The Emerald Media Group Presents
Track & Field | 2017
Oregon’s 4x100 relay team will have to wait another year to attempt an NCAA Championship.
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2017 DuckSeason, the Emerald’s annual track and field
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EMG Magazine
2017 DIVISION 1 OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Wednesday, June 7 4:32 PM 4:46 PM
4x100 Meter Relay 1500 Meters
Thursday, June 8
Semifinal
Men
4:32 PM
4x100 Meter Relay
Semifinal
Women
Semifinal
Men
4:46 PM
1500 Meters
Semifinal
Women
5:02 PM
3000 Meter Steeplechase
Semifinal
Men
5:02 PM
3000 Meter Steeplechase
Semifinal
Women
5:32 PM
110 Meter Hurdles
Semifinal
Men
5:32 PM
110 Meter Hurdles
Semifinal
Women
5:46 PM
100 Meters
Semifinal
Men
5:46 PM
100 Meters
Semifinal
Women
6:00 PM
400 Meters
Semifinal
Men
6:00 PM 400 Meters
Semifinal
Women
6:14 PM
800 Meters
Semifinal
Men
6:14 PM
800 Meters
Semifinal
Women
Semifinal
Men
6:30 PM
400 Meter Hurdles
Semifinal
Women
6:30 PM
400 Meter Hurdles
6:44 PM
200 Meters
Semifinal
Men
6:44 PM
200 Meters
Semifinal
Women
6:56 PM
400 Meters
Decathlon
Men
6:56 PM
400 Meters
Decathlon
Men
7:08 PM
10,000 Meters
Final
Men
7:08 PM
10,000 Meters
Final
Women
7:48 PM
4x400 Meter Relay
Semifinal
Men
7:48 PM
4x400 Meter Relay
Semifinal
Women
2:00 PM
Hammer Throw
Final
Men
2:00 PM
Hammer Throw
Final
Women
5:00 PM
Pole Vault
Final
Men
5:00 PM
Pole Vault
Final
Women
5:45 PM
Javelin Throw
Final
Men
5:45 PM
Javelin Throw
Final
Women
6:00 PM
Long Jump
Final
Women
6:40 PM
Shot Put
Final
Women
6:00 PM
Long Jump
Final
Men
6:40 PM
Shot Put
Final
Men
12:30 PM 100 Meters
Decathlon
Men
10:30 PM 100 Meter Hurdles
Decathlon
Men
Long Jump
Decathlon
Men
11:20 AM Discus Throw
Decathlon
Men
2:25 PM
Shot Put
Decathlon
Men
12:30 PM Pole Vault
3:40 PM
High Jump
Decathlon
Men
6:65 PM
400 Meters
Decathlon
Men
Men
3:32 PM
4x100 Meter Relay
Final
Women
1:10 PM
Decathlon
Men
3:00 PM
Javelin Throw
Decathlon
Men
6:56 PM
1500 Meters
Decathlon
Men
Friday, June 9
Saturday, June 10
5:32 PM
4x100 Meter Relay
Final
5:42 PM
1500 Meters
Final
Men
3:41 PM
1500 Meters
Final
Women
Men
3:54 PM
3000 Meter Steeplechase
Final
Women
5:54 PM
3000 Meter Steeplechase
Final
6:12 PM
100 Meter Hurdles
Final
Men
4:12 PM
100 Meter Hurdles
Final
Women
Men
4:22 PM
100 Meters
Final
Women
6:22 PM
100 Meters
Final
6:32 PM
400 Meters
Final
Men
4:32 PM
400 Meters
Final
Women
800 Meters
Final
Men
4:44 PM
800 Meters
Final
Women
6:57 PM
400 Meter Hurdles
Final
Men
4:57 PM
400 Meter Hurdles
Final
Women
7:07 PM
200 Meters
Final
Men
5:07 PM
200 Meters
Final
Women
7:13 PM
200 Meters
Heptathlon
Women
5:13 PM
800 Meters
Heptathlon
Women
5:25 PM
5,000 Meters
Final
Women
Final
Women
Final
Women
6:44 PM
7:25 PM
5,000 Meters
Final
Men
7:51 PM
4x400 Meter Relay
Final
Men
5:551 PM 4x400 Meter Relay
5:00 PM
High Jump
Final
Men
5:00 PM
High Jump
5:05 PM
Discus Throw
Final
Men
5:05 PM
Discus Throw
Final
Women
5:40 PM
Triple Jump
Final
Men
5:40 PM
Triple Jump
Final
Women
11:30 AM Long Jump
Heptathlon
Women
12:45 PM Javelin Throw
Heptathlon
Women
Heptathlon
Women
Heptathlon
Women
1:30 PM
High Jump
Heptathlon
Women
3:30 PM
Shot Put
Heptathlon
Women
7:13 PM
200 Meters
Heptathlon
Women
12:30 PM 100 Meter Hurdles
5:13 PM
800 Meters
EMG Magazine
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Injuries hurt Ducks title hopes, but still many stars to watch ➡ JACK
BUTLER @BUTLER917
In all sports, sometimes the best team doesn’t win. Often it comes down to who is healthiest. The Oregon Ducks will be short of full strength for the upcoming NCAA Track and Field Championships. Just prior to the start of the NCAA Regionals, distance star Edward Cheserek went down for the season, ending his career with a lower back strain. During regionals, sprinter Hannah Cunliffe scratched out of the 100and 200-meter races. Cheserek was going for his fourth national title in both the 10,000 and 5,000-meter races, and he was the favorite. That’s 20 potential points
gone for the men’s team. The sprints are still strong for Oregon without Cunliffe. Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens should still hold down the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and even without Cunliffe, the 4x100 team would’ve been strong. It doesn’t matter, however, because they dropped the baton in qualifying. It’s less certain that the men’s team will finish in the top three with Cheserek out. The women looked like the strong favorites to take the NCAA title, but the gap is now close without Cunliffe and the 4x100 relay team. All in all, Oregon will be sending
32 total athletes to the NCAA Championships. Seventeen women and 14 men will be fighting for themselves and the team to win the national title. “It was a pretty good weekend for the Ducks,” said head coach Robert Johnson. “This is what the whole season builds up to, the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field, and now we need to go get it done.” There are always strong performances, and the Ducks still have individuals who could be national champions. Here are some individuals to watch:
Chaquinn Cook — Triple Jump Cook followed up her Pac-12 Championships by finishing first in regionals with a personal best jump of 44 feet, four inches. The mark earned her the top spot in the West region and the third-best mark entering the NCAA Championships. Only Georgia’s Keturah Orji and Florida’s Yanis David qualified with better marks. A quality performance from Cook will go a long way towards the Ducks’ title chances.
Kyree King — 100m and 200m
The Oregon men’s sprint star qualified with a blazing 9.98 second 100-meter dash time. The personal best and Oregon record put him tied for third in qualifying marks. Additionally, King helped the Oregon 4x100 team qualify with a time of 38.94 seconds, while teammates Marcus Chambers, Julius Shellmire and Demarcus Simpson ran the other legs. King also qualified in the 200-meters with a time of 20.22 seconds, another personal best.
Deajah Stevens — 100m, 200m, 4x400 As always, the Oregon women will need Stevens to win races. She came first in the 100-meter (10.89 seconds) and the 200-meter (22.16 seconds) at regionals, and she will be looking to grab her first NCAA title in the event. She qualified with the fastest times in both of the events, so if that is an indicator of the results, then the Ducks will have 20 points locked up. EMG Magazine
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Edward Cheserek: ➡ JACK
BUTLER
When Edward Cheserek crossed the finish line in the 10,000-meter at the Pac-12 Championships, it would be his last time doing so in a collegiate race. Few knew, but Cheserek had been running with a lower back strain. Given he placed first with a time of 29 minutes, 11.76 seconds, nine seconds faster than the runner-up, it makes the final victory all the more impressive. “I keep adding [trophies], but I don’t know what I can do. There’s a lot in my house,” Cheserek said after the race. “I don’t have the space to put it.” He won’t be able to add any more, but he still claims arguably the most impressive resumé ever. The injury prevented him from running in the NCAA West regionals, so he couldn’t qualify for the NCAA Championships. It is unfortunate for Cheserek; he was going for two more national titles, but it also all but eliminates the Oregon men from winning a national title. “This is a minor injury that could potentially become worse if he runs on it too soon,” said head coach Robert Johnson. “As much as Edward would like to run, it is our responsibility to make decisions that are in the best interest of our student-athletes, and in this case, it means taking Edward out of the regional meet.” On the track, “King Ches” won six national titles in three years. He’s undefeated in the 5,000-meter and the 10,000-meter at the NCAA Championships, and he was in a prime position to win two more. For the Oregon men’s team, Cheserek’s 20 points at the NCAA Championships were crucial for its title hopes. Now Oregon will be fighting to podium against the top SEC schools like Florida, Texas A&M and Alabama, among others. The abrupt end to Cheserek’s career eliminates him from tying the record for most NCAA Championships in a career with 19. He currently has 17 throughout cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. Seventeen is the most for a male in NCAA history. Going forward, Cheserek will look to sign a professional contract and begin training for either Nike or Adidas. “Edward has a bright future in running, and I know he is looking forward to a professional career after college,” said associate head coach Andy Powell. “We had to consider the big picture when evaluating this situation. I anticipate him being able to run fast later this summer and in years to come.” Edward Cheserek runs in the 10,000m at the Pac- 12 Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday May 13, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt)
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his collegiate career is over, but his legacy continues
EMG Magazine
His impact on the program can stretch beyond just national titles. Redshirt freshman Tanner Anderson is Cheserek’s training partner, and Anderson credits him for helping him adjust to collegiate races. Anderson will represent Oregon in the 10,000-meter at the NCAAs after placing third in regionals. “He was able to help me out a lot,” Anderson said. “I could always learn different racing strategies and tactics from him, and different ways to approach races and not be so anxious and nervous.” Cheserek’s legacy is often defined by numbers: championships and times. It may be that his biggest impact on the program isn’t quantitative after all.
