Sports Hey PDX March 25, 2025 0 Comments

Outdoor Track is Back! 2025

Day One: Rain, Records, and a 1-2-3 Steeple Sweep

The Oregon Ducks kicked off the outdoor season with a splash—literally—at a rainy Hayward Field, and the momentum was electric from start to finish.

The grand finale on Friday? A 1-2-3 sweep in the men’s 2,000m steeplechase, led by Benjamin Balazs, who charged through the rain to take the win in 5:33.42. Teammates Sergio Del Barrio and Vincent Mestler weren’t far behind, locking in the podium for the Ducks.

The field events delivered some serious fireworks too. Pat Vialva made a jaw-dropping Oregon debut in the javelin, launching a clutch final-round throw of 67.57m (221-8) to briefly grab the lead before settling for a strong second. Kohana Nakato brought home a bronze in the women’s javelin with a best mark of 45.92m (150-8), thrown in the third round.

Oregon also saw two wins from up-and-coming talents competing unattached: sophomore Katie Clute in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase (10:24.09) and freshman Maleigha Canaday-Elliott in the triple jump (12.64m/41-05.75). And don’t forget the big opener—alum and hammer queen Shelby Moran launched 70.15m (230-2) to snag top honors and kick off the meet in true Duck fashion.

Day Two: Four Wins, Big Throws, and Photo Finishes

Saturday’s sunshine brought even more Duck domination, with four event wins and plenty of personal bests lighting up the leaderboard.

Jaelon Barbarin flew to victory in the men’s 100 meters, narrowly edging out teammate Andrew Walker in a nail-biter finish—they both clocked 10.72, separated by just three-thousandths of a second! The Ducks packed the top of the leaderboard, with Mihaly Akpamgbo (unattached) and Reggie Witherspoon III joining the top-seven crew.

Nicole Humphries had a breakout moment, earning her first UO win in the women’s 800 meters. The Texas native pulled away to clock 2:11.54 and win by over a second, bouncing back from a sixth-place finish in Friday’s 1500m.

Kyle Gibbs got airborne in the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.30m (17-4.5) with ease after some early dramatics. He even took some brave shots at the elusive 18-foot mark. Just wait—it’s coming.

Aidan Elbettar closed out the weekend with a bang in the men’s discus. His fourth-round throw of 57.04m (187-1) put him on top, capping off a Ducks 1-2-3 sweep with Ben Smith and Kobe Lawrence close behind. Smith also grabbed a win of his own in the men’s shot put (18.99m/62-3.75), with Lawrence again in second.

Annika Williams showed she’s primed for heptathlon season, placing second in the shot put (14.30m/46-11) and third in the 100m hurdles (14.35). And more top-three finishes rolled in from Hannah Ganashamoorthy, who leapt from seventh to second in the long jump (5.71m/18-8.75) with her final attempt, and Noreen Hussain, who soared to a lifetime best in the pole vault (3.88m/12-8.75).

This weekend wasn’t just the season debut—it was a statement. The Ducks are back, the talent is deep, and Hayward Field is ready for an epic season ahead.

Up Next

The squad heads to California for a busy weekend featuring the Battle at the Beach (Long Beach), the Stanford Invitational (Bay Area), and the Triton Invitational (La Jolla).

Oregon Preview(Eugene, Ore.)

Day One

MEN

1500 Meters
7. Will Heslam – 3:53.66
13. Jack Meier (unattached) – 3:57.22

2,000m Steeplechase
1. Benjamin Balazs – 5:33.42
2. Sergio Del Barrio – 5:38.79
3. Vincent Mestler – 5:48.53

Javelin
2. Pat Vialva – 67.57m/221-8
3. Zach Young – 58.34m/191-5
7. Asher Krauel – 56.87m/186-7
8. Gavin Korkeakoski – 56.23m/184-5
15. Aiden Carter – 46.44m/152-4

WOMEN

1500 Meters
6. Nicole Humphries – 4:27.21
44. Hannah Seubert – 4:43.81

3,000m Steeplechase
1. Katie Clute (unattached) – 10:24.09

Triple Jump
1. Maleigha Canaday-Elliott (unattached) – 12.64m/41-05.75

Javelin
3. Kohana Nakato – 45.92m/150-8
7. Josephine Krohn – 42.38m/139-0
8. Annika Williams – 40.90m/134-2
14. Gianna Bullock (unattached) – 30.12m/98-10