5-28-26 - Trackside OSAA - Emerald Media Group

OSAA TRACK AND FIELD

TRIPLE CROWN

Oregon track and field sweeps conference titles in Nebraska to secure first Big Ten Triple Crown since 1996-97.

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026

The Daily Emerald’s Track & Field publication.

By Owen Murray & Jack Lazarus

Sports Editors

Hey there Duck fans,

Thanks for supporting The Daily Emerald. We’re so excited to bring you more of the reporting we’ve been producing all year, and we’re thrilled to do it again at Hayward Field this season. Welcome to Eugene, and thank you for supporting student journalism.

In this edition, you’ll find stories about the history of Hayward Field, plus how the Ducks’ dominant cross country and indoor track and field seasons came to be. We’ve got writers covering the best of the Oregon high school scene, from dominant middle-distance runners like Ellery Lincoln to standout field athletes like pole vaulter Addison Kleinke, and recapping the Ducks’ Triple Crown win at the Big Ten Championships. We hope that you’re able to enjoy Eugene as much as we do. Covering every sport is a privilege as student journalists, but doing so in and around the sport that makes the university special is even more so. We’re proud to provide coverage of this season’s meets at Hayward Field. On behalf of our Sports Desk, our design and editorial teams, our photographers and everyone at The Daily Emerald, thank you for reading. Welcome to Track Town, USA!

Asha

BUSINESS

CROSS COUNTRY, INDOOR BIG TEN SWEEPS FUEL OREGON TRACK AND FIELD’S SEASON SO FAR

The Ducks have been dominant on the conference level in 202526. The next step must come at the national meets.

By Owen Murray Associate Sports Editor

Before a Duck touched the outdoor track in 2026, Oregon track and field had already manufactured a successful campaign. Sweeps of both the Big Ten cross country and indoor team titles gave way to four top-five finishes at the NCAA meets, including a pair of runner-up spots in indoor. Their roster is littered with All-Americans ahead of an outdoor season that will see them host the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field. The Daily Emerald recaps Oregon’s 202526 season so far:

In cross country, Abdel Laadjel was named the Big Ten Men’s Athlete of the Year as he romped to an individual win at the conference meet in 23:11.60 over 8K and finished ninth individually at NCAAs. Aiden Smith (No. 25) and Simeon Birnbaum (No. 33) also finished in the top 50 before the national meet, where Oregon finished fifth in its best-ever performance.

The Women of Oregon were led through a third-place finish at nationals by All-Americans Silan Ayyildiz (18:57.90 over 6K, ninth at NCAAs) and Diana Cherotich (No. 31). With her win at the conference meet, where Oregon won the team title with a conference-record-low 18 points, Ayyildiz went back-to-back as the Women’s Ath-

lete of the Year. Cherotich was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in her first fall season as a Duck.

“Honestly, it’s pretty crazy, because when I first came to Oregon, we weren’t very good,” Big Ten coach of the year Shalane Flanagan told LetsRun. “We’re solid, and the fact that the men’s and women’s programs are pretty sad right now about a third and a fifth (place) means we’re in a good place, clearly.”

On the short track, Oregon now owns all four available conference titles since the Ducks joined the conference after sweeping the Big Ten meet in Indianapolis. Birnbaum, a junior, won both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter races to buoy the men’s win alongside a shot put silver medal from indoor Big Ten Men’s Freshman of the Year Ben Smith.

Ayyildiz doubled up, too, with conference victories in both the mile and 5000m. Aaliyah McCormick, the reigning 100-meter hurdles outdoor national champion, set a 7.89-second meet record in her 60-meter hurdles win, and Juliet Cherubet won the 3000m.

Wilma Nielsen, the second-place miler at Big Tens, turned in a 4:40.06 race at the NCAA meet to take her second-straight national title and was named the conference’s Indoor Athlete of the Year. McCormick won the 60m hurdles race in 7.86 seconds, lowering her personal best again, and Ayyildiz finished top-13 in both the mile and 3000m. The Ducks’ distance medley relay also won the title, featuring Ayyildiz, Cherubet and Lakey Doht-Barron, and Indoor Freshman of the Year Liisa-Maria Lusti won the pentathlon with 4,498 points.

