Women's DMR Flies to Collegiate Record in New York

Friday, January 27

New York, N.Y.

All Day

University of Oregon

Columbia East-West Challenge

Women's DMR Flies to Collegiate Record in New York

01/27/17 | Track and Field

Results - Columbia East-West Challenge Results - Columbia East-West Challenge Results - UW Invitational

LILLI BURDON, ASHANTE HORSLEY, RAEVYN ROGERS AND KATIE RAINSBERGER WIN DMR IN 10:48.77 TO BREAK COLLEGIATE RECORD

By: Nate Krueger

New York – The Women of Oregon broke the collegiate indoor record in the distance medley relay to lead Oregon track and field to a strong showing on the first day of the Columbia East-West Challenge at the Armory Track and Field Center.

How it Happened – Women: Looking to secure a qualifying time for the NCAA Indoor Championships, the DMR team of Lilli Burdon (1,200m), Ashante Horsley (400m), Raevyn Rogers (800) and Katie Rainsberger (1,600) won in a blistering 10:48.77 to break the previous indoor collegiate record of 10:50.98 (Tennessee, 2009).

Ducks smash the women's collegiate DMR record! #GoDucks #TougherTogether pic.twitter.com/d31U1Q44PL
— Oregon Track & Field (@OregonTF) January 27, 2017

Seven-time all-American Sasha Wallace impressed once again in the 60 meter hurdles, winning in 7.91 seconds to best her own NCAA-leading mark. The Ducks went 1-2-3 in the finals as Alaysha Johnson (8.19) and freshman Rhesa Foster (8.39) followed Wallace to sweep the event.

The Women of Oregon capped the first day of competition in New York with another finals sweep, as Hannah Cunliffe, Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington finished 1-2-3 in the finals of the 60 meters. Cunliffe raced to the top of the 2017 NCAA list by winning in 7.13 seconds, just .01 seconds off her own program record, and Stevens (7.23) and Washington (7.30) each set personal-bests.

How it Happened – Men: The Men of Oregon came away with a strong showing in the DMR as well, winning in an NCAA-leading time of 9:30.86. The relay saw the 2017 debut of 15-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek running anchor (1,600m) in 3:54.59 to bring home the win for the Ducks after Matthew Maton (1,200m), Cameron Stone (400m) and Mick Stanovsek (800m) set the tone.

Senior transfer Kyree King continued an impressive start to his Oregon career in the 60 meters, winning the event for the second time in two meets as a Duck. King ran the finals in a blazing 6.62 seconds, tying the Oregon indoor record and setting a PR. Another transfer, junior Damarcus Simpson, also set a PR (6.69) to give the Ducks a 1-2 finish in the 60 meters. Sophomore Julius Shellmire finished fifth in a personal-best time of 6.86 seconds.

In the 60 meter hurdles, freshman Jonathan Harvey finished in 8.39 seconds in the prelims and 8.50 seconds in the finals.

UW Invitational: Senior and three-time all-American Mitch Modin traveled to Seattle this weekend along with Cole Walsh and Ben Milligan to compete at the UW Invitational. Modin was the only Duck in action on Friday's first day of competition, as he competed in the first four events of the men's heptathlon. Walsh currently sits in second place overall in the heptathlon with 3,032 points after running 7.06 in the 60 meter hurdles and posting marks of 22-11/6.98m in the long jump, 41-7.25/12.68m in the shot put and 6-2.75/1.90m in the high jump.

Quotable: Head Coach Robert Johnson
"Overall it's been a really good trip so far, and we've got a full line-up tomorrow. I'm proud of the team and how they rallied around the DMR teams to help push them through. We were able to see something amazing on the women's side with those ladies setting the collegiate record, and it was really a great atmosphere with our team being allowed on the infield to cheer them on. The atmosphere was so exciting, and we were able to carry that into the 60 meters and 60 hurdles to finish out the day on a high note with PRs by Damarcus Simpson, Kyree King, Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington and tremendous showings by Sasha Wallace and Hannah Cunliffe. It was a really fun and exciting 60 minutes or so, and now we need to carry that into tomorrow."

What it Means: After busting off the rust two weeks ago in Seattle, the Ducks turned their attention this weekend to hitting qualifying times for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Oregon got off to a tremendous start to the weekend on Friday with wins in five of the six events as well as the collegiate DMR record.

Up Next: The Columbia East-West Challenge will continue on Saturday at the Armory Track and Field Center, beginning at 3 p.m. PT with the women's mile and the field events.

In Seattle on Saturday, Modin will finish up the heptathlon, Walsh will compete in the pole vault and Milligan will be in action in the high jump. Competition will begin at 9 a.m., with the heptathlon picking back up at 10:05 a.m. with the 60 meter hurdles.