Friday, February 20
Fayetteville, AR
12:30 PM
University of Oregon
at
Arkansas Qualifier
Photo by: GoDucks.com
Erickson, Harding Improve NCAA Standing
02/20/26 | Track and Field
Matthew Erickson ran an indoor best 1:45.93 Friday at the Arkansas Qualifier.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Oregon track and field team picked up key efforts from reigning NCAA indoor champion Matthew Erickson and James Harding in the 800 meters Friday at the Arkansas Qualifier.
Erickson clocked an indoor best of 1:45.93 to finish second and become the second Oregon man to run sub-1:46 indoors, joining school-record holder Charlie Hunter (1:45.59). Based on race results and times entering the weekend, Erickson moves to seventh on the NCAA descending order list and is now joined in the top 16 nationally by Harding who clocked a lifetime best of 1:46.44 to finish third Friday.
Harding also moves from sixth to fourth on the program's indoor top 10, replacing his previous best of 1:46.83 from the Razorback Invitational earlier this season.
At the end of the qualifying window which runs through the conference weekend, the top 16 declared athletes in each event and top 12 relays advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 13-14) in Fayetteville, Ark.
Notable: The Ducks were DQ'd in their section of the distance medley relay but have another chance for a national qualifier Sunday in the NCAA DMR Challenge as part of the Saucony Battle for Boston.
Up Next: The postseason starts Feb. 26-28 with the Big Ten Indoor Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
Friday Results
Arkansas Qualifier (Fayetteville, Ark.)
MEN
800 Meters
2. Matthew Erickson – 1:45.93 (PB, UO #2*)
3. James Harding – 1:46.44 (PB, UO #4)
*already held that ranking, improved mark
Distance Medley Relay
--. Palfrey, Bair, Birnbaum, Cook – DQ
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Erickson clocked an indoor best of 1:45.93 to finish second and become the second Oregon man to run sub-1:46 indoors, joining school-record holder Charlie Hunter (1:45.59). Based on race results and times entering the weekend, Erickson moves to seventh on the NCAA descending order list and is now joined in the top 16 nationally by Harding who clocked a lifetime best of 1:46.44 to finish third Friday.
Harding also moves from sixth to fourth on the program's indoor top 10, replacing his previous best of 1:46.83 from the Razorback Invitational earlier this season.
At the end of the qualifying window which runs through the conference weekend, the top 16 declared athletes in each event and top 12 relays advance to the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 13-14) in Fayetteville, Ark.
Notable: The Ducks were DQ'd in their section of the distance medley relay but have another chance for a national qualifier Sunday in the NCAA DMR Challenge as part of the Saucony Battle for Boston.
Up Next: The postseason starts Feb. 26-28 with the Big Ten Indoor Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
Friday Results
Arkansas Qualifier (Fayetteville, Ark.)
MEN
800 Meters
2. Matthew Erickson – 1:45.93 (PB, UO #2*)
3. James Harding – 1:46.44 (PB, UO #4)
*already held that ranking, improved mark
Distance Medley Relay
--. Palfrey, Bair, Birnbaum, Cook – DQ
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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