With a strong showing at Pac-12’s, Blake Haney hopes to get back on track for championship season ➡ JARRID
DENNEY
When he hit the backstretch at Hayward Field during the Pac-12 Championships on May 14, Oregon junior Blake Haney felt like “the old Blake” for the first time in a long time. Haney finished second in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:55.55, less than a second back of Stanford sophomore Grant Fisher. The result in itself was a reassuring sign — Fisher is one of the top runners in the nation at any distance, and he didn’t pull away from Haney and a group of three others until there were 150 meters left. But more significant for Haney was simply the feeling of being back in the mix for a championship. If he and fellow junior Sam Prakel, who finished fourth in the same race, are each burning on all cylinders when NCAA Championships roll around, Oregon could be in line for its eighth outdoor title. “I’m feeling good,” Haney said. “I’m confident. This was a good race before regionals to get us sharpened up and ready to run some races that are really important. We’re excited for how it went and ready to get back to training.” The Pac-12 Championships marked the first step in Haney’s quest to rediscover the form that made him one of the nation’s top distance runners during his first two seasons. After settling into the back of the pack for much of the race, Haney surged to the front and rattled off his third lap in 60.7 seconds. It took a late kick from Fisher to peel away from Haney and Prakel. “Those guys are great racers,” Fisher said of the Oregon duo. “I knew they’d be coming so I just tried to get it all out there and go through my gears. I definitely
Oregon mid distance runner Blake Haney finishes second in the 1500m final. (Adam Eberhardt)
went through all of them today.” Haney burst onto the scene in 2015 — with a thirdplace finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a freshman — and did nothing to simmer expectations when he finished second in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships the following winter. But two successful seasons were followed by a sophomore outdoor campaign that ended in frustration. With no apparent injuries hindering him, Haney finished 15th in the Pac-12 Championships and 11th at the NCAA Championships. Though Oregon teammates Matthew Maton and Prakel enjoyed the same type of success in the 1,500-meter that Haney did the year before, Haney stayed at home while Maton and Prakel competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. “I think this year I’m just more in a routine and a lot more comfortable and a lot more focused,” Haney said. “I think everything’s coming together just a little better than last year. Last year always felt like I was catching up and a little bit behind. This year feels like I’m more underneath myself and really confident.” Many Oregon stars have gone through the same sort of slump following a breakout season. With one of the strongest distance crews in the country surrounding him, Haney didn’t have to look far when searching for advice. “I had a great indoor last year and then spring just didn’t go my way,” Haney said. “I think it happens. I’ve learned from a lot of the guys on my team who have gone through similar experiences, and just kind of used them to help me move forward.” EMG Magazine
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WOMEN’S 4X100-METER RELAY TEAM LOSES SHOT AT NATIONAL TITLE, SPRINTS REMAIN STRONG ➡ WRITTEN
BY: HANNAH BONNIE PHOTOS BY: PHILLIP QUINN
Ariana Washington, Deajah Stevens and Makenzie Dunmore hold their trophies after winning the 4x100m race at the Pac- 12 Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday May 13, 2017.
