Photo by: Jan Figueroa
Ayyildiz Named National Athlete of the Week
02/17/25 | Track and Field
The UO standout broke the collegiate record in the mile at the BU Valentine Invitational.
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon junior Silan Ayyildiz broke the collegiate record in the mile this past weekend and was recognized Monday as the M-F Athletic Division I Women's Co-National Athlete of the Week. This marks the third USTFCCCA weekly honor for the Ducks this season, and second in a row.
Ayyildiz's historic run of 4:23.46 eclipsed the previous NCAA standard of 4:24.26 set by Katelyn Tuohy during the 2023 season. In becoming the first-ever collegian to dip below 4:24, Ayyildiz knocked more than four seconds off her lifetime best which she'd run earlier this season at the Razorback Invite. She also lowered her own Turkiye national record in the event.
Ayyildiz shares this week's national athlete of the week with Amanda Moll of Washington who set the collegiate record in the pole vault at the Don Kirby Invitational in Albquerque.
Saturday's performance also doubled as a second school record for Ayyildiz this season. She posted a time of 8:46.33 over 3,000 meters on the same BU track in early December.
Entering the 2025 season, the school record in the mile stood at 4:30.33. Three UO women, including Ayyildiz, have gone sub-4:30 this year. Wilma Nielsen, the reigning National Athlete of the Week, has run 4:25.78 and 4:25.89 this season, while Mia Barnett put her name on the list with a 4:28.77 outing Saturday at the BU meet.
Collectively, the Women of Oregon posted eight top-25 national performances this weekend including five marks that currently rank among the top 10 in the NCAA this season.
At the end of the qualifying window, the top 16 declared athletes in each event and top 12 relays will advance to the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships (March 14-15) at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Ayyildiz's historic run of 4:23.46 eclipsed the previous NCAA standard of 4:24.26 set by Katelyn Tuohy during the 2023 season. In becoming the first-ever collegian to dip below 4:24, Ayyildiz knocked more than four seconds off her lifetime best which she'd run earlier this season at the Razorback Invite. She also lowered her own Turkiye national record in the event.
Ayyildiz shares this week's national athlete of the week with Amanda Moll of Washington who set the collegiate record in the pole vault at the Don Kirby Invitational in Albquerque.
Saturday's performance also doubled as a second school record for Ayyildiz this season. She posted a time of 8:46.33 over 3,000 meters on the same BU track in early December.
Entering the 2025 season, the school record in the mile stood at 4:30.33. Three UO women, including Ayyildiz, have gone sub-4:30 this year. Wilma Nielsen, the reigning National Athlete of the Week, has run 4:25.78 and 4:25.89 this season, while Mia Barnett put her name on the list with a 4:28.77 outing Saturday at the BU meet.
Collectively, the Women of Oregon posted eight top-25 national performances this weekend including five marks that currently rank among the top 10 in the NCAA this season.
At the end of the qualifying window, the top 16 declared athletes in each event and top 12 relays will advance to the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships (March 14-15) at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Players Mentioned
Aaliyah McCormick | NCAA 100M Hurdles National Champion
Thursday, June 19
Matti Erickson | NCAA 800M Runner Up
Saturday, June 14
Hayward Field History
Thursday, June 12
2024-25 Oregon Track & Field Intro Video
Thursday, June 12
