Hickey Sixth in Long Jump, Six Advance to Finals

Friday, March 10

Albuquerque, NM

University of Oregon

NCAA Indoor Championships

Photo by: Isaac Wasserman

03/10/23 | Track and Field

The UO women will have eight scoring opportunities on day two of the NCAA Indoor Championships.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Oregon track and field team advanced five individuals to six event finals with Friday's efforts on day one of the NCAA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque. The UO women have eight scoring opportunities Saturday including three chances to collect points in field events.

Alysah Hickey secured the first points of the weekend for the UO women while Jadyn Mays put down qualifying efforts in the 60 and 200 meters. The UO women will also have finalists in the mile—two, actually—and 60-meter hurdles. Elliott Cook also advanced in the men's mile Friday evening.

Through two rounds of the women's long jump, Hickey sat in ninth place but with a day's best mark of 6.48m/21-3.25 on her third attempt, she moved up into sixth heading into the final rounds of jumps. Hickey is now a two-time NCAA indoor scorer in the event.

The UO women will have two finalists in the mile with Friday's efforts of Klaudia Kazimierska and Izzy Thornton-Bott. Kazimierska was the fifth-fastest qualifier in 4:40.36 while Thornton-Bott crossed the finish line in 4:41.41 in heat one to nab an automatic spot in the final. Both will be making their debut appearances in an NCAA indoor final.

The women's mile will go off Saturday at 3 p.m. (PT) to open the session.

Mays was 2-for-2 with qualifying performances in the 60 and 200 meters, both powered by personal bests and top-10 program marks. In her first event of the day, Mays lowered her PB to 7.07 in the 60 meters which moved her to a tie for second in program history with Hannah Cunliffe. Mays is now a two-time NCAA indoor finalist in the 60 meters; finished third last season.

The Phoenix, Ariz., native was back on the track just over an hour later to post a time of 22.58 in the prelims of the 200 meters. Mays won her heat and finished fifth overall in qualifying to advance. The time erases her previous best of 22.86 from the Don Kirby meet earlier this season, and puts Mays in fourth on the UO all-time list.

Mays is the first UO woman to advance to the NCAA finals in the 60 and 200 since Cunliffe and Ariana (Washington) Murphy in 2017. The sprint finals are scheduled for Saturday starts of 3:10 p.m. (PT) and 3:50 p.m., respectively.

Freshman Aaliyah McCormick shook off two call backs in heat two of the 60-meter hurdles to advance to Saturday's final. She recorded a time of 8.01 for the third time this season to equal her lifetime best and will be one of two freshmen in the final.

On the men's side, Elliott Cook will run for a national title in the mile after Friday's prelims. He crossed in a time of 4:03.32, finishing fifth in the faster of the two heats for an on-time bid into Saturday's title run. The loaded field of 10 will be running at Edward Cheserek's facility record of 3:54.73 from 2018.

The NCAA men's mile final is scheduled to open the men's session at 6 p.m. (PT).

FRIDAY RESULTS
NCAA Indoor Championships (Albuquerque, N.M.)
WOMEN
60 Meters – prelims
4. Jadyn Mays – 7.07q (PB) [=No. 2 UO]

200 Meters – prelims
5. Jadyn Mays – 22.58q (PB) [No. 4 UO]

Mile – prelims
5. Klaudia Kazimierska – 4:40.36q
8. Izzy Thornton-Bott – 4:41.41Q

60m Hurdles – prelims
6. Aaliyah McCormick – 8.01Q (=PB)

Distance-Medley Relay
11. Izzy Thornton-Bott/Ella Clayton/Ella Nelson/Klaudia Kazimierska – 11:26.40

Long Jump
6. Alysah Hickey – 6.48m/21-3.25 [3 points]

MEN
Mile – prelims
5. Elliott Cook – 4:03.32q

For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.