Five Wins on Day One of the Graduate Classic

Friday, January 17

Lincoln, NE

All Day

University of Oregon

Graduate Classic

01/17/25 | Track and Field

The Ducks tallied three top-10 program marks in the pole vault.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Oregon track and field team began its calendar year with five wins Friday at the Graduate Classic at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Neb. The Ducks also collected a trio of top-10 program marks in the pole vault highlighted by wins from Kyle Gibbs and Isabella Nilsen. The winners' circle also included Matthew Erickson, Tayson Echohawk and Safin Wills.

The Graduate Classic continues Saturday with a focus on the Ducks' sprints and throws groups. Day two starts at 9 a.m. (PT) with preliminary heats of the 60 hurdles. The women's shot put will feature an early season matchup between NCAA outdoor champ Jaida Ross and Nebraska senior Axelina Johansson, both members of The Bowerman preseason watch list.

Making his Oregon debut, Gibbs was the first winner of the weekend with a lifetime-best clearance of 5.39m/17-8.25 in the pole vault. He was clear through the first four heights including the clincher that also made Gibbs the No. 6 indoor performer in UO history. The Murrieta, Calif., native began the meet with a previous best of 5.29m/17-4.25 from his career at UC San Diego.

Gibbs is the first new entrant onto the Ducks' top-10 pole vault list since 2017.

Nilsen completed a sweep of the pole vault titles with her victory in the women's competition. She tied Kylie Clark of Nebraska with a final clearance of 4.19m/13-9 but the UO junior had fewer misses to take first. With her effort, Nilsen established a lifetime best and moved to No. 4 on the program's indoor list. Teammate Emily Fitzsimmons finished third Friday with an indoor-best clearance of 4.09m/13-5, tied for the No. 8 spot in the UO top 10.

Erickson led a 1-2-3 finish across the line for the UO men in the 1,000 meters. Running up in distance from his usual 800, Erickson clocked a winning time of 2:20.66 which doubled as a new personal best. Teammates Simeon Birnbaum (2:22.84) and Ben Greene (2:23.69) were second and third, respectively.

Erickson and Greene are scheduled to return Saturday for the 600 meters with Birnbaum set to run in the 800.

In the men's mile, Echohawk stopped the clock in 4:01.94 for the victory; the Ducks swept the top-five places. Connor Burns was the race runner-up in 4:02.11 while Benjamin Balazs and Evan Bishop posted personal bests of 4:02.27 and 4:03.44, respectively.

The Ducks' final win of the afternoon came from Wills in the men's long jump. After moving into first on his fourth attempt, he extended his lead with a day's best of 7.32m/24-0.25 in round five. With a pair of fouls to begin the competition, Wills needed a legal mark in the third round to advance to the final three jumps.

Wills was one of four UO men to finish inside the top eight, joined by Cheikh M'Baye, Aiden Carter and Koby Kessler. Wills and M'Baye (7.14m/23-5.25, third place) were both making their Oregon debuts.

Additional bronze finishes came from Vincent Mestler (8:26.97) and Kendall Martin (9:38.31) for 3,000 meters, and Hannah Ganashamoorthy (5.85m/19-2.5) in the women's long jump. Ganashamoorthy led the Ducks' 3-4-5-6 showing in the event with freshman Cassie Atkins moving from sixth to fourth with a final-jump effort of 5.81m/19-0.75.

Multis standout Gianna Bullock (5.76m/18-10.75) finished the long jump with three marks beyond her previous indoor best and Ryann Porter (5.69m/18-8) was just off her indoor PB of 5.70 from her 2022 season at Indiana State.

Next Meet: Razorback Invitational (Jan. 31-Feb. 1) in Fayetteville, Ark.

At the end of the regular season, the top 16 declared athletes in each event and top 12 relays advance to the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships (March 14-15) in Virginia Beach.

Oregon Results | Graduate Classic – Day 1
MEN
1,000 Meters
1. Matthew Erickson – 2:20.66
2. Simeon Birnbaum – 2:22.84
3. Ben Greene – 2:23.69
--. Tomas Palfrey – DNF

Mile
1. Tayson Echohawk – 4:01.94
2. Connor Burns – 4:02.11
3. Benjamin Balazs – 4:02.27
4. Evan Bishop – 4:03.44
5. Abdel Laadjel – 4:10.66
--. Tomas Palfrey – DNF

3,000 Meters
3. Vincent Mestler – 8:26.97

Pole Vault
1. Kyle Gibbs – 5.39m/17-8.25 (UO #6)
7. Joey Bonacci – 4.39m/14-4.75
--. Arthur Katahdin – NH

Long Jump
1. Safin Wills – 7.32m/24-0.25
3. Cheikh M'Baye – 7.14m/23-5.25
6. Aiden Carter – 7.06m/23-2
8. Koby Kessler – 6.75m/22-1.75

WOMEN
400 Meters
13. Isabel Conde De Frankenberg – 59.79

Mile
8. Landen LeBlond – 4:55.34

3,000 Meters
3. Kendall Martin – 9:38.31
13. Harper McClain – 10:26.71

Pole Vault
1. Isabella Nilsen – 4.19m/13-9 (UO #4)
3. Emily Fitzsimmons – 4.09m/13-5 (=UO #8)

Long Jump
3. Hannah Ganashamoorthy – 5.85m/19-2.5
4. Cassie Atkins – 5.81m/19-0.75
5. Gianna Bullock – 5.76m/18-10.75
6. Ryann Porter – 5.69m/18-8

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