Photo by: Jan Figueroa
Nielsen, Ayyildiz Shine on East Coast
01/24/26 | Track and Field
The Women of Oregon added a pair of top-two times in the NCAA this season.
EUGENE, Ore. – Reigning NCAA indoor champion Wilma Nielsen won the elite mile Saturday at the Dr. Sander Scorcher in New York while Silan Ayyildiz broke her own school record for 3,000 meters at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston. Both performances established top two times in the NCAA this season.
Nielsen takes over the early season world and NCAA lead with her winning time of 4:26.74, leading a group of four women under 4:30 in Saturday's race. With just over two laps to go, the Oregon senior moved to the front of the pack before holding off Rachel McArthur (4:26.98) down the final stretch.
The Gothenburg, Sweden, native was runner-up at last year's Dr. Sander meet and went on to sweep the Big Ten and NCAA mile titles for the Women of Oregon. Nielsen began her indoor campaign at the BU Colyear-Danville Opener in December where she ran a lifetime best of 9:00.50 for 3,000 meters.
Saturday's time was within a second of Nielsen's lifetime best of 4:25.78 set at last season's Millrose Games.
Ayyildiz crossed the Boston finish line in 8:42.29, taking more than four seconds off her previous UO record of 8:46.33 from a season ago. Along with the new Oregon mark, Ayyildiz moves to No. 8 on the all-time collegiate list and sets a new indoor Turkish record for 3,000 meters.
Based on times entering the weekend, Ayyildiz is now second on this season's NCAA performance list. She joins teammates Juliet Cherubet (8:52.30) and Dalia Frias (8:55.78) in the national top 10; both of those times came at the Colyear-Danville meet in December.
Ayyildiz is one of three Ducks on The Bowerman Preseason Watch List, along with transfers Mykolas Alekna (throws) and Peyton Bair (combined events).
Notable: Former UO standout Klaudia Kazimierska set an indoor Polish record of 4:01.78 in the 1500 meters at the NBGP; she finished third … Jessica Hull (8:36.03) was third in the NBGP 3,000 meters.
Up Next: Oregon closes out the month at the Razorback Invitational (Jan. 30-31) in Fayetteville, Ark.
Saturday Results
Dr. Sander Scorcher (New York, N.Y.)
Mile – Elite
1. Wilma Nielsen – 4:26.74
New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (Boston, Mass.)
3,000 Meters
8. Silan Ayyildiz – 8:42.29 (PB, NR, UO #1, NCAA #8)
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Nielsen takes over the early season world and NCAA lead with her winning time of 4:26.74, leading a group of four women under 4:30 in Saturday's race. With just over two laps to go, the Oregon senior moved to the front of the pack before holding off Rachel McArthur (4:26.98) down the final stretch.
The Gothenburg, Sweden, native was runner-up at last year's Dr. Sander meet and went on to sweep the Big Ten and NCAA mile titles for the Women of Oregon. Nielsen began her indoor campaign at the BU Colyear-Danville Opener in December where she ran a lifetime best of 9:00.50 for 3,000 meters.
Saturday's time was within a second of Nielsen's lifetime best of 4:25.78 set at last season's Millrose Games.
Ayyildiz crossed the Boston finish line in 8:42.29, taking more than four seconds off her previous UO record of 8:46.33 from a season ago. Along with the new Oregon mark, Ayyildiz moves to No. 8 on the all-time collegiate list and sets a new indoor Turkish record for 3,000 meters.
Based on times entering the weekend, Ayyildiz is now second on this season's NCAA performance list. She joins teammates Juliet Cherubet (8:52.30) and Dalia Frias (8:55.78) in the national top 10; both of those times came at the Colyear-Danville meet in December.
Ayyildiz is one of three Ducks on The Bowerman Preseason Watch List, along with transfers Mykolas Alekna (throws) and Peyton Bair (combined events).
Notable: Former UO standout Klaudia Kazimierska set an indoor Polish record of 4:01.78 in the 1500 meters at the NBGP; she finished third … Jessica Hull (8:36.03) was third in the NBGP 3,000 meters.
Up Next: Oregon closes out the month at the Razorback Invitational (Jan. 30-31) in Fayetteville, Ark.
Saturday Results
Dr. Sander Scorcher (New York, N.Y.)
Mile – Elite
1. Wilma Nielsen – 4:26.74
New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (Boston, Mass.)
3,000 Meters
8. Silan Ayyildiz – 8:42.29 (PB, NR, UO #1, NCAA #8)
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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