Mississippi State University transfer Peyton Bair won the indoor heptathlon with an Oregon-record 6,503 points. His

mark broke Ashton Eaton’s national-title-winning score from 2010. Aiden Carter also scored a personal best, Oregon No. 5 all-time 5,908 points, finishing ninth. Smith and Kobe Lawrence finished fourth and second, respectively, in the shot put while Birnbaum (second) and Benjamin Balazs (sixth) scored in the 3000m.

Since heading outside, Oregon’s season has been highlighted by Birnbaum’s NCAA-record 1500-meter finish at the Team Invitational in April and the DMR win he anchored at Penn Relays. Four Ducks ran a men’s school-record 38.59-second 4x100-meter at the Desert Heat Classic on May 2 ahead of this week’s Oregon Twilight meet.

107 YEARS OF HAYWARD MAGIC

What to know about the country’s most historic track and field venue.

By Jack Lazarus Sports Editor

Taking up much of the University of Oregon campus’ eastern border, Hayward Field proves an architectural marvel and a site of some of the track and field world’s most important events in recent history.

Classified as one of three Class 1 facilities by World Athletics, Hayward is one of the most impressive venues in all of track and field and will play host to a plethora of events this summer, including some of the NCAA’s best, the best high-school level athletes from around the country and the Prefontaine Classic, which brings the top-tier athletes to Eugene for competition.

The place didn’t start with fireworks and the eyes of the world, however.

Bill Hayward initially had no clue that Oregon’s brandnew football stadium at the time would be named after him. Oregon’s track and field coach and trainer for the football team remained in the locker room during the halftime ceremony that saw the soon-to-be hallowed grounds take on his namesake in 1919.

The stadium only served as a venue for football games in the opening two years, with Hayward Field’s historic track only installed in 1921.

The football team played its final game at Hayward in 1966 before moving to Autzen Stadium the next year. The school began renovations to make Hayward Field a track-specific venue just three years later, which included adding an all-weather surface and widening the track to eight lanes instead of the original six.

It was these renovations that gave Hayward its renowned nickname as the “world’s fastest track,” largely due to a Pro-

Turf track design that used a mixture of sand and urethane. They also led to Hayward being selected to host the U.S. Olympic Trials for the first time in 1972, which saw legendary Oregon runner Steve Prefontaine qualify for his first and only Olympic Games. Since then, Eugene has hosted the Olympic Trials a total of eight times, including the most recent in 2024.

In 1987, Hayward made the switch to the metric system of measurement as well as the internationally accepted track configuration, which had shorter straights and longer turns. This meant that the infield also needed to expand, which used a different form of Pro-Turf.

The constant investment into Hayward Field in its early days thrust it into the upper echelons of track and field venues around the world, but the stadium didn’t become the true spectacle it is today until the newest changes finished in 2020. Starting in 2018, Oregon demolished both of the original grandstands and created a brand new stadium-style concourse that surrounds all but one turn on the track. The Ducks also added a state-of-the-art underground training facility, which in turn helped guarantee the success of the track and field programs.

Due to the harsh nature of the weather in Oregon, being able to train at consistent conditions year-round has made the men’s and women’s programs into two of the most successful in the NCAA.

In 2022, Hayward’s new and improved look led to it being selected as the venue for that year’s World Athletics Championships, which was the first time the event was ever held in the United States.

This summer, Hayward’s history, tradition and magic will be in full force as generations of the track and field world make their mark.

You’re just steps away from the world’s oldest shoes.

Walk east on 15th until you see the mammoths!

10,000-year-old sandals from Oregon’s Fort Rock Cave

Open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and until 8:00 on Thursday.

