Future Oregon sprinter Rodrick Pleasant wins his first race at Hayward Field

Rodrick Pleasant of Urban Youth TC (CA) won the men’s championship 100-meter dash in a time of 10.21 at Hayward Field on Friday night. Photo by Maggie Troxell

By Maddie Lang

Rodrick Pleasant opened up his next four years in Oregon with a Nike Outdoor Nationals title. The senior from Gardena, California, is committed to play football and run track at the University of Oregon this fall. 

Pleasant won the men’s championship 100-meter dash in a time of 10.21 at Hayward Field on Friday night.

“The race was great,” Pleasant said. “It was my first time running on Hayward Field. It’s amazing. This place is second to none.”

Wearing an all-red singlet, Pleasant stepped into his starting blocks. As the gun went off, Pleasant bolted out of his blocks, but a second gun went off, indicating a false start. 

To his right, Kendrick Jones Jr. of Temple, Texas, was disqualified for a false start. 

“The very first start I was kind of nervous because it was debatable,” said Pleasant. “I knew I had a false start, but I didn’t want them to kick me out for it.”

Racing with an open lane to his right, Pleasant stepped into his blocks for the second time. At the sound of the gun, he exploded out. 

The first 75 meters were a close match, but Pleasant soon took his lead. He came across the finish line .09 ahead of runner-up Maurice Gleaton Jr.

When he runs, Pleasant wears a necklace with a picture of him and his grandfather, who passed away when he was in seventh grade. 

He wanted something to take with him wherever he went. He and his mom had it made at a jewelry store.

“He means the world to me,” Pleasant said. “Just having him around me makes me feel really good. It makes me feel confident and know he’s here watching me.” 

As Pleasant wraps up his high school track career, he is quickly transitioning towards his first football season as an Oregon Duck. His last high school class was June 9, and he is moving into the UO on June 18. Summer session classes start on June 26.

“It seems like I just finished school,” Pleasant said laughing.. 

Pleasant has been running track since he was 4 years old and began playing football when he was five. He’s used to the transition from sport to sport. 

“Football and track are really different because it’s a straight line to side-to-side,” he said. “It’s going to take a couple of weeks but I’m planning on staying out here and getting after it.” 

Pleasant is one of the few Oregon athletes to double in football and track. Devon Allen, the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and 110-meter Olympic hurdler, is the most recent Oregon alum to pair the two. 

“He gives me hope,” said Pleasant. “I’ve talked to him. Just mental things and making sure that I do everything right.” 

Pleasant plans to study business and go into some sort of sports business or sports management. 

“I love athletes,” Pleasant said. “I love sports and I love it all.” 

Pleasant, who will compete Sunday in the 200 meters, said he was happy to “defend the home turf.”

He added, “I can’t wait to do more here.”