Meet Preview: Nike Outdoor Nationals 2023

By Ricky Quintana

The future superstars of track and field will descend on Eugene, OR June 15 – 18 for the Nike Outdoor Nationals at the incomparable Hayward Field to experience the “Hayward Magic” so many athletes have come to know and love. And many of them are from Oregon or headed to Oregon next year to become future Ducks.

Here is a small sample of the mind-blowing, generational talents that will be on hand for four days of jaw-dropping competition.

Mia Brahe-Pedersen, a junior from Lake Oswego won her state 100-meter championship in an eye-popping 11.00, the 4th fastest U.S. high school time ever and 5th fastest U20 time in the world ever. She will face another Oregonian, Sophia Beckmon of Oregon City who has run an 11.32 (+1.5 m/s wind) best this season behind Brahe-Pedersen’s 11.00 at state. Beckmon will also be in the long jump where she has jumped 22’4”, the second longest jump in U.S. high school history by one inch.

Hana Moll (Capital High School, Olympia, WA) was the first U.S. high schooler and the world’s only U20 female athlete to clear 15-0 in outdoor competition. And her sister, Amanda Moll, is the first U.S. high schooler and the world’s highest pole vaulter under 20 years of age ever at 15’1/12” which she accomplished indoors. They will be on hand at their favorite venue.

Connor Burns (Southern Boone, Ashland, MO), Simeon Birnbaum (Stevens, Rapid City, SD) and Rocky Hansen (Christ School, Arden, NC) have already run under 4 minutes in their high school careers and will be joined by Lex and Leo Young of Newbury Park (CA). Lex recently ran the U.S. high school record of 13:34.96. This is arguably the best high school mile field ever assembled. The highest number of sub-4 high schoolers in the same race is four – NON could have five! Burns and Birnbaum will be Ducks next year and the Young brothers are bound for Stanford.

Rodrick Pleasant (Serra, Gardena, CA) will run track and play defensive back for the Ducks next year. Pleasant, Maurice Gleaton (Langston Hughes, Fairburn, GA), Ernest Campbell (Refugio, TX), Ashton Torns (Austin Westlake, TX) and John Sherman III (LaVergne, TN) have all run sub 10.32 for 100-meters this season. They will tangle in the deepest field of 100-meter high schoolers ever assembled.

And for you fans, we will have a Nike Outdoor Tailgate party at The Eugene Running Company on Thursday night, Shakeout runs on Friday and Saturday mornings from Nike by Eugene and Hayward Field led by EKIN team and OTC members, and free entry on Fan Appreciation night beginning on Friday at 4 PM. Treat yourself to a kids 60-meter dash with local participants from the KIDSPORTS program, the high school 100-meter dash finals and an OTC Distance Carnival for professional runners from the Bowerman Track Club, OTC and Union Athletic Club athletes tuning up for the USATF Championships on July 6-9 at Hayward Field. Again, all of these above events are free and open to everyone so please come on by and enjoy!

You will not want to miss a moment of this year’s Nike Outdoor Nationals. More information can be found on all the top entrants, schedule of events and happenings at NikeOutdoorNationals.com.