General admission: $7 | $14 for families (up to two adults and four children) Free admission for museum members and UO ID card holders. Show your Oregon Trail card for an admission discount.

KLEINKE, JOHNSON HEADLINE OSAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FIELD EVENTS

Addison Kleinke, Marissa Johnson and others are back to show off their talents at the highest stage.

By Rowan Shea Sports Writer

The best high school athletes in the state of Oregon will be showcasing their skills at Hayward Field in the final weekend of May. With the best women's pole vaulter finishing up her high school career, and an incredible come back from Tigard’s shot putter, the Daily Emerald highlights the best stories and talent going into the OSAA Championships:

ADDISON KLEINKE, POLE VAULTER CHURCHILL HIGH SCHOOL

Kleinke, the incredible senior pole vaulter from Churchill High School, who committed to Texas A&M University in January, is back to showcase her skills at Hayward Field again. Last season at OSAAs, she passed on every height until 3.66 meters. She may have missed her first attempt, but sealed the win on her second.

Even though she already won the event, Kleinke kept going. For fun, she passed on the 3.73m height and then vaulted the bar at 3.81m. She took two attempts with the bar at 4.09m, but didn’t get over. Though that didn’t matter, as she has continued to show up to the Oregon Team Invite competing as an individual to get more experience.

This season, with Kleinke finishing up her high school career and turning toward the Aggies in the fall, she will still look to have a great end to her career in front of a crowd of family, friends and teammates.

Keep an eye on:

Women — Kinsley Juliano (senior from Happy Valley)leads season with 4.04 vault.

Tayanah Balensifer (senior from West Linn) - leads weekly with 3.81 vault.

Men — Caleb Lofdahl (senior from Newberg) - leads season with 4.88 vault.

MARISSA JOHNSON, SHOT PUTTER TIGARD HIGH SCHOOL

The end of Marissa Johnson’s Tigard career looked to have occurred back in November. It was revealed that Johnson, one of the best discus and shot put throwers in the state, was to be sidelined for her senior season after sustaining an injury in November and undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in mid-February.

But, miraculously, the five-time 6A state champion came back to throw at the Three Rivers League meet at the end of the season. She threw for 39.62 meters and placed second behind Kaia Jacobs.

Johnson has committed to the University of Iowa, and did so before the season began. But, like Kleinke, she will look to end her high school career on a high note.

Keep an eye on:

Women — Kate Norton (sophomore from Baker City)leads season with 12.93m throw.

Men — Kaleb Moore (senior from Junction City) - leads season with 18.82m throw.

For the rest of the field athletes competing, here are those who are leading in their events from the season:

Discus:

Women: Kinlee Davis (sophomore from Medford) 40.16 meter throw.

Men: Brogan Hedgepeth (junior from Le Grande), 58.95 meter throw.

Javelin:

Women — Anna Millikan (senior from Bend) 50.39 meter throw.

Men — Derek Olivo (junior from Keizer) 63.58 meter throw.

Dylan Wojick (sophomore from Bend) threw for a weekly best at 56.97 meters.

High Jump:

Women — Scout Haugen (freshman from Silverton) 1.76 meter jump that is a new state freshman record.

Aliyah Miller (senior from Gresham) 1.65 meter jump that was a weekly best.

Men — Caden Druliner (junior from Silverton) and Harland Novy-Marx (senior from Lincoln) both jumped 2.06 meters.

Topher Gabel (junior from Sandy), Joseph Clevenger (senior from South Medford) and Samuel Hernandez (sophomore from Philomath) all jumped a weekly best 1.98 meters.

Long Jump:

Women — Rikaiya Griffin (freshman from Bend) 6.34 meter jump.

Men — Eric “EJ” Cozart Jr. (senior from Jefferson) with a 7.41 meter jump.

Chace Braden (senior from Sandy) who jumped a weekly best 7.26 meters.

Triple Jump:

Women — Saskia Dorf (senior from Portland) 12.46 meter jump.

