Ducks Advance Four, Finish Fifth in DMR

BOSTON, Mass. – The Oregon women’s track and field team closed out day two of the NCAA Indoor Championships with fifth place—and four points—in the distance-medley relay. Friday’s results also featured three Ducks advancing to four finals including Jadyn Mays in both the 60 and 200 meters.

Additionally, the Women of Oregon got Klaudia Kazimierska through to the mile final while Aaliyah McCormick qualified for the 60-meter hurdles. The UO women have seven scoring chances Saturday with Maddy Elmore at 3,000 meters, the 4×400-meter relay and Jaida Ross in the shot put.

The team of Mia Barnett, Ella Clayton, Ella Nelson and Silan Ayyildiz combined for a time of 10:57.24, collecting the team’s first points of the weekend. Despite a collision and fall during the third leg that involved Nelson, the team re-grouped for a time that ranks just outside the UO top 10. Ayyildiz was anchoring after already running in the mile prelims earlier in the day.

For a second-consecutive year, Mays will pull double duty in the NCAA sprint finals. Already through in the 60, Mays returned to the track for a lifetime best of 22.49 in the 200 semifinals. With the showing, she moved from fourth to second on the program’s all-time list and became the second UO woman to dip under 22.50 in the event.

Kazimierska was the Ducks’ first finalist of the evening, securing the last automatic bid into Saturday’s final. She finished fourth in the second of two heats with a time of 4:35.73 and will race in her second NCAA mile final. Ayyildiz (4:36.21) finished 11th overall in the prelims.

The final will kick off Saturday’s evening session at 4 p.m. (PT).

McCormick clocked a season’s best time of 8.04 to make it back-to-back NCAA finals in the 60 hurdles. She entered the day with a seed time of 8.05 from the Ken Shannon Last Chance meet. McCormick was the sixth-fastest overall qualifier.

It was a tough start for the Ducks’ multis with Rafael Raap stumbling out of the blocks in the 60 meters and Annika Williams suffering a tough fall in the 60-meter hurdles. Raap ended day two of the national meet with 2,981 points while Williams was unable to continue. The heptathlon resumes Saturday with the 60-meter hurdles at 7:30 a.m. (PT).

Notable: The meet officially began Thursday evening with the men’s and women’s weight throw.

Full Team Results

NCAA Indoor Championships, Day 2 | Boston, Mass.

WOMEN

60 Meters – prelims

4. Jadyn Mays – 7.12Q

200 Meters – prelims

2. Jadyn Mays – 22.49Q (PB, No. 2 UO)

Mile – prelims

10. Klaudia Kazimierska – 4:35.73Q

11. Silan Ayyildiz – 4:36.21

60m Hurdles – prelims

6. Aaliyah McCormick – 8.04q (SB)

Distance Medley Relay

5. Mia Barnett/Ella Clayton/Ella Nelson/Silan Ayyildiz – 10:57.24 [4 points]

Pentathlon

–. Annika Williams – DNF 

              16. 60m Hurdles – 17.31

              –. High Jump

              –. Shot Put

–. Long Jump 

              –. 800 Meters

MEN

Heptathlon

15. Rafael Raap

              16. 60 Meters – 7.42 [739 points]

              16. Long Jump – 6.69m/21-11.5 [741]

              5. Shot Put – 14.63m/48-0 [767]

              15. High Jump – 1.82m/5-11.5 [644]

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