Ducks Add Four NCAA Qualifiers Friday
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Oregon men's track and field team picked up four national qualifiers Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. Among the four, all three of the Ducks' entries in the 1500 meters advanced.
Men of Oregon at NCAA Championships
Elliott Cook - 1500 meters
Rheinhardt Harrison - 1500 meters
PJ Ize-Iyamu - 100 meters
Tomas Palfrey - 1500 meters
Rafael Raap - decathlon
The UO men are sending a trio of qualifiers in the 1500 meters back to Eugene with their 3-for-3 outing in Friday's quarterfinal heats. Elliott Cook and Rheinhardt Harrison posted times of 3:40.43 and 3:40.58, respectively, good for a top-five finish in heat one to secure an automatic qualifier. Finishing seventh in that same heat, Tomas Palfrey crossed in 3:41.09 which was fast enough—by .03—to secure the last on-time bid to the national meet.
The semifinal round of the men's 1500 meters is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, at 4:46 p.m. (PT) in Eugene.
PJ Ize-Iyamu, the Pac-12 champion over 100 meters, will now contest the event on his home track after Friday's all-conditions best in the quarterfinals. Battling for a top-three spot in the second heat, the UO sophomore dipped at the line for a time of 10.04w (+2.6) and an automatic berth to the national meet. Ize-Iyamu will be making his first solo NCAA appearance after being part of the Ducks' 4x100 a year ago.
The Pasadena, Calif., will line up for his semifinal at Hayward Field on Wednesday, June 5, at 5:46 p.m.
In the first event of the day, Osawese Agbonkonkon joined the program's seven-foot club with a season-best 2.14m/7-0.25 clearance. He was clean through the first three heights of the competition before the second-attempt make at 2.14 meters. The freshman becomes the first UO man to clear seven feet since Ben Milligan in 2021.
Agbonkonkon finished 17th overall in his debut at the NCAA West Preliminary. Teammate Jack Normand (2.04m/6-8.25) finished in a tie for 31st place.
Matthew Erickson just missed on a second-consecutive trip to the national meet, finished 14th overall in the 800 meters. The UO junior was fourth in his heat with a time of 1:48.44 which left him one spot shy of the automatic bid and two places short in the overall race standings.
Notable: Benjamin Balazs finished in 15th place in the steeplechase (8:50.18)...Devin Hart, back from the 10,000 meters Wednesday, finished 18th in the 5,000 meters (14:09.31)…quartet of Ize-Iyamu, Anthony Trucks, Rodrick Pleasant and Caleb Hagan finished 20th in the 4x100 (40.26)…Giuliano Scasso finished in 42nd place in the steeplechase (9:23.32).
Up Next: The final day of the NCAA West Preliminary features the women's competition with the Ducks having 18 entries across 12 events. The UO women enter Saturday with three national qualifiers already in Taylor Chocek (heptathlon), Shelby Moran (hammer) and Jaida Ross (shot put). The day-four schedule begins at 11 a.m. (PT) with the discus, a field that includes both Moran and Ross.
The NCAA East Preliminary is also being held this week in Lexington, Ky. The top 12 in each event at both sites advance to the 2024 NCAA Championships (June 5-8) at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Friday Results
NCAA West Preliminary (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Q – advances to NCAA Championships
MEN
100 Meters
T10. PJ Ize-Iyamu – 10.04wQ (+2.6)
800 Meters
14. Matthew Erickson – 1:48.44
1500 Meters
6. Elliott Cook – 3:40.43Q
9. Rheinhardt Harrison – 3:40.58Q (SB)
12. Tomas Palfrey – 3:41.09Q
5,000 Meters
18. Devin Hart – 14:09.31
3,000m Steeplechase
15. Benjamin Balazs – 8:50.18
42. Giuliano Scasso – 9:23.32
4x100m Relay
20. Anthony Trucks—Rodrick Pleasant—Caleb Hagan—PJ Ize-Ize-Iyamu – 40.26
High Jump
17. Osawese Agbonkonkon – 2.14m/7-0.25 (SB)
T31. Jack Normand – 2.04m/6-8.25
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