2025 Track and Field Recap: Graduate Classic

The Oregon track and field team kicked off its calendar year with a stellar showing at the Graduate Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska. Across two days of competition, the Ducks collected 14 wins, broke a school record, and achieved several top-10 program marks.

Day One: Pole Vault and Middle-Distance Victories

The Ducks tallied three top-10 program marks in the pole vault, highlighted by wins from Kyle Gibbs and Isabella Nilsen. Gibbs, making his Oregon debut, cleared a lifetime best of 5.39m (17-8.25), becoming the No. 6 indoor performer in program history. Nilsen, meanwhile, claimed the women’s title with a clearance of 4.19m (13-9), tying Nebraska’s Kylie Clark but taking the win on fewer misses. Nilsen’s mark moved her to No. 4 on Oregon’s all-time list, while teammate Emily Fitzsimmons placed third with an indoor best of 4.09m (13-5), good for No. 8 in program history.

Matthew Erickson led a 1-2-3 Oregon sweep in the men’s 1,000 meters with a personal-best time of 2:20.66, while Tayson Echohawk secured the men’s mile title in 4:01.94, pacing a sweep of the top five spots. In the field, Safin Wills won the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.32m (24-0.25) and was joined in the top eight by three teammates, including Cheikh M’Baye, who placed third with 7.14m (23-5.25).

Day Two: Sprints, Throws, and More Wins

The Ducks continued their dominance on Saturday, collecting nine more wins and setting a new school record. Redshirt freshman Kobe Lawrence broke the program record in the men’s shot put with a throw of 18.93m (62-1.25), surpassing the previous mark set in 2016. Lawrence placed second overall but delivered a performance that firmly etched his name in Oregon’s record books.

In the triple jump, Ryann Porter soared to victory with a personal best of 13.36m (43-10), becoming the fourth Duck in program history to surpass 43 feet indoors. The sprinters also had a banner day, with Jadyn Mays winning the 300 meters in 37.24 and leading a sweep of the top five spots. PJ Ize-Iyamu captured the men’s 60 meters in 6.70, and Aaliyah McCormick claimed the women’s 60-meter hurdles in 8.22.

The Ducks swept the 600 meters with wins by Matthew Erickson (1:17.38) and Ella Clayton (1:30.36). Clayton also anchored Oregon’s victorious 4×400-meter relay team, which clocked 3:40.88. Simeon Birnbaum rounded out the Ducks’ wins with a first-place finish in the men’s 800 meters, crossing the line in 1:49.27.

Next Up

The Ducks will head to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the Razorback Invitational, taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

Oregon Results

Graduate Classic – Day 1

MEN

1,000 Meters
1. Matthew Erickson – 2:20.66
2. Simeon Birnbaum – 2:22.84
3. Ben Greene – 2:23.69
—. Tomas Palfrey – DNF

Mile
1. Tayson Echohawk – 4:01.94
2. Connor Burns – 4:02.11
3. Benjamin Balazs – 4:02.27
4. Evan Bishop – 4:03.44
5. Abdel Laadjel – 4:10.66
—. Tomas Palfrey – DNF

3,000 Meters
3. Vincent Mestler – 8:26.97

Pole Vault
1. Kyle Gibbs – 5.39m/17-8.25 (UO #6)
7. Joey Bonacci – 4.39m/14-4.75
—. Arthur Katahdin – NH

Long Jump
1. Safin Wills – 7.32m/24-0.25
3. Cheikh M’Baye – 7.14m/23-5.25
6. Aiden Carter – 7.06m/23-2
8. Koby Kessler – 6.75m/22-1.75

WOMEN

400 Meters
13. Isabel Conde De Frankenberg – 59.79

Mile
8. Landen LeBlond – 4:55.34

3,000 Meters
3. Kendall Martin – 9:38.31
13. Harper McClain – 10:26.71

Pole Vault
1. Isabella Nilsen – 4.19m/13-9 (UO #4)
3. Emily Fitzsimmons – 4.09m/13-5 (=UO #8)

Long Jump
3. Hannah Ganashamoorthy – 5.85m/19-2.5
4. Cassie Atkins – 5.81m/19-0.75
5. Gianna Bullock – 5.76m/18-10.75
6. Ryann Porter – 5.69m/18-8

Graduate Classic – Day 2

MEN

60 Meters – final
1. PJ Ize-Iyamu – 6.70
5. Jaelon Barbarin – 6.86

60 Meters – prelims
1. PJ Ize-Iyamu – 6.71q
7. Jaelon Barbarin – 6.86q
11. Reggie Witherspoon III – 6.91
14. Safin Wills – 7.00
20. Koby Kessler – 7.07
22. Andrew Walker – 7.10
26. Cheikh M’Baye – 7.12
34. Arthur Katahdin – 7.22

200 Meters
2. PJ Ize-Iyamu – 21.31
9. Jaelon Barbarin – 21.87
10. Reggie Witherspoon III – 21.93

300 Meters
3. Ethan Bartee – 35.97

600 Meters
1. Matthew Erickson – 1:17.38
6. Ben Greene – 1:20.64
10. Koby Kessler – 1:21.28

800 Meters
1. Simeon Birnbaum – 1:49.27

60m Hurdles – final
4. Aiden Carter – 8.23

60m Hurdles – prelims
7. Aiden Carter – 8.32q
15. Ethan Bartee – 8.57

4x400m Relay
3. Ethan Bartee, Arthur Katahdin, Aiden Carter, Koby Kessler – 3:19.45

Shot Put
2. Kobe Lawrence – 18.93m/62-1.25 (UO #1)

WOMEN

60 Meters – final
2. Lily Jones – 7.42
4. Amirah Shaheed – 7.50
5. Aaliyah McCormick – 7.53
6. Niya Clayton – 7.60
—. Shaniya Hall – DNS
—. Jadyn Mays – DNS

60 Meters – prelims
1. Jadyn Mays – 7.30q
3. Lily Jones – 7.42q
4. Shaniya Hall – 7.47q
5. Amirah Shaheed – 7.53q
6. Niya Clayton – 7.54q
8. Aaliyah McCormick – 7.55q
10. Brazil Neal – 7.61
13. Annaleise Taylor – 7.70
25. Cassie Atkins – 7.92

200 Meters
1. Amirah Shaheed – 24.56
5. Brazil Neal – 24.72
7. Niya Clayton – 24.92
9. Lily Jones – 24.99

300 Meters
1. Jadyn Mays – 37.24
2. Shaniya Hall – 37.91
3. Moriah Oliveira – 38.98
4. Katriina Wright – 39.01
5. Annaleise Taylor – 39.91

600 Meters
1. Ella Clayton – 1:30.36
7. Isabel Conde De Frankenberg – 1:37.60
9. Gianna Bullock – 1:40.51

800 Meters
5. Landen LeBlond – 2:11.77

60m Hurdles – final
1. Aaliyah McCormick – 8.22
—. Gianna Bullock – DNS

60m Hurdles – prelims
1. Aaliyah McCormick – 8.28q
5. Gianna Bullock – 8.66q
10. Annaleise Taylor – 8.80

4x400m Relay
1. Ella Clayton, Katriina Wright, Shaniya Hall, Annaleise Taylor – 3:40.88

Shot Put
2. Jaida Ross – 17.10m/56-1.25

Triple Jump
1. Ryann Porter – 13.36m/43-10 (UO #4)