University of Oregon
MPSF Indoor Championships
Trio of Ducks Highlight Day One of MPSFs
02/24/17 | Track and Field
MAGGIE SCHMAEDICK, KYREE KING AND MADELINE MIDDLEBROOKS LEAD DUCKS IN OPENING DAY OF MPSF CHAMPIONSHIPS, DAY TWO BEGINS SATURDAY AT 10:30 AM PT
SEATTLE - The Oregon track and field team opened the MPSF Championships and received strong showings from Maggie Schmaedick, Kyree King and Madeline Middlebrooks on Friday at the Dempsey Indoor Center.
The Men and Women of Oregon will continue with the MPSF Championships on Saturday in their final opportunity to secure qualifying marks for the NCAA Indoor Championships, with the top 16 marks in each individual event advancing to College State, Texas, on March 10-11. Day two competition will begin at 10 a.m., with a live stream available on FloTrack with a premium subscription.
How it Happened - Women: Schmaedick put on a stellar performance in the 5,000 meters, smashing her previous personal-record (PR) by an astounding 18 seconds to finish second in 15:52.28. Schmaedick's mark slots in at No. 8 in the NCAA, essentially wrapping up a spot for her in the 5,000 at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Middlebrooks started the day well for the Ducks in the weight throw, smashing her previous personal-record (PR) of 18.80m/61-8.25 by hitting 20.05m/65-9.5 to take fourth in the event. Ronna Stone also set a PR in the event, hitting 17.76m/58-3.25.
The Women of Oregon fared well in the preliminary races of the 60 meters and 60-meter hurdles, advancing all seven participants to Saturday's finals. Hannah Cunliffe, the nation's leader in the 60, led Oregon to a 1-2 finish in 7.19 seconds with Ariana Washington, who hit a PR in 7.28 seconds to move into 16th on the NCAA list. Deajah Stevens, who is currently seventh in the nation, finished fifth in 7.32 seconds, and Makenzie Dunmore took sixth in 7.32 seconds to advance to the finals.
Sasha Wallace, who leads the NCAA in the 60-meter hurdles (7.91), won the prelims in 8.07 seconds, while Alaysha Johnson (8.64) took fourth.
How it Happened - Men: King, a senior transfer from Western Kentucky, took the MPSF title in the 200 meters with a winning time of 21.04 seconds to headline the day for the men. King also took second in the 60 meter prelims in 6.71 seconds, while junior Damarcus Simpson finished fourth in 6.75 seconds to advance to the finals.
Freshman Braxton Canady finished third in the 60-meter hurdle preliminary race in 7.98 seconds to move on the finals.
In the heptathlon, senior Mitch Modin currently leads the field through the first day with 3,194 points, while Joe Delgado sits in seventh with 2,889 points.
Notable: Foster hit 6.19m/20-3.75 in the long jump, so she will wait to see if her 2017 top mark of 6.33m/20-9.25, which is currently 16th in the nation, holds up to get her in to NCAA Indoors … Going into the second day of competition, the Ducks are tied for fourth in the women's team standings and seventh on the men's side.
Up Next: Saturday's competition will kick off at 10:30 a.m. with the heptathlon, women's shot put and women's high jump.
Players Mentioned