On June 7, the nation’s best track and field athletes will descend on Hayward Field for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Oregon’s 4x100-meter relay team, one of, if not the best in the country, however, will not be among them. At the NCAA West Regionals, Oregon’s collegiate record-breaking relay team was disqualified when Deajah Stevens stepped out of her lane. The Ducks missed out on arguably their best chance to claim the NCAA 4x100meter relay title that has eluded them for years. Once known primarily as a distance school, Oregon has evolved into a sprinting destination after hiring Curtis Taylor as the sprints and hurdles coach in 2014. But even though Oregon has produced some of the best sprinters in the nation, from former Ducks Jenna Prandini and English Gardner, to the current trio of juniors Hannah Cunliffe, Ariana Washington and Stevens, it still hasn’t won the relay title. This season felt like it was the Ducks’ year, but that is no longer a possibility after the disqualification. It’s a tough end to what was already a rocky, though hopeful, season. During the team’s opener at the Florida Relays, the 8
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EMG Magazine
Ducks shot to the top of the NCAA leaderboard after they broke the collegiate record of 42.36 second set in 2009 by Texas A&M. Oregon finished in 42.34 seconds. That was back in the beginning of April when the Oregon track and field outdoor season was just getting underway. Since it was the team’s first race, spectators believe that they peaked too early. “Our relay has had its up and downs this season,” said Oregon junior Deajah Stevens. The team believed it could do even better. “A collegiate record is always a goal of ours,” redshirt sophomore Ariana Washington said. “We just didn’t think we would get it the first time out. “We made some mistakes, so we’re excited to know that we’re going to run faster.” They did. Two weeks later, the Ducks travelled down to California for the Mt. Sac Relays and smashed their own record by finishing in 42.12 seconds. Since the beginning of the season, the Oregon women sprinters made it a goal to win the NCAA 4x100 relay title, which they feel was stolen from them the year prior.
“It’s always at the back of our minds,” Stevens said. “At the beginning of the season last year, we were dominating, and we were like, ‘We’re going to do this. We’re going to take it all the way to nationals’.” Last year, the Ducks seemed like a shoe-in for the title. They had the top time in the NCAA with 42.68 seconds. But after taking the Pac-12 title and breaking the meet record, everything fell apart. The misfortune started with an injury to Hannah Cunliffe and continued with academic issues with Jasmine Todd. Because of that, the Ducks ran two alternates. The revised team still finished in third, but after dominating for the entirety of last year’s outdoor season, the finish left a sour taste in the Ducks’ mouths. Although it is impressive that Oregon’s sprinting squad is so deep that the Ducks can run two alternates and still finish on the podium, it’s unsurprising because of their recent success in the sprints. Under Taylor, more than 25 sprinters and hurdlers have earned All-American honors, while three of them took home NCAA titles: Phyllis Francis, Prandini and Washington, who won both the 100- and 200-meter last year. Oregon’s sprinters have also made a name for themselves internationally. At the 2015 IAAF World Championships, three members of the American 4x100-meter relay team were former Oregon sprinters. Prandini, Gardner and Jasmine Todd joined up with Allyson Felix to take the silver medal. “We’ve been able to develop that talent with what coach Taylor has been able to do there on the sprint side of things,” Oregon head coach Robert Johnson said. But, still no 4x100 relay title. “Kind of been snake-bitten with that relay,” Johnson said. “I say that because we went into last year with the fastest 4x100 collegiate time, and then of course, we had some adversity of our own that didn’t allow us to run the team that ran earlier in the year. We feel like it’s unfinished business.” After Todd graduated, Oregon needed to find another sprinter to fill the void. In came
freshman Makenzie Dunmore, who heard of Oregon’s sprinting prowess all the way in Georgia. Primarily a 400-meter runner, Dunmore found a place as the starting leg for the Ducks’ relay after racing in the 60-meter dash during a couple of indoor meets. “Makenzie had a huge impact,” Cunliffe said. “She has good starts; she’s very powerful.” Though she fits in well with the team and has helped them break the collegiate record and school record, when Cunliffe needed to be replaced, it was not so seamless. While the team traveled to the Penn Relays, where they added a meet record to their growing list of accomplishments, Cunliffe stayed home. According to Johnson, she had been hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, forcing her to drop out of the line-up. Alaysha Johnson, primarily a 100-meter hurdler, ran in her place. At first, Cunliffe’s absence wasn’t that noticeable. She again didn’t run during the Pac-12 Championships, and Oregon still took the 