DMR Posts Top-Five National Time

SEATTLE, Wash. – On the opening day of the Pac-12 Invitational, the Oregon track and field team had four wins to go along with five top-10 program performances.
 
Looking for a national qualifier, the UO women responded in the distance-medley relay with a time of 10:57.28 behind the efforts of Izzy Thornton-Bott, Katriina Wright, Mia Moerck and Aneta Konieczek. The performance ranks third nationally based on times entering the day and moves the quartet into eighth place on the UO all-time list.
 
In the preliminary round of the women's 60-meter hurdles, Alexandra Webster and Shana Grebo were the second- and fifth-fastest qualifiers and secured their spots in the final Saturday at 11 a.m. With her performance, Grebo (8.36) crossed in a new personal best and moved to No. 8 on the UO all-time list.
 
The UO women continued their standout efforts in the sprints in the 60-meter prelims. The Ducks will make up four of the eight spots in the final with Kemba Nelson (7.24), Jadyn Mays (7.27) and Jasmine Montgomery (7.36) posting the three-fastest qualifying times. Freshman Sydney Holiday also advanced with a time of 7.40, a new PR. Saturday's final is set for 12:35 p.m.
 
In the men's 60 meters, Micah Williams led a trio of Ducks into the final. Williams, the reigning NCAA champion, stopped the clock in 6.53 to notch the fastest-qualifying time. Ryan Mulholland (6.62) and Xavier Nairne (6.78) are also moving on. With his performance, Mulholland secured a PR while moving into a tie for fifth on the UO top-10 list.
 
In winning the women's 5,000 meters, Alessia Zarbo knocked more than 30 seconds off her previous PR and stopped the clock in 15:50.15, two seconds clear of the field. With the time, Zarbo also becomes the sixth-fastest indoor performer in UO history. Friday's race marks her first appearance since November at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
 
Eugene native Taylor Chocek finished fifth in her first collegiate pentathlon, posting a final total of 3,701 points to become the seventh-best performer in program history. She began the day with personal bests in the 60-meter hurdles and high jump. Teammate Gianna Bullock, another UO debut in the pentathlon, finished 10th overall with 3,570 points. That point total sits just outside the program's top 10.
 
Jett Kinder and Max Vollmer sit atop the heptathlon after day one, holding on to the No. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, entering Saturday. Kinder (3,122 points) overtook his teammate in the final event of the day—high jump—with a PR clearance of 2.02m/6-7.5 on a second-attempt make. Aided by season bests in the 60 meters and shot put, Vollmer ends the day with 3,106 points.
 
Additional wins Friday came from Pierce LaCoste in the men's long jump and the quartet of Reed Brown, Evan Mafilas, Luis Peralta and Jack Yearian in the men's distance-medley relay. In the final event of the night, the UO men combined for a time of 9:33.54 in a largely solo effort; Oregon 'B' (9:44.03) was the only other entry.
 
LaCoste led a 1-3-8 finish for the Ducks, followed DJ Henderson and Jonah Tactay, respectively. LaCoste put together a consistent series with four jumps of 7.52 meters or longer including the winning mark of 7.61m/24-11.75 in his fourth attempt. That effort is just off his personal best of 7.64m/25-0.75 from the Razorback Invitational earlier this season.
 
In his third-place finish, Henderson got out to an indoor PR of 7.39m/24-3 to surpass his previous best (7.35m/24-1.5) from the 2019 season.
 
Day two of the Pac-12 Indoor Invitational begins Saturday at 10 a.m. with UO top-10 performers Tori Sloan and Jaida Ross in the women's high jump and shot put, respectively.
 
