Previewing the Oregon track and field program by event groups entering the start of the 2018 indoor season (Jan. 13)
Head coach Robert Johnson: "We lose some big locker room guys from this group, but I am confident in the abilities and potential of the returners and newcomers we have this year. We have solid depth here that will be important for the Men of Oregon."
SHOT PUT, WEIGHT THROW, HAMMER/DISCUS (OUTDOORS)
Who's back: The Ducks graduated Ryan Hunter-Simms, Cullen Prena, Austin White and T.J. Brassil, losing both production and leadership, but still return some talented youth for 2018. Max Lydum is back after placing eighth in the hammer throw at the Pac-12 Championships as a redshirt freshman, and he will look to make more of an impact indoors in the weight throw. Drake Brennan (below), a two-sport athlete who recently wrapped up the football season, is back after reaching the NCAA West Regionals in the discus last year. Sebastian Barajas had an up-and-down freshman season last year in the shot put and discus, and he will be looked to again to have an impact on the team. Austin Tharp threw the hammer multiple times last year after redshirting in 2015-16 and is developing well for the upcoming season in both the indoor weight throw and the hammer.
Who's new: Throws coach Erik Whitsitt and the Men of Oregon added a pair of freshmen for 2018, bringing in Jared Briere and Austin Glynn. Briere, a Woonsocket, R.I., native, comes to Eugene as the top high-school thrower in the U.S. with the 16-pound hammer, and he also ranked fourth in the nation with the 12-pound hammer and fifth in the weight throw. Glynn specialized in the shot put and discus at Onalaska High School in Wisconsin, winning the 2017 WIAA DI state title in the shot put while finishing as the runner-up in the discus in both 2015 and 2017. Jared BriereAustin GlynnJAVELIN (OUTDOORS)
Who's back: Oregon loses Cody Danielson, a two-time all-American and the 2016 Pac-12 javelin champion, but redshirt junior John Nizich (below) is back to hold down the javelin for the Ducks in the spring. A 2016 All-American, Nizich was 10th at the NCAA Championships as a redshirt freshman before reaching the NCAA West Regionals last year. Also back in the javelin is redshirt sophomore Jackson VanVuren, a 2016 NCAA West Regional participant who did not compete last season.
Who's new: The Men of Oregon did not bring in any new javelin throwers for 2018.
