
Men of Oregon Win Penn Relays DMR
04/24/26 | Track and Field
The Ducks held off Villanova for the program's 19th overall Penn Relays wheel.
EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon track and field team won the men's distance medley relay Friday afternoon at Penn Relays. The Ducks held off Villanova to secure the men's fifth Penn Relays wheel in the DMR and their first since 2017.
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The team of Tomas Palfrey, Fuad Omer, James Harding and Simeon Birnbaum combined for the winning time of 9:32.08, just one-tenth of a second ahead of Villanova. Birnbaum, in his first race since breaking the collegiate record at 1500 meters, went to the front with 400 to go and never relinquished the lead.
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Palfrey led off for the Ducks with the 1200-meter leg (2:50.61) before handing off to Omer who posted a 45.58 split to move the team from fourth to second, only trailing Texas A&M. Harding took the baton for the 800-meter leg (1:45.19) and by the time he handed off to Birnbaum, the Ducks were in the lead, just ahead of Big Ten foes Michigan and Washington.
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Birnbaum and Marco Langon of Villanova pulled away from the field with just over 100 meters to go but the Oregon junior held strong down the home stretch for the victory.
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Oregon previously won the Penn Relays men's DMR in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017. The Ducks now have a combined 19 Penn Relays championship wins—10 women, nine men.
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The UO men are also entered in Saturday's 4xMile (10:05 a.m. PT, FloTrack). The women's 4x1500 relay will be the Ducks' first event of the day, set to start at 9:40 a.m. The Women of Oregon are also entered in the 4x800 relay.
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Ticket packages for the Ducks' outdoor home schedule are currently on sale. Along with this weekend's Team Invitational, the Ducks will host the Oregon Twilight (May 8) and the NCAA Championships in June.
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Friday Results
Penn Relays | Philadelphia, Pa.
MEN
Distance Medley Relay
1. Palfrey, Omer, Harding, Birnbaum – 9:32.08
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For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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The team of Tomas Palfrey, Fuad Omer, James Harding and Simeon Birnbaum combined for the winning time of 9:32.08, just one-tenth of a second ahead of Villanova. Birnbaum, in his first race since breaking the collegiate record at 1500 meters, went to the front with 400 to go and never relinquished the lead.
Â
Palfrey led off for the Ducks with the 1200-meter leg (2:50.61) before handing off to Omer who posted a 45.58 split to move the team from fourth to second, only trailing Texas A&M. Harding took the baton for the 800-meter leg (1:45.19) and by the time he handed off to Birnbaum, the Ducks were in the lead, just ahead of Big Ten foes Michigan and Washington.
Â
Birnbaum and Marco Langon of Villanova pulled away from the field with just over 100 meters to go but the Oregon junior held strong down the home stretch for the victory.
Â
Oregon previously won the Penn Relays men's DMR in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017. The Ducks now have a combined 19 Penn Relays championship wins—10 women, nine men.
Â
The UO men are also entered in Saturday's 4xMile (10:05 a.m. PT, FloTrack). The women's 4x1500 relay will be the Ducks' first event of the day, set to start at 9:40 a.m. The Women of Oregon are also entered in the 4x800 relay.
Â
Ticket packages for the Ducks' outdoor home schedule are currently on sale. Along with this weekend's Team Invitational, the Ducks will host the Oregon Twilight (May 8) and the NCAA Championships in June.
Â
Friday Results
Penn Relays | Philadelphia, Pa.
MEN
Distance Medley Relay
1. Palfrey, Omer, Harding, Birnbaum – 9:32.08
Â
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Players Mentioned
Jerry Schumacher | Oregon Team Invitational Preview
Tuesday, April 14
Jerry Schumacher | Indoor Season Preview
Wednesday, January 14
Aaliyah McCormick | Indoor Season Preview
Tuesday, January 13
Peyton Bair | Indoor Season Preview
Tuesday, January 13













