Ducks Host Oregon Twilight Friday

EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon track and field team will close out its regular-season home schedule with Friday's Oregon Twilight at Hayward Field. The Ducks' seniors will be recognized at 8:20 p.m.

The meet begins at 4 p.m. with the men's javelin and running events get going at 5 p.m., kicked off by the middle school mile. The 'B' sections of the 1500 meters will be the first collegiate races of the day. Friday's schedule features several special events and recognitions.

In memory of the UO legend and beloved Hayward Field official, the program is introducing the Wade Bell 800 meters beginning at 8:05 p.m. Bell was the 1967 NCAA champion in the event for the Men of Oregon, a 1968 Olympian in Mexico City and served as a meet official for more than 50 years.

The night's final event, the Bill McChesney Jr. 1500 meters, is scheduled to feature Simeon Birnbaum and Benjamin Balazs. It will be Birnbaum's first individual race of the outdoor season, having opened with relay duties two weeks ago at Penn Relays. Balazs comes into the meet off his 8:34.72 personal best in the steeplechase at the Oregon Open (April 18).

Something for Everyone
5:00 p.m. – Middle School mile
6:09 p.m. – Hayward Field officials recognition
6:49 p.m. – Kids Half-Lapper with The Duck
7:15 p.m. – Warsaw Sports Business Costume Relay
8:05 p.m. – Wade Bell 800 meters
8:20 p.m. – UO Seniors recognition
8:52 p.m. – Bill McChesney Jr. 1500 meters

Field events will be highlighted by the UO pole vault crew, beginning with the women's competition at 4:45 p.m. Emily Fitzsimmons (4.41m/14-5.5) and Isabella Nilsen (4.18m/13-8.5) have both established outdoor bests this season and currently rank third and fifth, respectively in program history. Kyle Gibbs will headline the men's field with his lifetime-best clearance of 5.51m/18-1 in early April.

Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week Kobe Lawrence is entered in the men's discus along with Aidan Elbettar. Lawrence enters the meet on the heels of a standout shot put series at the Desert Heat Classic (May 3) where he became the No. 5 performer in school history with a 19.64m/6-5.25 measure. He has a season's best of 56.15m/184-3 in the discus.

Elbettar ranks fourth in the Big Ten in the discus with a season's best of 59.11m/193-11, good for eighth on the Ducks' all-time list.

The Ducks' postseason begins in Eugene with the Big Ten Championships (June 16-18) followed by the NCAA West First Round (May 28-31) in College Station, Texas. The top 12 in each event at the regional meets will then advance to the NCAA Championships (June 11-14), also hosted at Hayward Field.

Tickets for the Oregon Twilight and both postseason meets in Eugene are currently on sale.

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