Cooper Teare breaks the tape for Duck Track Club in the 4xmile relay, stopping the clock at 15:52.05, the second fastest time ever run. Photo by Logan Hannigan-Downs

By Cassie Cole

Hayward Field at the University of Oregon was filled with track fans Saturday night—and not just in the seats. Attendees at the Oregon Relays were invited to stand in lanes 7-9 to cheer on four former Ducks as they attempted a world best in the 4xmile.

Oregon running alums Matt Wisner, James West, Cole Hocker and Cooper Teare were planning to run the fastest 4xmile ever on Saturday. The time to beat was 15:49.08, a world best that has been held by Ireland since 1985. The relay team was unable to beat the mark, but are now second all-time after getting the baton around in 15:52.05.

“To come in here, really the goal was just to have fun,” said Teare after the race. “We decided why not, so to give a crack at it and be number two all-time is really cool.” Teare, who ran the final leg of the relay, finished his mile in 3:53.24.

The “Duck Track Club,” as the former Ducks named themselves, was joined by two teams of current Oregon runners as well as a fourth, unattached relay team. Duck Track was aiming for an average mile time of 3:57. Pacing lights along the track were programmed separately for each leg to match the preferred pace of the runner. Wisner opened things up with a 3:59.68 split.

Hocker, running the third leg of the relay, had never run with pace lights before. He explained after the race that he found them helpful, albeit difficult to catch up to once the lights were ahead of him. The lights remained in the lead throughout Hocker’s 3:57.31 leg but by the time he passed the baton off to Teare, the lights were off entirely.

Teare wasn’t fazed. “I’m honestly probably happy they didn’t have them on,” said Teare. “Just knowing I kind of did it myself, I think it kind of shows where I’m at fitness-wise.”

Cole Hocker (left) receives the baton from James West (right) in front of a large crowd of fans lining the track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Photo by Logan Hannigan-Downs

Positive energy is exactly what the Duck Track Club team needs after the past week. Despite the only recent announcement of the team’s attempt at a world best, the runners received a lot of negative feedback online.

“I feel like if I had to read all that all the time, I would be so unconfident and stressed out,” said Wisner. He clarified that much of the negative attention comes from people pitting Duck Track Club against On Athletics Club for not joining the latter at the Penn Relays 4xmile attempt next week.

“The other guys who are gonna attempt [the world best] next week are my friends and I really want them to do well,” said Wisner. “It’s kinda weird to be pitted against people you like.”

“I was feeling really terrible about it all,” Wisner added.

Once the runners arrived at Hayward Field, however, the crowd helped turn up their confidence. In continuing a tradition started during the last 4xmile world best attempt at Hayward in 2009, fans were encouraged to come down from their seats and stand on the track for a front-row view of the race.

The cheers of the crowd brought the Hayward energy to life. “It’s just an explosion of noise,” said Hocker.

Although the Duck Track Club was unable to run a new world best in the 4xmile this weekend, they still have their eyes on the record. In a post-race interview with the group, West, who ran 4:01.81 in his split, expressed his hope to make the 4xmile attempt a tradition at the Oregon Relays.

“I’m sure next year we’ll get our record,” West said.

Matt Wisner (left) and Cooper Teare (right) celebrate after running the second fastest 4xmile relay ever at the 2022 Oregon Relays. Photo by Logan Hannigan-Downs

Attempting the record at Hayward Field, a place that is no stranger to big meets and big records, with fans surrounding the track is quite the experience for all involved. But for the Duck Track Club, their most important experience is the team itself.

“Doing [the race] with guys I train with every day is super cool and it doesn’t get much better than this crowd,” said Teare. “Doing it with a group of guys, a ragtag group of guys who are just out here trying to have some fun.”