Indoor Campaign Begins in Spokane

EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon track and field team is in Spokane, Wash., this weekend for the season-opening Cougar Classic. The invitational section of the two-day meet begins Friday at 7 p.m. with the men's high jump and weight throw, and continues with a full schedule Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
 
The Cougar Classic is being contested at The Podium, a new facility to the Pacific Northwest that will host the USATF Indoor Championships in late February.
 
2022 Cougar Classic Invitational
The Podium (Spokane, Wash.)
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Friday's schedule is set to feature multis standout Jett Kinder in the high jump and Travis Brewster Jr. and Mason Strunk in the weight throw. Strunk enters the weekend with a PR of 19.94m/65-5, good for No. 4 on the program's all-time list.
 
Oregon returns four NCAA indoor champions from last season, a list that features Emmanuel Ihemeje (triple jump), Xavier Nairne (DMR), Kemba Nelson (60m) and Micah Williams (60m). All four will make their season debuts at the Cougar Classic. Rieker Daniel, an NCAA indoor qualifier at 60 meters, is also set for action in Spokane.
 
Rieker Daniel – 60 meters, 200 meters
Emmanuel Ihemeje – 60 meters, long jump
Xavier Nairne – 60 meters
Kemba Nelson – 60 meters, 200 meters
Micah Williams – 60 meters
 
Last week, Ihemeje was named to The Bowerman preseason watch list. Nelson and Williams are also receiving votes on the respective watch lists.
 
In addition to roster veterans, a total of 15 Ducks are scheduled to make their debut in an Oregon kit during the Cougar Classic. That list features four returners that did not compete or did so unattached last year (Shaniya Hall, Ashley Hodulik, Ryan Mulholland and Colleen Uzoekwe).
 
 There are also two transfers (Evan Mafilias/Washington and Jonah Tactay/Lane CC) and nine freshmen (Gianna Bullock, Ella Clayton, Hannah Ganashamoorthy, Shana Grebo, Sydney Holiday, Arthur Katahdin, Kaylee Lewis, Jasmine Montgomery and Katriina Wright).
 
Along with Oregon, the field at the Cougar Classic includes Pac-12 teams UCLA and host Washington State.
 
The Ducks' next meet is scheduled for Jan. 28-29, the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
 
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