4x100-meter relay title for the second year in a row. During the prelims, despite the fact that Oregon came away with the top time of the day after finishing in 43.84 seconds, they were only one-hundredth of a second in front of USC’s team. Stevens believes that the hand-offs weren’t clean enough, hence the increased time. The next day, during the finals, the Ducks won handily by crossing the line in 42.81 seconds. “The exchanges went a lot smoother today,” Alaysha Johnson said. “It’s really crazy because at any moment, anyone can be put out there. We just try to make sure we do everything in our ability to make sure we get the stick around, and that’s what we did, so I’m glad we came off with the win.” Cunliffe was set to participate in the relay during regionals and believed that with her inclusion, the Ducks would race even better. “I think, for sure, we’ll go 41 [seconds],” Cunliffe said after finishing in third after Stevens and Washington in the 100-meter at the Pac-12 Championships. “I wanted to run today, but I think it was best that I stayed out a bit. I’m just ready to get back into it at regionals.” She didn’t get back into the line-up. Instead, her season prematurely ended for the second year in a row because of a hamstring injury. Even though the inclusion of Cunliffe may not have had any impact on the disqualification in the relay, Duck fans will be left thinking about what could have been. Still, since none of the four women who formed the collegiate record-breaking team are graduating, there is always next year, and Robert Johnson still has faith. EMG Magazine
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Katie Rainsberger goes for NCAA title to cap freshman year ➡
GUS MORRIS
Freshman distance runner Katie Rainsberger approaches each race as a student of the sport. Even as her first year in college comes to a close, Rainsberger is still learning the ins and outs of college track. She never enters a race with expectations of where she’ll finish. She prefers to take in lessons that will better her skillset. “If you come into each race as a learning experience, then you can take away a lot more from it,” Rainsberger said after her thirdplace finish at the Oregon Twilight on May 5. No doubt Rainsberger will take that mentality with her to the NCAA Championships as she looks to help the Oregon women win their second national title in three years. Rainsberger has been as good as advertised since she donned the Oregon green and yellow. She won 10 state titles in track and field and cross country in high school and didn’t lose a single distance race as a senior. She capped her prep career with a national cross country title en route to being named the national 2015 Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year. She was ranked as the No. 2 cross country prospect coming out of Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has so far lived up to the billing. Out of 21 races this year, spanning three seasons — cross country, indoor and outdoor — Rainsberger finished in the top five 17 times. She also currently owns the third-fastest collegiate time in the 1,500 meters: a personal record of four minutes and 11.53 seconds, which she set at the Oregon Twilight, her first home meet as a Duck, earlier this month. Katie Rainsberger runs at the Pac- 12 Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday May 14, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt)
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Rainsberger finished third at the Oregon Twilight, behind Oregon Track Club’s Sheila Reid
and the University of Washington’s Amy Eloise-Neale. Like the Oregon freshman, Eloise-Neale participated in all three seasons and has so far raced against Rainsberger 10 times this year. Eloise-Neale said that Rainsberger pushed her to have her best races this season. She also set a personal record at the Oregon Twilight: Her time of four minutes 11.02 seconds still stands as the second best women’s 1,500-meter time this year. “It’s awesome to know that when you’re next to someone in a race, that they’re so good and if you just hang with them, you’re going to run a great time,” Eloise-Neale said at the Oregon Twilight. “She’s so reliable.” They’ll meet each other once more at NCAAs. Rainsberger qualified for the 1,500-meter, running the fourthfastest time in the field, four minutes and 28.74 seconds. But she knows she’ll need to run better if she wants to help Oregon compete for a national title, especially with the Oregon women needing points after their esteemed 4x100 relay team was disqualified in regionals. “The 1,500 this year is amazing,” Rainsberger said after her performance at regionals. “There are so many great girls in all the conferences, so it’ll be a great race.” Regardless of how she runs at NCAAs, Rainsberger has already etched her name into Oregon’s storied distance history. Her four minutes, 11.53 seconds is the fifth-fastest 1,500-meter time in program history, and her four minutes 35.60 seconds in the indoor mile is the sixth-fastest time in program history. Eloise-Neale expects Rainsberger to continue her success at NCAAs and onward. “Katie Rainsberger is going to do great things,” she said.