Friday UO Results
MEN
60 Meters – prelims
1. Micah Williams – 6.53q
3. Ryan Mulholland – 6.62q (PR) [=No. 5 UO]
8. Xavier Nairne – 6.78q (SB)
14. Rieker Daniel – 6.85
 
200 Meters
17. Camden Wheeler – 22.56
 
5,000 Meters
5. Caleb Brown – 13:55.95 (PR)
7. Quincy Norman – 13:59.72 (PR)
 
Distance Medley Relay
1. Reed Brown/Evan Mafilas/Luis Peralta/Jack Yearian – 9:33.54
2. Elliott Cook/Matthew Erickson/Tomas Palfrey/James Gormley – 9:44.03
 
Pole Vault
10. J Kai Yamafuji – 4.83m/15-10
11. Harrison Canfield – 4.68m/15-4.25
 
Long Jump
1. Pierce LaCoste – 7.61m/24-11.75
3. DJ Henderson – 7.39m/24-3 (PR)
8. Jonah Tactay – 6.96m/22-10
 
Weight Throw
6. Mason Strunk – 20.77m/68-1.75
 
Heptathlon – Day 1
1. Jett Kinder – 3,122 points
                8. 60 Meters – 7.26 [792 points]
                3. Long Jump – 6.80m/22-3.75 [767]
                2. Shot Put – 14.20m/46-7.25 (SB) [741]
                1. High Jump – 2.02m/6-7.5 (PR) [822]
2. Max Vollmer – 3,106 points
                2. 60 Meters – 7.03 (SB) [872 points]
                4. Long Jump – 6.79m/22-3.5 [764]
                1. Shot Put – 15.31m/50-2.75 (SB) [809]
                6. High Jump – 1.84m/6-0.5 [661]
7. Nathan Poff – 2,810 points
                4. 60 Meters – 7.09 (PR) [851 points]
                7. Long Jump – 6.48m/21-3.25 [693]
                7. Shot Put – 12.39m/40-7.75 (PR) [630]
                10. High Jump – 1.81m/5-11.25 [636]
12. Arthur Katahdin – 2,579 points
                7. 60 Meters – 7.23 [802 points]
                12. Long Jump – 5.95m/19-6.25 [576]
                5. Shot Put – 12.57m/41-3 (PR) [641]
                11. High Jump – 1.72m/5-7.75 [560]
 
WOMEN
60 Meters – prelims
1. Kemba Nelson – 7.24q
2. Jadyn Mays – 7.27q (=SB)
3. Jasmine Montgomery – 7.36q
5. Sydney Holiday – 7.40q (PR)
9. Alysah Hickey – 7.43 (PR)
10. Jasmin Reed – 7.43 (=SB)
 
5,000 Meters
1. Alessia Zarbo – 15:50.15 (PR) [No. 6 UO]
6. Caramia Mestler – 16:29.39 (PR)
6. Harper McClain – 16:42.86
12. Melissa Berry – 17:12.46
 
60m Hurdles – prelims
2. Alexandra Webster – 8.31
5. Shana Grebo – 8.36 (PR) [No. 8 UO]
 
Distance Medley Relay
1. Izzy Thornton-Bott/Katriina Wright/Mia Moerck/Aneta Konieczek – 10:57.28 [No. 8 UO]
5. Dania Holmberg/Nicole Louw/Emilie Girard/Malia Pivec – 11:40.65
 
Weight Throw
11. Ellie Akough – 16.68m/54-8.75
 
Pentathlon
5. Taylor Chocek – 3,701 points [No. 7 UO]
                7. 60m Hurdles – 8.78 (PR) [956 points]
                7. High Jump – 1.63m/5-4.25 (PR) [771]
                4. Shot Put – 12.10m/39-8.5 [668]
                11. Long Jump – 5.14m/16-10.5 [598]
                8. 800 Meters – 2:28.81 [708]
10. Gianna Bullock – 3,570 points
                8. 60m Hurdles – 8.83 (PR) [946 points]
                7. High Jump – 1.63m/5-4.25 (PR) [771]
                11. Shot Put – 10.67m/35-0.25 [573]
                12. Long Jump – 5.13m/16-10 [595]
                9. 800 Meters – 2:30.64 [685]
 
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.