Taking Advantage of Opportunity in Seattle

SEATTLE, Wash. – The Oregon track and field team collected five more wins Saturday and added four new entries to the program's top-10 lists to close out the Pac-12 Invitational. As a final opportunity to record NCAA-qualifying marks, the Ducks also tallied three top-10 national performances in Seattle.
 
Jadyn Mays led a 1-2 UO finish with Kemba Nelson in the women's 60 meters, crossing the line in a new lifetime best of 7.15, just .002 ahead of her teammate. Mays entered the weekend sitting just outside the top-16 qualifying group with a season-best of 7.27 but made the most of Saturday's final. With that time, the Arizona native also moves into a tie for fourth on the Ducks' top-10 list.
 
Nelson, the reigning NCAA champion, was also credited with a finishing time of 7.15 which is a season-best outing.
 
In the two-day, seven-event heptathlon Max Vollmer did not have a score entering the Pac-12 Invite but responded with 5,801 points to win in Seattle. He entered the day in second place overall but used two season bests and a lifetime best in the 1,000 meters—last event of the competition—to get the victory and post a top-10 mark in the NCAA this season.
 
The UO women put themselves in the national conversation for an NCAA spot in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:32.64, finishing third in the final event of the day. The team of Ella Clayton, Shaniya Hall, Katriina Wright and Shana Grebo becomes the No. 8 quartet on the program's all-time indoor list with Saturday's showing.
 
With meets still going on around the country, the Ducks' 4x400-meter relay ranks 10th on the national descending-order list. The top-12 declared relays will advance to the NCAA Championships.
 
Individually, Grebo enjoyed a personal best in the 60-meter hurdles earlier in the day with a time of 8.30 in the final. She now sits at No. 7 on the program's top-10 list, a day after lowering her best from 8.51 to 8.36 in the preliminary heats.
 
Micah Williams, the reigning NCAA champion in the men's 60 meters, continued his standout season with a time of 6.55 to win his fourth title in as many meets. The winning mark is also his fifth 6.55 or faster time of the year, a total that includes two sub-6.50 performances. He currently ranks second in the NCAA with a 6.48 from the season-opening Cougar Classic.
 
In the 800 meters, Tomas Palfrey became the fourth UO man to dip below 1:50 this season with a time of 1:48.38 to finish just ahead of Cass Elliott of Washington (1:48.40) for the win. With the time, Palfrey also adds his name to the UO top 10 as the No. 8 performer in school history.
 
Palfrey joins Luis Peralta (1:47.32), Elliott Cook (1:47.95) and Matthew Erickson (1:49.96) as the Ducks under 1:50 this season. Palfrey had a best of 1:51.59 entering the Pac-12 Invitational
 
The Ducks picked up a field-events win from Lexi Ellis in the triple jump. She led throughout the rounds and finished with a day's best of 13.08m/42-11, a fourth-round effort. Ellis has three wins this year and owns a season-best mark of 13.24m/43-5.25 from last week's Air Force Collegiate Open.
 
In addition to the Ducks' efforts at the Pac-12 Invitational, member of the UO distance crew traveled to Boston to compete in Sunday's BU Last Chance Meet.
 
2022 BU Last Chance Meet
Results | Watch | Entries
 
The 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships will take place March 11-12 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Saturday UO Results
MEN
60 Meters
1. Micah Williams – 6.55
4. Ryan Mulholland – 6.68
7. Xavier Nairne – 6.87
 
400 Meters
21. Camden Wheeler – 48.78
 
800 Meters
1. Tomas Palfrey – 1:48.38 (PR) [No. 8 UO]
15. Vincent Mestler – 1:55.71
 
3,000 Meters
12. Cameron Stein
 
4x400m Relay
6. Rieker Daniel/Evan Mafilas/Camden Wheeler/Xavier Nairne – 3:13.41
 
Triple Jump
6. Jonah Tactay – 14.57m/47-9.75
 
Heptathlon – Day 2/Final
1. Max Vollmer – 5,801 points
              2. 60m Hurdles – 8.22 (SB) [927 points]
              1. Pole Vault – 4.90m/16-0.75 (SB) [880]
              3. 1,000 Meters – 2:38.66 (PR) [888]
5. Nathan Poff – 5,252 points
              9. 60m Hurdles – 8.72 (PR) [809 points]
              7. Pole Vault – 4.40m/14-5.25 [731]
              2. 1,000 Meters – 2:37.48 (PR) [902]
T6. Jett Kinder – 5,585 points (PR) [No. 7 UO]
              11. 60m Hurdles – 9.12 (SB) [720 points]
              3. Pole Vault – 4.70m/15-5 (PR) [819]
              11. 1,000 Meters – 3:08.26 (PR) [586]
9. Arthur Katahdin – 4,996 points
              5. 60m Hurdles – 8.52 (PR) [855 points]
              6. Pole Vault – 4.60m/15-1 [790]
              7. 1,000 Meters – 2:49.42
 
WOMEN
60 Meters – final
1. Jadyn Mays – 7.15 (PR) [=No. 4 UO]
2. Kemba Nelson – 7.15 (SB)
4. Jasmine Montgomery – 7.40
6. Sydney Holiday – 7.42
 
800 Meters
7. Mia Moerck – 2:10.17
 
Mile
8. Nicole Louw – 4:42.90 (PR)
9. Emilie Girard – 4:43.65 (PR)
20. Caramia Mestler – 4:51.28
 
3,000 Meters
7. Aneta Konieczek – 9:12.47 (PR)
11. Izzy Thornton-Bott – 9:26.16
13. Malia Pivec – 9:26.82 (PR)
17. Dania Holmberg – 9:32.83 (PR)
22. Harper McClain – 9:47.33
25. Melissa Berry – 9:49.84 (PR)
--. Emilie Girard – DNF
 
60m Hurdles – final
3. Shana Grebo – 8.30 (PR) [No. 7 UO]
8. Alexandra Webster – 8.54
 
4x400m Relay
3. Ella Clayton/Shaniya Hall/Katriina Wright/Shana Grebo – 3:32.64 (SB) [No. 8 UO]
 
High Jump
3. Tori Sloan – 1.75m/5-8.75 (=PR) [=No. 7 UO]
 
Triple Jump
1. Lexi Ellis – 13.08m/42-11
 
Shot Put
7. Jaida Ross – 15.38m/50-5.5
 
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