Ducks close out regular home season with Twilight meet
Photo by Charlie Townes
On Friday evening, athletes came out to a rainy Hayward to compete in the Oregon Twilight, closing out the 2024 regular home season for Oregon Track and Field. University of Oregon Track and Field seniors were also celebrated, coming together halfway through the meet to be congratulated by the crowd and run their final lap at Hayward Field together.
Eugene’s Ducks and Bowerman Track Club athletes had strong showings, recording multiple wins and personal bests throughout the evening on both the track and the field.
University of Oregon junior Ella Nelson won the women’s 800 meter by 0.48 seconds in 2:07.35, followed closely by teammate Mia Barnett with a time of 2:07.83. Bowerman TC’s Christina Aragon finished third in 2:09.34.
Bowerman TC’s Duncan Hamilton placed first with a season’s best 3:42.28 in the men’s 1500 meter, just ahead of teammate Mo Ahmed in 3:42.54. University of Oregon sophomore Tomas Palfrey finished third in 3:42.63, giving him a new personal best in the event..
All eyes were on Eugene native and Duck sophomore Maddy Elmore, who is currently ranked 11th in the nation for the collegiate women's 1500m. She stayed neck-and-neck with Bowerman TC’s Kaylee Mitchell, who ultimately pulled ahead to place first. Mitchell set a new PR in 4:09.45 en route to the win, while Elmore finished second with a time of 4:11.05.
University of Oregon’s Benjamin Balazs placed first in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:45.36, a PR for the freshman.
In the final women’s track event of the night, The University of Oregon women swept the women’s 5000 meter. Freshman Dalia Frias placed first with a time of 15:56.33, with Maddy Elmore right behind her with a time of 15:56.94. Melissa Berry finished third in 16:47.83.
The men’s 5000 meter closed out the action on the track for the evening, seeing Charles Hicks of Bowerman TC win in 13:29.36. Portland’s Matt Strangio came behind with a time of 13:41.64, and University of Oregon’s Devin Hart placed third in 13:47.56.
On the field, Oregon’s Isabella Nilsen won the women’s pole vault with a mark of 3.78 meters. Saige Baumann from Lane Community College placed second with a PR of 3.63 meters, which placed second on the NWAC College Outdoor Rankings.
Oregon junior Jaida Ross came out on top in the women’s discus throw. The reigning Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Week threw 58.53 meters, a personal best in the event. Fellow Duck thrower Colleen Uzoekwe won the women’s shot put with a throw of 14.09 meters.
Fans can expect to see some of the stellar athletes they witnessed this weekend return to Hayward Field for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 5-8, 2024 and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field on June 21-30, 2024. Tickets for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field are on sale now at TrackTown24.com