Track and Field: NCAA West First Round Recap 2025

Oregon track and field wrapped up a successful weekend at the NCAA West First Round with 17 total entries, eight for the men, nine for the women, advancing to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, set for June 11–14 at Hayward Field in Eugene. The four-day regional meet saw the Ducks combine clutch performances, personal bests, and late-surging efforts to secure national berths across sprints, distance, field events, and relays.

Wills and Lawrence Open the Meet with Early Qualifiers

The first day in Texas set the tone with Safin Wills and Kobe Lawrence punching their tickets to nationals. Wills, a veteran making his fourth NCAA Outdoor appearance, delivered in the long jump with a clutch final-round leap of 7.67m (25-2) to move from 18th to 10th and lock in his spot. Lawrence, competing in his first NCAA postseason, launched a 19.38m (63-7) shot put mark on his opening attempt, good for sixth overall and his first national championship qualification.

Wills would later add the triple jump to his resume of events in Eugene. Needing a top-12 finish, he reached 15.88m (52-1.25) on his final jump and weathered the final round to cling to the last qualifying spot. He becomes the first Duck since 2005 to qualify for both horizontal jumps in the same year.

Oregon Men Stack Distance and Mid-Distance Talent

The Ducks’ depth in the middle distances was on full display, with a trio of 1500-meter runners and two 800-meter standouts progressing through the rounds. Freshman Simeon Birnbaum ran the only sub-3:40 in the quarterfinals to win his 1500 heat in 3:39.79, while NCAA indoor champion Matthew Erickson (1:47.07) and Koitatoi Kidali (1:47.17) both advanced in the 800 meters with strong heat performances.

Birnbaum also competed in the 5,000 meters, but it was teammate Benjamin Balazs who delivered one of the most impressive distance efforts. In the steeplechase, Balazs ran a lifetime best of 8:31.13, more than three seconds faster than his previous mark, to earn his first NCAA appearance and move up to No. 7 on the all-time UO list.

In the field, Aidan Elbettar came through in the discus with a clutch 58.25m (191-1) throw to finish 12th and claim the final qualifying spot. The transfer from UCLA will return to the NCAA meet for the second time in his career.

Women’s Team Adds Nine to Eugene Field

On the women’s side, the Ducks collected three early qualifiers before storming through the final two days with six more. Annika Williams, the Big Ten heptathlon champion, had already booked her spot prior to the regional meet with a personal-best 5,914 points. On Thursday, she was joined by Diana Cherotich (10,000m) and Emily Fitzsimmons (pole vault).

Cherotich, a freshman and Big Ten champion, finished second overall in the 10,000 meters with a time of 33:43.18, while Fitzsimmons cleared a lifetime-best 4.42m (14-6) to become Oregon’s first national qualifier in women’s pole vault since 2014.

Saturday brought a surge of qualifying efforts. Aaliyah McCormick led the charge in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking a personal best 12.74 to become the top overall qualifier and move to No. 2 on Oregon’s all-time list. The time also ranks second in the NCAA this season.

The Ducks then advanced a trio in the 1500 meters: Klaudia Kazimierska (4:06.53), Silan Ayyildiz (4:06.61), and Mia Barnett (4:10.88). Ayyildiz’s mark was a personal best, moving her to No. 4 in school history. Barnett qualified for the third consecutive year.

In the triple jump, senior Ryann Porter found herself outside qualifying position before her final attempt. Needing a big jump, she delivered a 13.42m (44-0.5) effort to jump into 12th place, winning the tiebreaker by virtue of her superior second-best mark.

The women capped their day with the 4×100-meter relay team of Shaniya Hall, Lily Jones, Brazil Neal, and Amirah Shaheed qualifying in 43.89, just .02 off their season best. Hall and Jones were also part of last year’s NCAA finalist squad.

Oregon NCAA Championships Qualifiers

Men (8 Entries):

• Safin Wills – Long Jump, Triple Jump
• Kobe Lawrence – Shot Put
• Aidan Elbettar – Discus
• Simeon Birnbaum – 1500 Meters
• Matthew Erickson – 800 Meters
• Koitatoi Kidali – 800 Meters
• Benjamin Balazs – Steeplechase

Women (9 Entries):

• Annika Williams – Heptathlon
• Diana Cherotich – 10,000 Meters
• Emily Fitzsimmons – Pole Vault
• Aaliyah McCormick – 100m Hurdles
• Klaudia Kazimierska – 1500 Meters
• Silan Ayyildiz – 1500 Meters
• Mia Barnett – 1500 Meters
• Ryann Porter – Triple Jump
• Hall, Jones, Neal, Shaheed – 4x100m Relay

