in the team race), it kept me going, for sure," Ellis said. "Because even though it wasn't a great performance, normally I'd beat myself up about that. But I definitely was a lot more zoned in just for my team and my girls, so I could put up the numbers I was supposed to."
The next stop on the Ducks' postseason journey is the NCAA West Preliminary (May 25-28) in Fayetteville, Ark. The top 48 declared individuals and 24 relays in the West region will vie for 12 spots into the NCAA Championships (June 8-11) in Eugene.
Full Sunday Results
MEN
100 Meters
1. Micah Williams – 9.93 (meet record) [10 points]
4. Xavier Nairne – 10.27 [5 points]
7. Ryan Mulholland – 10.35 (PR) [2 points]
200 Meters
1. Micah Williams – 20.05 (PR) [10 points] [No. 2 UO]
7. Ryan Mulholland – 21.13 [2 points]
800 Meters
1. Elliott Cook – 1:48.81 (PR) [10 points]
3. Matthew Erickson – 1:49.74 [6 points]
8. Tomas Palfrey – 1:51.87 [1 point]
1500 Meters
4. Elliott Cook – 3:40.98 (PR) [5 points]
5. Reed Brown – 3:41.03 [4 points]
6. James Gormley – 3:41.25 (PR) [3 points]
10. Jack Yearian – 3:42.14
5,000 Meters
6. Aaron Bienenfeld – 13:37.74 [3 points]
15. Quincy Norman – 14:09.75
18. Evan Holland – 14:15.60
19. James Gormley – 14:16.53
27. Jack Yearian – 14:32.47
37. Steven Neumaier – 16:03.61
--. Tomas Palfrey – DNF
--. Reed Brown – DNF
110m Hurdles
4. Will Mundy – 14.19 (PR) [5 points]
400m Hurdles
2. Will Mundy – 51.11 [8 points]
4x100m Relay
3. Rieker Daniel/Micah Williams/Will Mundy/Xavier Nairne – 39.39 [6 points]
4x400m Relay
7. Nathan Poff/Evan Mafilas/Matthew Erickson/Will Mundy – 3:09.61 (SB) [2 points]
High Jump
9. Jett Kinder – 2.00m/6-6.75 (PR)
11. Pierce LaCoste – 2.00m/6-6.75
Triple Jump
1. Emmanuel Ihemeje – 16.71m/54-10 [10 points]
7. Jonah Tactay – 15.18m/49-9.75 (SB) [2 points]
WOMEN
100 Meters
1. Kemba Nelson – 11.05 (SB) [10 points]
4. Jadyn Mays – 11.28 [5 points]
6. Jasmine Montgomery – 11.50 [3 points]
8. Jasmin Reed – 11.73 [1 point]
200 Meters
1. Kemba Nelson – 22.74 (PR) [10 points] [=No. 8 UO]
4. Iman Brown – 23.08 [5 points]
5. Jasmine Montgomery – 23.28 [4 points]
400 Meters
4. Ella Clayton – 52.04 (PR) [5 points] [No. 7 UO]
5. Katriina Wright – 52.60 (PR) [4 points]
800 Meters
6. Carly Kleefeld – 2:06.02 [3 points]
9. Ella Nelson – 2:07.62
1500 Meters
11. Izzy Thornton-Bott – 4:26.38
5,000 Meters
3. Alessia Zarbo – 15:54.25 [6 points]
14. Emilie Girard – 16:37.75
15. Harper McClain – 16:38.10
27. Malia Pivec – 17:00.85
--. Aneta Konieczek – DNF
--. Caramia Mestler – DNF
100m Hurdles
4. Alexandra Webster – 13.20 [5 points]
400m Hurdles
2. Alexandra Webster – 56.47 (PR) [8 points] [No. 2 UO]
4x100m Relay
1. Jadyn Mays/Kemba Nelson/Jasmin Reed/Jasmine Montgomery – 42.91 (SB) [10 points] [=No. 6 UO]
High Jump
3. Tori Sloan – 1.76m/5-9.25 [6 points]
10. Taylor Chocek – 1.66m/5-5.25
--. Dominique Ruotolo – NH
Triple Jump
1. Lexi Ellis – 13.09m/42-11.5 [10 points]
3. Dominique Ruotolo – 13.03m/42-9 [6 points]
Discus
3. Jaida Ross – 55.47m/182-0 [6 points]
15. Mine De Klerk – 49.10m/161-1
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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