SEATTLE, Wash. – The Oregon track and field team posted four wins and got a meet-record performance from Annika Williams on day one of the Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational. The Ducks also registered nine top-10 program marks including two each from Williams and Taylor Chocek in the pentathlon.
With her winning total of 4,149 points in Friday’s pentathlon, Williams moved to No. 3 on the program’s all-time list. Her score also topped the previous meet record of 4,092 points set just a season ago. Along with the total, Williams added a top-10 program clearance of 1.78m/5-10 in the high jump. The Calvert, Texas, native moves into the top 16 nationally based on scores entering the day.
Teammate Taylor Chocek eclipsed the 4,100-point mark, as well, with a lifetime best of 4,121 points to finish third in the competition. Now ranked fourth in UO history in the pentathlon, Chocek started the competition with an 8.43 effort—No. 10 at Oregon—in the 60-meter hurdles. She went on to equal her lifetime best in the high jump and establish a new PB in the 800 meters.
Also in the pentathlon, Gianna Bullock improved her personal-best score to 3,978 points with the help of three individual bests. Portland native and recent Rhodes Scholar finalist Colleen Uzoekwe scored 3,789 points in her season debut in the event.
Rafael Raap leads the Ken Shannon heptathlon with 3,313 points after day one. The UO sophomore had three personal bests in four events including marks of 6.97 and 7.41m/24-3.75 to start his day in the 60 meters and long jump, respectively. Raap will begin Saturday with a lead of 163 points over the nearest competition.
Day two of the heptathlon consists of the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault and 1,000 meters.
The Women of Oregon swept the 60 meters and 60-meter hurdles thanks to season-best outings from Jadyn Mays (7.11) and Aaliyah McCormick (8.05), respectively. Based on times entering the meet, Mays moves to third on the national performance list this season while McCormick strengthens her position inside the top 10.
It marked the third win for each this season with previous victories at the UW Indoor Preview (Jan. 13) and Don Kirby Invitational (Feb. 10).
Şilan Ayyildiz continued her standout first season with the Ducks, winning the 3,000 meters in lifetime-best fashion. The Istanbul, Turkey, native knocked more than two seconds off her previous best to stop the clock in 8:54.19 with teammate Dalia Frias not far behind in third. Frias’ time of 9:01.82 was also an indoor best for the UO newcomers.
Respectively, those times now sit third and eighth on the Ducks’ top-10 list for 3,000 meters. Ayyildiz also moved to within .03 of the No. 16 national spot in the event.
Competing in her home state, sophomore Isabella Nilsen became the No. 5 performer in UO history in the women’s pole vault. The Bellevue, Wash., native had a personal-best clearance of 4.14m/13-7 on a second attempt at the height. Nilsen joins teammate Emily Fitzsimmons on the program’s top-10 list; Fitzsimmons is currently tied for ninth with a best of 4.08m/13-4.5 from last month’s Razorback Invite.
In the preliminary heats of the men’s 60-meter hurdles, Anthony Trucks posted a time of 7.79 to lower his lifetime best. He becomes the seventh UO man to dip below 7.80 in the event, and first since 2019. Trucks was the third-fastest qualifier and went on to finish fourth (7.91) after hitting a miscue over the final hurdle that knocked him off balance.
Notable: PJ Ize-Iyamu and Lily Jones recorded respective bests of 6.69 and 7.28 in the 60 meters…in a third-place finish, Mason Strunk had a day’s best of 20.83m/68-4 in the weight throw…additional PBs were Kutoven Stevens (8:11.26) at 3,000 meters and Hunter Angove (5.08m/16-8) in the pole vault.
Up Next: The Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. with the heptathlon 60-meter hurdles. Competition in the men’s high jump and both triple jumps will also start at the top of the hour. This weekend marks the end of the qualifying window for the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 8-9) in Boston.
Full Team Results
Ken Shannon Last Chance Invitational | Seattle, Wash.