steps into large role for Oregon’s distance team ➡ GUS MORRIS
Oregon distance runner Tanner Anderson has had a strong finish to the season. He started it off with a surprise third-place finish at the Pac-12 championships and capped it off by qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters. He’ll be Oregon’s lone entry into the 10,000-meter now that Edward Cheserek, the reigning two-time national champ and Anderson’s training partner, is out for the season due to injury. With his first full year now almost complete, Anderson is stepping onto the largest stage of his racing career, ready to defend Oregon’s title in the 10,000-meter. Anderson is no stranger to pressure but said he’s not thinking about it ahead of one of the biggest races of his life. “I don’t feel a lot of pressure but I do want to contribute to the team,” Anderson said. “I do want to help us place as high as we can in the meet. That’s something that is definitely on my mind.” The last two years have been a bit of a roller coaster for Anderson, a sophomore. He ran cross country his freshman year, but redshirted both the outdoor and indoor seasons. Although not running for two seasons was difficult for him, Anderson felt his time away from competition helped his progression in college track. “I felt my redshirt allowed me to gain some experience for college races,” he said. “And it helped me to get stronger and more fit and learn some things from the older guys.” One of those older guys he’s learned from is Cheserek, the most decorated collegiate athlete in history. Anderson was a little starstruck at first, but as time passed, the two became close friends. Now, he’s just “Ed.” “He’s just one of the guys on the team,” Anderson said. “That’s when you’re in the moment. But now as he’s starting to head out, you realize, this is Edward Cheserek and this is something special.” With Cheserek graduating this spring, Anderson will be without a training partner come Fall. But Cheserek thinks Oregon will be in good hands once he leaves. “He has a couple more years to go, but I think he’s going to take my spot,” Cheserek said at the Pac-12 Championships this year. A lot has changed for Anderson over his young collegiate career, but one thing has remained constant: his nickname. Whether he likes it or not, Anderson is known amongst
Tanner Anderson hugs teammate Edward Cheserek after finishing the 10,000m at the Pac-12 Track and Field Championships.(Adam Eberhardt)
teammates as “Terry.” It all started last summer at cross country training camp in Sunriver, Oregon. The contingent of runners had decided to go out for ice cream one night, and as the group was waiting for their orders, a name kept being called out. “Terry,” the store attendant kept repeating. No one approached the counter, so he continued. “Terry,” he repeated again. Eventually, Anderson thought, ‘Maybe he means Tanner?’ “I went up and asked him ‘Do you mean Tanner?’ ” Anderson said. “The guy asked ‘chocolate chip shake for Terry?’ And I said ‘Yeah, for Tanner,’ and the guy says ‘Yeah, Terry’.” “He was pretty persistent about it. My name was Terry.” The name caught on and a new identity for Anderson was born. Since that evening in Sunriver, the name Terry has taken hold. Some of his teammates only refer to him by Terry and erase “Tanner” off of whiteboards and log sheets, replacing it with “Terry.” “At first I tried to fight it,” Anderson said. “But after a while, I just kind of embraced it.” EMG Magazine
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Raevyn Rogers’ race-day makeup takes many meanings ➡ ROMAINE SOH
Look good, feel good, run good. That’s why Raevyn Rogers dedicates an hour and a half of her pre-race routine to work on her appearance. The Oregon 800-meter specialist usually straightens her hair for a superhero effect, contours her face, attaches eyelashes and applies a dark lipstick color – dark green is her favorite – to channel her inner warrior. Ever since Rogers won her first NCAA title two years ago donning a flower crown, the four-time NCAA 800-meter champion has kept the winner’s crown sitting pretty on her hair. Sometimes it is afro-like, other times it is straight as a ruler and reaches her hip. Rogers didn’t always know how to channel her feminism while exploring her athletic passion. When she first started running fast in middle school, someone passed a comment likening her to a boy because she was good at what she did. That prompted Rogers to look up how to be “girlier,” which led her to adopt pink as her favorite color and attempt to match her eyeshadow with her clothes. “That’s an issue as far as girls being good in whatever sport they do and then being compared to a guy,” Rogers said. Then there’s the conundrum that female athletes face when they put effort into channeling their feminism. Rogers tweeted a photo of the 4x400-meter relay team at Florida Relays, in which she and her teammates Elexis Guster and Makenzie Dunmore boasted dark lipstick colors and had on a full face of makeup. A male Twitter user marveled at how the women “had their face beat” just for a race. “First of all, we don’t ‘just run’,” Rogers said. “Like, how dare you? Just surface level running. I don’t put on makeup to go jog. We’re going to put some dark lipstick on, and we’re going to war.” Makeup also serves as an opportunity for Rogers, an art major, to express her artistic side. The small-town concept of Eugene has also allowed her to explore her creativity because people aren’t afraid to be who they are. In the end, it’s all about personal taste, but Rogers lives by the motto: Why not? “You never know. It may alter your attitude going into the race,” Rogers said. For collegiate athletes, the track and field season lasts 12
