Hocker Runs to National Lead, Pac-12 Honor
EUGENE, Ore. – For a second time this season, Cole Hocker has been named the Pac-12 Men's Track Athlete of the Week as announced Wednesday morning by the league office. Hocker won the invitational 5,000 meters at the Oregon Relays (April 23), and now ranks among the top 15 nationally in three events.
Hocker stopped the clock in 13:19.98, good for the fastest time in the NCAA this season. With the performance, he moves to No. 5 on the UO top-10 list and becomes the 12th fastest on the all-time collegiate list. Hocker now leads the Pac-12 in three events: 800 meters (1:46.60), 1,500 meters (3:38.99) and 5,000 meters.
Friday's race produced the top-four times nationally including a 13:20.24 by Cooper Teare in a runner-up effort.
Through the first five weekends of the outdoor campaign, the Ducks have collected a combined 13 top-10 marks in the NCAA. Five of those times were posted this past weekend during the Oregon Relays and USATF Grand Prix.
Oregon in the NCAA Top 10 (as of April 25)
Women's 100 Meters
3. Kemba Nelson – 11.08w*
Women's 200 Meters
4. Kemba Nelson – 22.79w
Men's 800 Meters
2. Cole Hocker – 1:46.60
6. Charlie Hunter – 1:47.21*
9. Luis Peralta – 1:47.55
Men's 5,000 Meters
1. Cole Hocker – 13:19.98*
2. Cooper Teare – 13:20.24*
Women's 5,000 Meters
5. Carmela Cardama Baez – 15:36.41*
Women's 10,000 Meters
7. Carmela Cardama Baez – 32:57.01
Men's 3,000m Steeplechase
6. Jackson Mestler – 8:44.84
Men's 4x100m Relay
6. Williams/Bouchereau/Daniel/Nairne – 39.02
Men's High Jump
3. Ben Milligan – 2.25m/7-4.5
Decathlon
6. Max Vollmer – 7,695 points
* - from the Oregon Relays/USATF Grand Prix
In Monday's release of the USTFCCCA national rankings, the Men of Oregon were up to No. 3 while the Women of Oregon check in at No. 12, season-high spots for both teams.
This Ducks are back in action this weekend with competition at the OSU High Performance (April 30-May 1) in Corvallis and the Desert Heat Classic (May 1) in Tucson, Ariz.
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