Men — Cade Siewert (senior from South Medford) 14.22 meter jump.

1A-3A field events will be starting at 10:00 a.m. with Boys High Jump and Boys Pole Vault on Thursday, May 28.

4A-6A will start at 9 a.m. with Boys Discus on Friday, May 29 and 1A-3A will compete later in the day starting with Girls Shot Put at 2:30 p.m.

4A-6A will finish up the events on Saturday, May 30 starting with Girls Pole Vault at 9:30 a.m.

(ABOVE) Cade Siewert (Courtesy of South Medford High School)

OREGON TRACK AND FIELD EARNS BIG TEN DUAL TRIPLE CROWN

The Ducks came out on top in 11 total events throughout the weekend, helping secure the sweep of the six available championships.

By Max Koebel Sports Writer

After three days of action, the Oregon men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams left Nebraska as the Big Ten Champions. It was the first time since the 1996-97 academic year that one school’s men’s and women’s cross country, indoor track and outdoor track combined to win all six available conference championships in a single season.

On the first day, only one athlete from Oregon came in first in their respective event, but that number only got larger as the weekend progressed. Senior Luke Tewalt got things going for the Ducks on Friday, earning first place in the men’s 10,000-meter with a time of 29:49.24. Tewalt, a transfer from Wake Forest University, was one of five Oregon athletes in that event to finish in the top 10.

The following day, the Ducks picked up right where they left off and shone even brighter. Three more athletes came out on top: one in Tewalt’s event, and the other two in their qualification heats. Junior Benjamin Balazs clinched his

second-straight Big Ten outdoor title in the 3000-meter steeplechase, which he finished in 8:49.02.

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, senior Aaliyah McCormick was the winner in the first round, finishing in 12.87. Senior teammate Micaela De Mello came in third place, which also qualified for the next round. She finished in 13.02.

The men’s 100-meter hurdles had just one Oregon representative, who had no problem rising above his competitors. Junior Kai Graves-Blanks finished first in 13.49 to claim a spot in the next round.

On the final day, eight athletes from Oregon earned first place in their respective events to lead the Ducks to the Big Ten dual Triple Crown.

In the women’s triple jump, sophomore Sharifa Davronova jumped 14.13m in just one attempt to secure first place. Also on the podium was sophomore Cassandra Atkins, who secured third place with a 13.52m jump.

In the women’s discus throw, freshman Marie Josée Bovele-Linaka threw the farthest. She made four attempts, with her farthest throw going 59.01m. Despite hitting that spot on just her second try, no one else was able to pass it for the rest of the event.

The women’s 1500m saw Juliet Cherubet take first place, finishing in 4:16.53. Just a few steps behind her was Wilma Nielsen, who snuck into the top five with a time of 4:20.28. The men’s 1500m also featured multiple Ducks in the top 10. After setting a new NCAA record in the event earlier in the season at Hayward Field, Simeon Birnbaum secured the Big Ten title in 4:00.98. Less than five seconds later, Elliott Cook claimed eighth place in 4:03.07. Just a step behind him was Jeffery Rogers, earning ninth place in 4:03.15.

For the second day in a row, McCormick, the reigning NCAA champion in the event, came in first in the women’s 100m hurdles. She finished in 12.43 to claim her second consecutive conference event title. A couple steps behind her was De Mello, who earned third place in 12.63.

In the men’s shot put, freshman Ben Smith secured first place with a 20.88m shot, beating his first three attempts. Also in the top five was sophomore Kobe Lawrence, who earned fourth place with a 19.66m shot.

The women’s 5000-meter featured five Ducks, all in the top eight. Above them all was Dalia Frias, who finished first in 16:58.74. The men’s side saw three Oregon athletes in the top seven, but none faster than Tayson Echohawk, who took the first spot in 14:08.84.

(ABOVE) Oregon runner Juliet Cherubet mid‑stride during her 800m race. The Oregon Ducks hosted day one of the Oregon Team Invitational at Hay ward Field in Eugene, Ore., on April 17, 2026.