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less than half a year and provides limited opportunities to participate at meets with large viewership. Rogers capitalizes on the limited opportunities to “put on a show,” such as the Penn Relays, where collegiate athletes get to compete against professional athletes from the U.S. and famed sprint nation Jamaica. Of course, there’s the NCAA Outdoor Championships, the end goal for the collegiate season, for which Rogers qualified for the third time at the NCAA West Regionals in May. Before putting on a show, however, they have to rehearse. Rogers’ teammate, Alaysha Johnson, regularly wears a full face of makeup at practice to test which products can weather the sweat and, particularly in Eugene, the rain. This sometimes draws comments from the male-dominated coaching staff, but ultimately, the athletes deliver results while expressing themselves. “I’m all about being different and just being individual,” said Johnson, who estimated that she spends anywhere from $60 to $200 a month on makeup products. “I think that’s what makes it such a powerful thing.” One of Rogers’ observations is that the shorter the distance, the more likely athletes are to apply makeup. While Johnson, a hurdler, is surrounded by many others in her event group who dress up for races, Rogers does not share that privilege, leading her to draw inspiration from those in the shorter distances such as Johnson. Rogers also looks up to throwers such as Michelle Carter and Gwen Berry, members of an event group that has recently been at the forefront of battling body shaming as they break barriers about what a female should look like. One of the outliers among middle-distance runners who wear distinct makeup, along with Rogers, is elite runner Shannon Rowbury. Rowbury applies a deep red shade of lipstick in memory of her grandmother Nonie. It is unmistakable on the track because her competitors hardly ever rival her in the makeup department. Though Rowbury is not as consistent in applying her signature lipstick, she said it has reached the point where, if she doesn’t apply it, people would be disappointed. Rowbury sees it as part of a bigger idea. “Women can be multi-dimensional beings,” said Rowbury, who represents the Portland-based Nike Oregon Project. “It doesn’t have to be either fashion or athlete. It can be ‘and’.”
Raevyn Rogers’ style has evolved throughout her collegiate career. From left to right: 2015, 2016, 2017. (Emerald Archives)
YOU NEVER KNOW, IT MAY ALTER YOUR ATTITUDE GOING INTO THE RACE.” RAEVYN ROGERS
Raevyn Rogers runs in the 4x400m relay during the Pac- 12 Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday May 14, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt)
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Alexi Pappas’ debut film ‘Tracktown’ follows a potential Olympic track athlete coming of age in Eugene ➡ DANA
ALSTON
Sports films are almost invariably earnest. Following a team or a single athlete’s journey to victory (whether in competition or otherwise) allows filmmakers to tug at an audience’s heartstrings with ease. Even average films in the genre can generate sobs and cheers. “Tracktown,” a new sports drama co-directed, cowritten and starring former University of Oregon track athlete and Olympian Alexi Pappas, doubles down on this earnestness. Shot on location in Eugene, the film displays a kind, quirky demeanor in both its characters and narrative style, delivering a heartfelt coming-of-age tale within the context of track and field. The story follows Plum Marigold (Pappas), a 21-yearold long distance runner preparing for the Olympic Trials. Born and raised in Eugene, Plum lives with her father Burt (Andy Buckley), a former track star who lines the walls of their home with Plum’s trophies and medals. Plum rigidly maintains her daily routine, complete with a meticulously scaled breakfast and a morning run, in preparation for the qualifying round of the trials at the film’s opening. Her struggling, mostly absent mother Gail (Rachel Dratch) is outwardly loving, even if Plum can feel the walls of expectation slowly close in around her. Nearing her final year at college, Plum is
athletically gifted but socially awkward and unsure of her plans going forward. Running is truly all she has. Plum makes it to the finals and has a chance to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic team but tweaks her leg in the waning stages of the qualifier, forcing her to avoid running for an entire day in preparation for the last round. What follows is a personal journey of growth, in which Plum comes out of her naive, awkward shell to mature as both a runner and a human being. If that sounds somewhat cliche, Pappas and co-director and writer Jeremy Teicher manage to squeeze enough innocence and hilarity out of the story to save it from its predictable structure. Plum is a likeable, naive protagonist. She is fun to watch as she confronts her suffocating parents, struggles to maintain her friendship