The Oregon track and field team is gearing up for the Razorback Invitational this weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The two-day event starts Friday at 9:45 a.m. PT with the heptathlon, followed by the pentathlon.
This year’s competition features a strong lineup, including teams from the Big Ten like Illinois and Michigan. The Ducks will face tough rivals such as Arkansas, Florida, and Texas.
In the latest USTFCCCA coaches poll, Oregon’s women’s team ranks 9th, while the men are 13th nationally. They’ve got a combined nine top-10 national marks this season, with standout performances from both their women’s and men’s teams.
Notably, Wilma Nielsen holds the 2nd-fastest mile time in the country at 4:26.74, and Silan Ayyildiz has the 2nd-best 3,000m time at 8:42.29. Both athletes have broken school records; Ayyildiz and Kobe Lawrence each improved their own records, while Simeon Birnbaum surpassed a decade-old record previously held by Edward Cheserek.
All three will compete in the mile at the Razorback Invitational. Matthew Erickson, the reigning NCAA indoor champion in the 800m, will also make his season debut in both the 800m and mile.
Peyton Bair and Aiden Carter are set to compete in the heptathlon, with newcomer Liisa-Maria Lusti participating in the pentathlon. Bair is a notable competitor, having won NCAA titles last season.
Nielsen recently clinched victory in the elite section of the Dr. Sander Scorcher mile and is poised to run in the prestigious Wannamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in New York.
This event promises to showcase the Ducks’ talent and determination, and track fans can expect exciting performances. Tracking Oregon’s achievements is easy—just follow @OregonTF on social media for updates.
For more insights on NCAA track performance, visit the NCAA official site.