(Owen Burriss/Emerald)

(BELOW) Oregon thrower Ben Smith spins just before throwing the discus during the men’s discus invite. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the first day of the Oregon Team Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on April 17, 2026.

(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)

OSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS TRACK PREVIEW

Oregon commit Ellery Lincoln headlines the track side of the state championships, entering the meet leading three events.

By Henry Light Sports Writer

Beginning May 28, Hayward Field plays host to the OSAA State Track and Field Championships. A healthy mix of returnees from last year’s meet and newcomers have defined the 2026 season on the track in Oregon, setting up plenty of competitive events in Eugene.

Lincoln High School junior Ellery Lincoln has headlined the 2026 season in Oregon, setting the best times in the state over 800 meters (2:05.21), 1500 meters (4:12.16) and 3000 meters (9:06.61). The Oregon commit is no stranger to Hayward Field, coming into this year’s championship seeking redemption after finishing second in the 1500-meter race last year while being ranked first in the state.

Already one of the most adaptable athletes in Oregon, Lincoln has a full high school season ahead before she competes at Hayward in green and yellow. She enters this year’s championship looking to defend her 800-meter crown, find redemption over the 1500 and take a 3000-meter win in her first season running it.

The shorter distances have seen similar domination from a PIL athlete, with Roosevelt senior Aster Jones running season-bests over 100 meters (11.31) and 200 meters (23.38). After she crosses the Hayward Field finish line twice this weekend, Jones will shift her focus to UCLA, where she committed before her dominant season began.

Aloha senior Julian Palm has achieved similar results on the boys side, although over a slightly longer distance, setting the 400-meter mark at 47.54 and the 200-meter at 21.19. The University of Montana commit will face steep competition for the 200-meter crown, with West Linn junior Cooper Roms and Tigard senior Marcus Burton within 0.3 seconds, but he’s peaking at the right time with both of his leading marks coming on May 22.

Possibly the most memorable returner from last year’s meet is Thurston senior Brooklyn Anderson, who somersaulted across the finish line to win the 100-meter hurdles. Anderson would have won that race by a landslide if she hadn’t tripped over the last hurdle, and she’s proven that pace this season, leading the state with a time of 13.99.

4x400 relay

Boys: McNary, made up of senior Yosef Picazo, sophomore Adam Ellis, senior Mason Bowlby and senior Joey Elston – 3:16.94

Girls: Ida B. Wells, made up of sophomore Millie Grabenhorst, sophomore Samantha Moylan, freshman Zora Li Budd Baker and junior Tilda Hathaway – 3:55.90

Thursday’s track events begin with the 1A boys 3000-meter race at 12:30 p.m., while Friday begins with the 4A boys 3000-meter at 9 a.m. and Saturday starts with the 4A boys 4x100-meter relay at 12:30 p.m.

Other eventleading times:

100-METER

Boys: Auralleus Hicks, senior, Tualatin – 10.42

400-METER

Girls: Sophia Castaneda, senior, Newberg – 52.17

800-METER

Boys: Maxwell Miracle, junior, Crater – 1:51.20

1500-METER

Boys: Yosuke Shibata, junior, South Eugene – 3:47.93

3000-METER

Boys: Malachi Schoenherr, senior, Sheldon – 8:15.15

100-METER HURDLES

Boys: Braxton Singleton, senior, North Salem – 14.33

300-METER HURDLES

Boys: Logan Gutches, senior, Corvallis – 38.20

Girls: Ariya Abdullah, junior, David Douglas – 43.38

4X100 RELAY

Boys: West Linn, made up of junior Will Hawkins, junior Carter Roms, senior Bellu Dior Vixamar and senior MJ Kennybrew – 40.99

Girls: Jesuit, made up of sophomore Eva Hairston, senior Kiana Johnson, senior Iman Foster and sophomore Addie Miller – 46.96