Productive DMR, Mile Efforts in Arkansas

Friday, February 17

Fayetteville, AR

University of Oregon

Arkansas Qualifier

Photo by: Gunnar Rathbun

02/17/23 | Track and Field

Two wins and three top-five program marks highlight Friday's results at the Arkansas Qualifier.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In a productive day at the Arkansas Qualifier, the Women of Oregon picked up two wins, had three top-five program performances and strengthen their national event rankings in the mile and distance-medley relay.

In addition to the win, the UO quartet of Klaudia Kazimierska (3:17.17), Ella Clayton (52.94), Mia Moerck (2:08.29) and Izzy Thornton-Bott (4:30.68) combined for the third-fastest time in collegiate history and a new Randal Tyson Track Center facility record. The Women of Oregon carried a season best of 11:04.73 into the meet and sat outside the top-12 national qualifying list.

Friday's race featured three teams under 10:50 with the Ducks holding off host Arkansas (10:49.14) and BYU (10:49.24). Oregon is now the only team in collegiate history with two sub-10:50 efforts to go along with the 2017 squad (10:48.77) that held the NCAA record until earlier this month.

Just over four hours later, Kazimierska and Thornton-Bott were back on the track, and joined by Maddy Elmore, for a 1-2-4 finish in the mile. Kazimierska took over the final 100 meters of the race for the win in 4:32.03, followed closely by a 4:32.69 effort by Thornton-Bott. Based on times entering the weekend, those are the ninth- and 10^th-fastest times in the NCAA this season.

Kazimierska's time also makes her the No. 2 performer in program history. Thornton-Bott knocked her lifetime best down with Friday's effort and Elmore, a Eugene native, crossed the line in 4:35.65, another personal best for the UO women.

In their first individual event of the afternoon, the Ducks got an indoor best from Ella Nelson in the 800 meters. Nelson lowered her lifetime best 2:06.51 and finished fourth overall; she entered the meet with a previous best of 2:06.98 from the Husky Classic last weekend.

FRIDAY RESULTS
Arkansas Qualifier (Fayetteville, Ark.)
WOMEN
800 Meters
4. Ella Nelson – 2:06.51 (PB)

Mile
1. Klaudia Kazimierska – 4:32.03 (PB) [No. 2 UO]
2. Izzy Thornton-Bott – 4:32.69 (PB) [No. 5 UO]
4. Maddy Elmore – 4:35.65 (PB)

DMR
1. Kazimierska/Clayton/Moerck/Thornton-Bott – 10:49.07 (SB) [No. 2 UO]

#PRODUCKS
USATF Indoor Championships (Albuquerque, N.M.)
MEN
60 Meters – 1^st round
10. Cravon Gillespie – 6.71Q

800 Meters – 1^st round
17. Matt Wisner – 1:50.98

3,000 Meters
1. Sam Prakel – 8:12.46
6. Jack Yearian – 8:15.54

WOMEN
Long Jump
2. Rhesa Foster – 6.63m/21-9 (PB)

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