Loaded Fields In Distance Events Highlight Oregon Relays

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The third weekend of live track and field at the newly renovated Hayward Field in Eugene comes with the largest collegiate event so far, plus a high-profile professional session that is on par – or better – than any meet in the world since the outbreak to the global pandemic. 

The Oregon Relays and the USATF Grand Prix come at a time when local health officials are still concerned about a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Lane County.

Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Health Authority have moved Lane County into the "High" risk category, which limits the number of people who will be allowed into Hayward Field and other sports venues on the Oregon campus. The risk assessment is re-evaluated every two weeks.

After an unusually long spring dry spell, it is also expected to rain Friday and Saturday in Eugene. 

The Oregon Relays, returning for the first time since 2018, begins on Friday with the first field event (women's discus) starting at 2:45 p.m. Pacific. The action on the track begins at 6 p.m. and features some high qualifty distances races that will run until about 9:30 p.m.

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ENTRIES 

Here are 10 Storylines To Follow at the Oregon Relays:

Cole Hocker Stepping Up To The 5,000

Oregon's star sophomore is 2-0 on the new Hayward track after winning the 800 meters and 1,500 meters at the Hayward Premiere on April 2-3. 

It will be Hocker's first 5,000-meter race on a track since running 13:32.95 at the Soutn Running Track Meet on Dec. 4 and he'll be mixing it up with some very good runners. 

NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter champion Wesley Kiptoo of Iowa State is on the entry list, along with his teammate Edwin Kurgat, the 2019 NCAA cross country champion. 

Oregon's Cooper Teare, who ran 13:17.13 at The Sound Running Track Meet, is also making his season debut in the event. 

Ella Donaghu Leads Women's 5,000 Field

The former Oregon prep star from Grant High will compete at Hayward for the second week in a row. 

Donaghu, who already ranks No. 3 on the NCAA list in the 5,000 meters by virtue of the 15:36.52 she ran at the Stanford Invite on April 2, won the 1,500 last Saturday in 4:14.15. 

After Saturday's race, Donaghu commented on the new stadium: "It was incredible!"

Oregon's Carmela Cardama Baez and Boise State's Clare O'Brien, who is No. 4 on the 10,000 meters list, should help ensure a fast pace. 

Pros Add Spice To Men's 1,500

The addition of professional racers Tripp Hurt (Team Boss), Brannon Kidder and David Ribich (Brooks Beasts) raises the stakes in the men's 1,500 meters. 

Oregon's James West is the NCAA indoor record holder in the 1,500 meters after running 3:36.93 at the Boston University Last Chance Qualifier on Feb. 28, 2020. 

West has only run one race for Oregon since then, so this 1,500 meters will be a great test of his fitness and an indicator of whether he can pick up where his promising 2020 left off. 

Washington State's Colton Johnsen and Paul Ryan come into the weekend on a short rest after competing in the dual against Washington on Wednesday.

Bartoletta Joins Collegians In Long Jump

Tianna Bartoletta is getting back into the swing of long jump competitions and this weekend she will join seven jumpers from the Pac-12 Conference as she continues to build toward the Olympic Trials. 

Bartoletta, 35, is the reigning Olympic champion and a two-time World Championships gold medalist in the event. By her standards, her recent results have been modest, but they are improving. Last week at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational at Florida she jumped 21-2.50 (6.46m). That was her best jump since 2018. 

Bartoletta is look for more competition reps and she will get them at the venue that will host this year's Olympic Trials. 

Aragon Looks To Keep Momentum Going

Stanford's Christina Aragon is returning to form after injuries took away her 2019 track season and the pandemic messed up 2020. Aragon won the women's 800 meters at last week's West Coast Classic, running 2:08.72 – her best result at that distance in three years. 

Aragon, an All-American in 2017 and 2018, will look to improve upon the 4:17.56 that she ran at the Stanford Invitational. 

Canadian professional Lindsey Butterworth (New Balance) is entered and ran 4:13.59 at Victoria, B.C. on March 27. 

Colorado athletes Rachel McArthur, Micaela DeGenero and Madison Boreman, Oregon's Aneta Konieczek and Boise State's Clare O'Brien are among the top entries.  

Ejore Versus Butterworth In The 800

Oregon alum Susan Ejore will race at the new Hayward Field for the first time, and for the first time anywhere since February, when she races in in the 800 meters. Lindsey Butterworth (also in the 1,500) has run 2:03.91 indoors in 2021 so it may take a sub-2:05 effort to win.  

Vollmer Entered In Five Events

Oregon decathlete Max Vollmer, who assembled the fourth-best decathlon so far in in the NCAA outdoor season, will get a workout this weekend as he contests five of the 10 decathlon events. He scored 7,695 points at the Jim Click Shootout in Tucson, Ariz. two weeks ago. 

Vollmer is entered in the 100 meters, the 110-meter hurdles, the long jump, the javelin and the discus. 

Peralta, West In Men's 800m

Oregon will have five entries in the men's 800 meters, led by Luis Peralta and James West, who is also entered in the 1,500. Peralta ran a career-best 1:47.55 in the 800 for third place at the Hayward Premiere, finishing behind teammate Cole Hocker and Iowa State's Festus Lagat. 

Peralta's time is currently eight on the NCAA outdoor list. 

Marcus Chambers Returns To Hayward

One of the 12 Oregon alums expected to compete this weekend, Marcus Chambers is the top entrant in the men's 400 meters. Chambers, who is No. 2 on the Ducks' all-time outdoor list in the 400 (44.92), opened his season at the USATF Sprint Summit in Texas two weeks ago and ran 46.12.

Ben Milligan Chasing Oregon High Jump Record

Senior Ben Milligan cleared a lifetime best 7-4.50 (2.25m) at the Aztec Invitational in late March. That boosted him to No. 2 on the all-time Oregon list, behind Jason Boness, who jumped 7-5 (2.26m) back in 2000. It will be Milligan's second time jump in competition at Hayward Field this season. He jumped 6-9 for second place at the Hayward Premiere.