MEN
–. PJ Ize-Iyamu, Jr. – DNS
60 Meters – prelims
3. PJ Ize-Iyamu Jr. – 6.69q (PB)
16. Caleb Hagan – 6.94 (SB)
17. Andrew Walker – 6.96
3,000 Meters
17. Kutoven Stevens – 8:11.26 (PB)
60m Hurdles – final
4. Anthony Trucks – 7.91
60m Hurdles – prelims
3. Anthony Trucks – 7.79q (PB) [No. 7 UO^]
12. Vincent Corday – 8.59
Pole Vault
8. Hunter Angove – 5.08m/16-8 (PB)
Weight Throw
3. Mason Strunk – 20.83m/68-4
Heptathlon – Day 1
1. Rafael Raap – 3,313 points
1. 60 Meters – 6.97 (PB) [893 points]
1. Long Jump – 7.41m/24-3.75 (PB) [913]
1. Shot Put – 14.77m/48-5.5 [776]
T3. High Jump – 1.92m/6-3.5 (PB)
14. Arthur Katahdin – 2,736 points
7. 60 Meters – 7.11 (PB) [844 points]
14. Long Jump – 6.33m/20-9.25 (PB) [659]
9. Shot Put – 11.99m/39-4 [606]
13. High Jump – 1.80m/5-10.75 (PB) [627]
WOMEN
60 Meters – final
1. Jadyn Mays – 7.11 (SB)
2. Lily Jones – 7.28 (PB)
4. Alexa Rossum – 7.39 (SB)
1. Jadyn Mays – 7.19q
3. Lily Jones – 7.36q
4. Alexa Rossum – 7.44q
11. Brazil Neal – 7.55 (=SB)
200 Meters
2. Alexa Rossum – 24.03
1. Şilan Ayyildiz – 8:54.19 (PB) [No. 3 UO^]
3. Dalia Frias – 9:01.82 (PB) [No. 8 UO]
12. Anika Thompson – 9:18.57 (PB)
1. Aaliyah McCormick – 8.05 (SB)
1. Aaliyah McCormick – 8.13q
8. Isabella Nilsen – 4.14m/13-7 (PB) [No. 5 UO]
13. Emily Fitzsimmons – 4.02m/13-2.25
Pentathlon
1. Annika Williams – 4,149 points [No. 3 UO] [meet record]
4. 60m Hurdles – 8.64 (=PB) [987 points]
3. High Jump – 1.78m/5-10 (SB) (=No. 5 UO) [953]
2. Shot Put – 13.42m/44-0.5 (SB) [755]
2. Long Jump – 5.99m/19-8 (=SB) [846]
11. 800 Meters – 2:36.95 [608]
3. Taylor Chocek – 4,121 points (PB) [No. 4 UO]
2. 60m Hurdles – 8.43 (PB) (No. 10 UO) [1,032 points]
4. High Jump – 1.75m/5-8.75 (=PB) [916]
6. Shot Put – 12.55m/41-2.25 [698]
6. Long Jump – 5.55m/18-2.5 (SB) [715]
5. 800 Meters – 2:24.77 (PB) [760]
5. Gianna Bullock – 3,978 points (PB) [No. 6 UO]
3. 60m Hurdles – 8.45 (PB) [1,028 points]
6. High Jump – 1.66m/5-5.25 (=PB) [806]
4. Shot Put – 12.62m/41-5 (PB) [702]
5. Long Jump – 5.61m/18-5 [732]
8. 800 Meters – 2:28.62 [710]
7. Colleen Uzoekwe – 3,789 points
7. 60m Hurdles – 8.79 (SB) [954 points]
7. High Jump – 1.66m/5-5.25 (SB) [806]
1. Shot Put – 14.04m/46-0.75 (SB) [797]
10. Long Jump – 5.46m/17-11 [688]
14. 800 Meters – 2:42.59 [544]
^ – already holds that spot; improved mark
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