NCAA Championships: Oregon Ducks Women Will Run For National Championship
The Oregon Ducks opened the NCAA Track and Field Championships on Thursday and saw nine of sixteen advance to the finals on Saturday.
In one of the final events of the day on Thursday, Alli Cash had an opportunity in the 10,000 Meter Final. She kept an early pace with the frontrunners, but pulled up with an injury with ten laps remaining an did not finish the competition. She left under her own power. One area that the Women of Oregon have excelled is in the 4×400. They put on a show again on Thursday in the Semifinal making the Final with ease.
The Oregon Ducks pulled through to first place in their respective heat finishing with the 7th fastest time in Oregon History to take their heat and advance to the Final on Saturday. Despite not having any points on the team board, Oregon is in a good position. Several Oregon Ducks came close to getting Oregon points on Thursday with Rhesa Foster finishing 12th in the Long Jump and Cash coming up short in the 10,000 Meters.
The distance runners will fuel the Ducks’ comeback on the scoreboard on Saturday. Alaysha Johnson and Arianna Washington both made quick work of the hurdles and the 100 meters to advance, but the Ducks contingent failed to qualify in the 200 Meters.
Oregon will have two in the 400 meter final and Sabrina Southerland will look for her second National Championship this year in the 800 meters after already taking the Indoor Title.
Once again this year, the top spot could come down to the final track race of the night in the 4×400.
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While the weather in Eugene was perfect on Thursday and Friday with temperatures reaching 65-70 degrees and light winds, the change will be coming heading into the weekend with rain expected.