Wednesday Results

Q – advances to NCAA Championships; q – advances to Friday’s quarterfinals

MEN

100 Meters | first round
14. Rodrick Pleasant – 10.37q

800 Meters | first round
2. Koitatoi Kidali – 1:47.12q (SB)
4. Matthew Erickson – 1:47.48q

1500 Meters | first round
20. Rheinhardt Harrison – 3:50.87q
22. Evan Dorenkamp – 3:51.17q
36. Simeon Birnbaum – 3:55.83q

10,000 Meters | semifinal
14. Evan Bishop – 28:31.84
16. Abdel Laadjel – 28:44.14
17. Evan Burke – 28:47.56
20. Quincy Norman – 29:01.44
38. Aiden Smith – 29:48.62

Pole Vault
t15. Kyle Gibbs – 5.17m/16-11.5

Long Jump
11. Safin Wills – 7.67m/25-2Q
42. Cheikh M’Baye – 6.74m/22-1.5

Shot Put
6. Kobe Lawrence – 19.38m/63-7Q

Javelin
27. Pat Vialva – 64.63m/212-0

Thursday Results

Q – advances to NCAA Championships; q – advances to Saturday’s quarterfinals

WOMEN

100 Meters | first round
29. Lily Jones – 11.42 (SB)

400 Meters | first round
—. Ella Clayton – DNS

800 Meters | first round
12. Ella Nelson – 2:05.19q
27. Samantha McDonnell – 2:06.74

1500 Meters | first round
4. Silan Ayyildiz – 4:14.26q
10. Klaudia Kazimierska – 4:16.93q
19. Mia Barnett – 4:19.17q
32. Ella Thorsett – 4:24.36

10,000 Meters | semifinal
2. Diana Cherotich – 33:43.18Q

100m Hurdles | first round
1. Aaliyah McCormick – 12.82q (SB)
47. Annaleise Taylor – 14.49

400m Hurdles | first round
—. Annaleise Taylor – DNS

Pole Vault
t1. Emily Fitzsimmons – 4.42m/14-6Q (PB, UO #3)
t20. Isabella Nilsen – 4.17m/13-8.25

Javelin
17. Kohana Nakato – 49.14m/161-3

Friday Results

Q – advances to NCAA Championships

MEN

100 Meters | quarterfinal
15. Rodrick Pleasant – 10.16 (PB, UO #7)

800 Meters | quarterfinal
6. Matthew Erickson – 1:47.07Q
9. Koitatoi Kidali – 1:47.17Q

1500 Meters | quarterfinal
1. Simeon Birnbaum – 3:39.79Q
19. Rheinhardt Harrison – 3:47.81
22. Evan Dorenkamp – 3:50.61

5,000 Meters | semifinal
37. Simeon Birnbaum – 14:10.98

3,000m Steeplechase | quarterfinal
4. Benjamin Balazs – 8:31.13Q (PB, UO #7)
26. Sergio Del Barrio – 8:57.86

High Jump
14. Shaun Miller Jr. – 2.14m/7-0.25 (SB)

Triple Jump
12. Safin Wills – 15.88m/52-1.25Q (+2.1w)

Discus
12. Aidan Elbettar – 58.25m/191-1Q

Saturday Results

Q – advances to NCAA Championships

WOMEN

800 Meters | quarterfinal
16. Ella Nelson – 2:05.50

1500 Meters | quarterfinal
2. Klaudia Kazimierska – 4:06.53Q
3. Silan Ayyildiz – 4:06.61Q (PB, UO #4)
10. Mia Barnett – 4:10.88Q

100m Hurdles | quarterfinal
1. Aaliyah McCormick – 12.74Q (PB, UO #2)

3,000m Steeplechase | quarterfinal
14. Katie Clute – 10:08.10
32. Kendall Martin – 10:29.49

4x100m Relay | quarterfinal
12. Shaniya Hall / Lily Jones / Brazil Neal / Amirah Shaheed – 43.89Q

4x400m Relay | quarterfinal
—. Ella Clayton / Shaniya Hall / Annaleise Taylor / Lakely Doht-Barron – DNS

Triple Jump
12. Ryann Porter – 13.42m/44-0.5Q
22. Cassandra Atkins – 13.13m/43-1w (+2.3)

Up Next

The Ducks now return to familiar territory for the 2025 NCAA Championships on home turf at Hayward Field on June 11-14. With 17 entries, Oregon will look to make a statement in front of a home crowd. Tickets for the four-day meet are currently on sale.