Oregon Ducks News: Title IX challenge to House Settlement, Championship track at Hayward, softball scores

A daily rundown of stories, highlights and links in Oregon sports
The Big Ten's current media rights deal is worth $7 billion over 7 years, about $80 to $100 million a year to the original 16 schools. Now the House Settlement is being challenged in court.
The Big Ten's current media rights deal is worth $7 billion over 7 years, about $80 to $100 million a year to the original 16 schools. Now the House Settlement is being challenged in court. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Attorneys for 8 female athletes challenge the House Settlement

In a report by Shehan Jeyarajah & Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, a lawsuit has been filed on behalf on eight female athletes from the College of Charleston, Vanderbilt and the University of Virginia, arguing that the House Settlement violates Title IX.

Attorney Leigh Ernst Friestedt wrote in a statement to CBS,
"The House Settlement allocates $2.4 billion to men and only $102 million to women. This significant disparity constitutes a violation of Title IX."

In the coming weeks the settlement is likely to be challenged in court regarding NIL Go and limiting athlete's outside earnings. It could be a rocky road for college sports as they attempt to create meaningful controls and a framework for the games in a new era.

The only sure winners are the lawyers.

NCAA Track and Field Championships enters Day 2

On Thursday the women take center stage at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene with heats in the 4x100 relay, 1500 meters and 100 meter hurdles. Oregon's Diana Cherotich competes for a medal in the 10,000 meters, while Duck pole vaulter Emily Fitzsimmons readies for the final in the pole vault.

Women's Day 1 will be televised on ESPN beginning at 4 p.m. PT.

Wednesday the men opened the championships with Arkansas' Jordan Anthony running a blazing 9.75 100 meters to top qualifying. Champions were crowned in the following events:

Hammer — Kostas Zaltos, Minnesota
Pole vault — Aleksandr Solovev, Texas A&M
Long jump — Malcolm Clemons, Florida
Shot Put — Jason Swarens, Wisconsin
Javelin — Devoux Deysel, Miami (FL)
10,000 meters — Ishmael Kipkurui, New Mexico

With six out of 21 events scored Minnesota leads in the team competition with 23 points, followed by New Mexico and Florida at 18.

Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum advanced in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:41.77, the second fastest overall. According to milesplit.com, that converts to a 3:59.51 mile.

Softball wraps up remarkable year

After advancing to the College World Series for the first time since 2018 and winning the Big Ten Championship, Melyssa Lombardi's softball squad finished No. 5 in the final NFCA poll and placed 11 women on the Academic All-Big Ten Team.

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