
Five UO Men Run Sub-4:00 in the Mile
02/01/25 | Track and Field
The Ducks tallied eight top-10 program efforts and a win by Jadyn Mays on Saturday.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Oregon track and field team closed out the Razorback Invitational with eight top-10 indoor program performances, five men under four minutes in the mile and a victory from Jadyn Mays in the 60 meters.
Among their five sub-4:00 performances, the Men of Oregon were led by Simeon Birnbaum's second-place finish in 3:52.81. Birnbaum's effort earned him a spot at No. 4 on the Oregon all-time list in the event. Tomas Palfrey, knocking nearly 10 seconds off his lifetime best, was fourth in 3:54.47 and now sits as the sixth-fastest performer in UO history.
Tayson Echohawk (3:58.77), Benjamin Balazs (3:58.94) and Jeffery Rogers (3:59.69) added their names to the list of UO men in program history to break four minutes in the mile. That list is up to 35 including six this season; Matthew Erickson ran 3:59.27 at the BU Season Opener in December.
Mays secured a victory in the 60, clocking a season best of 7.20 in Saturday's final. She qualified as the fastest (7.25) in the prelims. Aaliyah McCormick grabbed second in the 60-meter hurdles with a season-best 8.06 finish. In the men's 60 meters, PJ Ize-Iyamu finished second in 6.70 to match his season best.
On the women's side, Silan Ayyildiz set an indoor best with a 4:27.84 performance which was good for second overall and first among collegians. That time also puts Ayyildiz at No. 2 in program history. Ali Ince moved from ninth to fourth on the Ducks' all-time list, coming in at 4:30.85 for a fifth-place finish. Ayyildiz and Ince join Wilma Nielsen in the NCAA top 12 season ranking.
Kobe Lawrence improved on his own school record in the shot put with a third-place finish, posting a day's best of 19.21m/63-0.25 on his first attempt of the competition. He added a second mark beyond 19 meters in round five. Jaida Ross threw a season-best of 18.20m/59-8.5, good for second place in the women's shot put.
Saturday brought an end to the heptathlon with Koby Kessler leading Oregon's efforts. Kessler totaled 5,557 points over the two days and moved to No. 8 on the UO all-time list. Aiden Carter finished with a score of 5,444 points, just one tick shy of the top-10 list. Arthur Katahdin rounded out the UO trio with 5,072 points.
In the women's 3,000 meters, Anika Thompson and Juliet Cherubet finished 2-3 overall and were the first two collegians across the line. Thompson's personal best of 9:05.75 falls just short of cracking the program's top 10 while Cherubet crossed in 9:06.79 in her Oregon debut. Quincy Norman recorded a personal best of his own of 8:01.32 in the men's race.
A night after running the 800 leg for the Ducks' distance medley relay, Ella Nelson was back in action with an indoor best of 2:03.95—No. 7 at Oregon—in the invitational 800 meters.
The Ducks' final top-10 program mark came from freshman Cassie Atkins in the triple jump. She had a measure of 12.64m/41-5.75 on her third attempt to move into a tie for sixth place on the Oregon top 10. Teammate Ryann Porter was third Saturday in 13.14m/43-1.5, a mark on her final jump.
In the final event of the weekend, the women's 4x400 relay of Ella Clayton, Moriah Oliveira, Katriina Wright and Annaleise Taylor combined for a time of 3:34.79, good for a season best. Earlier, Clayton recorded a 52.49 in the 400 meters to finish in sixth place overall. She carries an indoor best of 52.41 from last season.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Among their five sub-4:00 performances, the Men of Oregon were led by Simeon Birnbaum's second-place finish in 3:52.81. Birnbaum's effort earned him a spot at No. 4 on the Oregon all-time list in the event. Tomas Palfrey, knocking nearly 10 seconds off his lifetime best, was fourth in 3:54.47 and now sits as the sixth-fastest performer in UO history.
Tayson Echohawk (3:58.77), Benjamin Balazs (3:58.94) and Jeffery Rogers (3:59.69) added their names to the list of UO men in program history to break four minutes in the mile. That list is up to 35 including six this season; Matthew Erickson ran 3:59.27 at the BU Season Opener in December.
Mays secured a victory in the 60, clocking a season best of 7.20 in Saturday's final. She qualified as the fastest (7.25) in the prelims. Aaliyah McCormick grabbed second in the 60-meter hurdles with a season-best 8.06 finish. In the men's 60 meters, PJ Ize-Iyamu finished second in 6.70 to match his season best.
On the women's side, Silan Ayyildiz set an indoor best with a 4:27.84 performance which was good for second overall and first among collegians. That time also puts Ayyildiz at No. 2 in program history. Ali Ince moved from ninth to fourth on the Ducks' all-time list, coming in at 4:30.85 for a fifth-place finish. Ayyildiz and Ince join Wilma Nielsen in the NCAA top 12 season ranking.
Kobe Lawrence improved on his own school record in the shot put with a third-place finish, posting a day's best of 19.21m/63-0.25 on his first attempt of the competition. He added a second mark beyond 19 meters in round five. Jaida Ross threw a season-best of 18.20m/59-8.5, good for second place in the women's shot put.
Saturday brought an end to the heptathlon with Koby Kessler leading Oregon's efforts. Kessler totaled 5,557 points over the two days and moved to No. 8 on the UO all-time list. Aiden Carter finished with a score of 5,444 points, just one tick shy of the top-10 list. Arthur Katahdin rounded out the UO trio with 5,072 points.
In the women's 3,000 meters, Anika Thompson and Juliet Cherubet finished 2-3 overall and were the first two collegians across the line. Thompson's personal best of 9:05.75 falls just short of cracking the program's top 10 while Cherubet crossed in 9:06.79 in her Oregon debut. Quincy Norman recorded a personal best of his own of 8:01.32 in the men's race.
A night after running the 800 leg for the Ducks' distance medley relay, Ella Nelson was back in action with an indoor best of 2:03.95—No. 7 at Oregon—in the invitational 800 meters.
The Ducks' final top-10 program mark came from freshman Cassie Atkins in the triple jump. She had a measure of 12.64m/41-5.75 on her third attempt to move into a tie for sixth place on the Oregon top 10. Teammate Ryann Porter was third Saturday in 13.14m/43-1.5, a mark on her final jump.
In the final event of the weekend, the women's 4x400 relay of Ella Clayton, Moriah Oliveira, Katriina Wright and Annaleise Taylor combined for a time of 3:34.79, good for a season best. Earlier, Clayton recorded a 52.49 in the 400 meters to finish in sixth place overall. She carries an indoor best of 52.41 from last season.
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Players Mentioned
Aaliyah McCormick | NCAA 100M Hurdles National Champion
Thursday, June 19
Matti Erickson | NCAA 800M Runner Up
Saturday, June 14
Hayward Field History
Thursday, June 12
2024-25 Oregon Track & Field Intro Video
Thursday, June 12