with fellow runner Whitney (Rebecca Friday) and goes on a date with her longtime crush Sawyer (Chase Offerle). A voiceover from Pappas provides inspirational quotes through her journey and offers a peek into the inner workings of her mind. All the while, the consequences of her “run first, live second” lifestyle manifest themselves in both comedic and serious ways. Plum is so socially stunted that her mannerisms (including her short, rushed phrasing and constant wide-eyed wonderment) evoke that of a small child. It makes the chemistry between her and Sawyer oddly sweet, as the two of them display innocent insecurities and nervousness. Pappas pulls it off wonderfully — a surprise for a first-time screen actress. When “Tracktown” stumbles, it’s mostly a result of the narrative set-up. Cramming an entire childhood into 48 hours is a logical stretch, even for those used to suspending disbelief for the movies. And the more serious side effects of Plum’s grueling training (it’s been months since her last menstrual cycle and she worries if she’ll be able to have kids) are reduced to offhand, unexplored mentions. The film is content with relying on the naturalism at the story’s core and the relationships between these characters for its pathos, even if the performances of the supporting cast are roundly subpar. One wishes the film was willing to dig deeper, and tackle the darker parts of obsessively chasing a dream. But to do so would conflict with its honest-to-goodness charm. “Tracktown” lacks an edge, but it’s perfectly okay with that. What matters is learning, step by emotional step, to cross the finish line. (Emerald Archives)
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Ryan Hunter-Simms chalks his hands before throwing at the Pac- 12 Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday May 14, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt)
Two Oregon throwers are ➡ ROMAINE
SOH
locked in a meme war
It all started with a barrage of unglam photos that Austin White, a shot putter for the Oregon Ducks, sent to his Snapchat friends starring his teammate, Ryan Hunter-Simms. White fired the first shot last January when he discovered an old photo of Hunter-Simms sporting a milk mustache in a selfie captioned “#gotmilk?” White proceeded to display his wit as he re-captioned the photo, “When your mom asks who ate all the milk and cookies...” Hunter-Simms decided it was time to get back at him. Since then, the two have taken turns sneaking shots of each other and uploading the photos to either Twitter or Snapchat, where they often receive positive feedback from their friends and followers. Even though the nature of the memes is often made at the other’s expense, Hunter-Simms and White share a close bond that allows them to do just that. “None of these memes are made out of hostility,” White said. “It’s all out of love cause we care about each other.” Sometimes, both of them pause their rivalry to collaborate on memes featuring their coaching staff. Their most recent work includes head coach Robert
Johnson, who has become so accustomed to the throwers’ antics that he sometimes indulges them. “I know what they’re up to,” Johnson said. “Ryan, he’s infamous for that. Whenever he comes around, I either make a face or hide — just depends on what I’m feeling.” Johnson wasn’t the first of the coaches to be targeted. HunterSimms was undeterred by strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe’s intimidating demeanor as he proceeded to caption a photo of him relating to Pokemon Go, the top-trending app last summer. The tweet gained traction as the Pac-12 Networks account retweeted it, which proceeded to become one of Hunter-Simms’ most liked tweets and is still pinned at the top of his profile almost a year later. Radcliffe was the first target of the coaching staff because, despite his tough exterior, studentathletes love him for his slyness, which comes in handy during morning practices. “I remember I said something dumb,” Hunter-Simms said. “He [looked at me] and said, ‘Do you ever get tired of being incorrect?’ We just died.” Throwers are often lost in the chaos at track meets, where at least three events often occur at the same time. They get up to
six attempts and have a lot of downtime in between each throw as they wait for 15 other athletes to go. Perhaps the lack of a spotlight is what makes the throwers so unique as they can focus on honing their wit and personalities. At the Pac-12 Championships, Hunter-Simms won his first individual collegiate title in the discus. Even though he does not take to running well, the senior felt compelled to take a victory lap around Hayward Field for the fans, slowing to a walk-jog for at least half of it. If it were up to Hunter-Simms, he would reduce the victory lap to “just a nice 100 down the backstretch.” For now, he plans to use his anthropology degree to lead him to a coaching job. White plans to go into sales, maybe rise into management and one day own a company – much like Michael Scott, the main character from their favorite TV show, “The Office.” The two seniors will graduate from Oregon next month, which may lead to a decrease in the meme production as they part ways. But the pictures will remain as their fond memories of college. “The memes will never die,” White said. EMG Magazine
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