DMR Clocks NCAA Record, All-Time World Best
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Just over a year ago, the Men of Oregon took down a 12-year-old collegiate record in the distance-medley relay at the Razorback Invitational. Friday night at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark., history repeated itself with the Ducks breaking their own record this time by more than five seconds with a time of 9:19.42 to cap Oregon's indoor season opener.
Collectively, the Men and Women of Oregon recorded seven UO top-10 marks Friday at the Razorback Invitational including the record-breaking DMR showing.
Cole Hocker (2:49.89), Luis Peralta (47.29), Charlie Hunter (1:47.65) and Cooper Teare (3:54.61) not only broke the NCAA record but set a new all-time world best in the event. The team that had the previous mark of 9:19.93 from 2015 featured two past UO greats in Mike Berry and Matthew Centrowitz. Eric Sowinski and Pat Casey were also part of that relay.
The Ducks finished more than eight seconds clear of runner-up Iowa State whose time of 9:27.90 was good for No. 8 on the all-time collegiate list. Hunter and Teare were members of last year's Oregon DMR that set a time of 9:24.52, surpassing the old record of 9:25.97 set by Texas in 2008.
Mathilde Rey finished second in the pentathlon and improved on her personal best with a score of 4,182 points. She remains at No. 2 in UO history with the performance, adding to her previous best of 4,142 set at last year's Razorback Invitational. Rey's total currently ranks fourth in the NCAA this season. Along the way, she established personal bests in the shot put (13.22m/43-4.5) and 800 meters (2:17.74). Rey was an NCAA qualifier (4,142) in the event last season.
Freshmen Mason Strunk and Tyler Arbaugh made an immediate impact on the program's record book with the No. 4 and 5 performances, respectively, in the weight throw. Strunk finished second overall with a best toss of 19.94m/65-5 with Arbaugh right behind in third at 19.92m/65-4.25. Only three men in UO history have eclipsed the 20-meter mark in the event: Adam Kris (20.60 – 2003), Brian Richotte (20.73 – 2006) and school-record holder Greg Skipper (22.55 – 2016).
In the men's first event on the track, Gaston Bouchereau was the runner-up in the 200 meters with a personal best of 21.03 and Xavier Nairne was fourth overall in 21.25. They are now the No. 6 and 10 indoor performers at Oregon in the event. On the women's side, newcomer Kemba Nelson ran 23.53 to finish second over 200 meters.
Tori Sloan produced two personal bests Friday including a 1.74m/5-8.5 clearance in the high jump which ties the No. 7 performance in UO history. She finished third in the event. Sloan had her first PR of the day with a mark of 5.59m/18-4.25 in the long jump.
After day one of the heptathlon, the UO pair of Jett Kinder and Max Vollmer are separated by one point and sit in third and fourth place, respectively, with three events remaining. Kinder, in his first collegiate outing, tallied 3,105 points thanks in part to runner-up marks in the shot put (14.35m/47-1) and high jump (1.95m/6-4.75). In the shot put, Vollmer got the implement out to a personal best of 15.39m/50-6. He and Kinder went 1-2 in the event.
The Ducks' added third-place outings from Isaiah Griffith (7.52m/24-8.25) in the long jump and freshman Ellie Akough (16.60m/54-5.5) in the weight throw. Eugene native Pierce LaCoste finished fourth in the long jump with the help of PR of 7.46m/24-5.75 and Akough led a trio of Oregon freshmen—with Christalee Kirby and Jaida Ross, respectively—to a 3-4-6 showing in the weight throw.
Day two of the Razorback Invitational begins at 8:15 a.m. (PT) with the resumption of the heptathlon. Running events start at 10:30 a.m. with the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles while field events get going at 11 a.m. with the women's triple jump and shot put.
Razorback Invitational – Day 1 Results
Men of Oregon
200 Meters
2. Gaston Bouchereau – 21.03 (PR) [No. 6 UO]
4. Xavier Nairne – 21.25 (PR) [No. 10 UO]
Distance Medley Relay
1. Hocker/Peralta/Hunter – 9:19.42 [No. 1 UO, NCAA record, all-time world best]
4. Brown/Poff/Fölmli/Tamagno – 9:49.51
Long Jump
3. Isaiah Griffith – 7.52m/24-8.25
4. Pierce LaCoste – 7.46m/24-5.75 (PR)
7. DJ Henderson – 7.10m/23-3.5
Weight Throw
2. Mason Strunk – 19.94m/65-5 [No. 4 UO]
3. Tyler Arbaugh – 19.92m/65-4.25 [No. 5 UO]
5. Travis Brewster – 17.74m/58-2.5 (PR)
Heptathlon (thru four events)
3. Jett Kinder – 3,105 points
7. 60 Meters – 7.19 [816 points]
7. Long Jump – 6.86m/22-6.25 [781]
2. Shot Put – 14.35m/47-1 [750]
2. High Jump – 1.95m/6-4.75 [758]
4. Max Vollmer – 3,104 points
4. 60 Meters – 7.07 [858 points]
8. Long Jump – 6.74m/22-1.5 [753]
1. Shot Put – 15.39m/50-6 (PR) [814]
6. High Jump – 1.86m/6-1.25 [679]
Women of Oregon
200 Meters
2. Kemba Nelson – 23.53
10. Jadyn Mays – 24.22
11. Iman Brown – 24.30
15. Jasmin Reed – 24.81
High Jump
3. Tori Sloan – 1.74m/5-8.5 (PR) [=No. 7 UO]
Long Jump
7. Alysah Hickey – 5.71m/18-8.75
8. Tori Sloan – 5.59m/18-4.25 (PR)
Weight Throw
3. Ellie Akough – 16.60m/54-5.5
4. Christalee Kirby – 16.59m/ 54-5.25
6. Jaida Ross – 15.21m/49-11
Pentathlon
2. Mathilde Rey – 4,182 points (PR) [No. 2 UO]
7. 60m Hurdles – 9.09 [891 points]
3. High Jump – 1.74m/5-8.5 [903]
1. Shot Put – 13.22m/43-4.5 (PR) [742]
4. Long Jump – 5.81m/19-0.75 [792]
2. 800 Meters – 2:17.74 (PR) [854]
For more news and information about Oregon Track and Field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.