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NCAA Championships: Oregon Ducks Fail To Find Footing On Day One

By Justin Phillips

EUGENE, OR - MAY 26: Genezebe Dibaba of Ethiopia runs thw 5000m during the 2017 Prefontaine Classic Diamond Leagueat Hayward Field on May 26, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - MAY 26: Genezebe Dibaba of Ethiopia runs thw 5000m during the 2017 Prefontaine Classic Diamond Leagueat Hayward Field on May 26, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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The Oregon Ducks Men’s Track and Field team struggled on Wednesday in the opening of the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Historic Hayward Field.

Head Coach Robert Johnson had to be a little surprised on Wednesday night. The Ducks have hosted the final Track and Field event of the season in the NCAA and have at least been in contention on the Men’s side over the better part of the last fifteen years. Following Wednesday, the Oregon Men did not place in the top 29 finishers and struggled on the field throughout the day.

Damarcus Simpson was expected to compete well in the Long Jump but had a rough day in the pit with a 10th place finish and no points for Oregon. Simpson fouled on his first two attempts and moved from 9th place to 10th – the top 9 qualifiers moved onto the final.

On the track, Sam Prakel and Mick Stanovsek helped the Oregon Ducks with top three finishes in their respective heat in the 1500 Meters and Cravon Gillespie had a wind-aided Personal Record to make the 100-meter final on Friday.

Braxton Canady missed advancing in the 100-meter hurdles and the Oregon Ducks 4×400 relay team also missed the mark.

Gillespie also had hopes of advancing in the 200 Meters and will have another season with the Oregon Ducks in which to do it, but it won’t be at Hayward Field with the home crowd next year.

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Hayward Field is set to undergo a major renovation following the NCAA Championships. On Thursday, the Oregon Women’s Track and Field team will get their opportunity. The Women of Oregon have 19 entries this weekend, tied for the most in the competition. The Oregon Women’s team is looking to contend in a season of team youth. The Ducks lost an important Senior Class last season that helped the team to the Championship in the final event, the 4×100 relay.