Oregon Ducks 2020 Track and Field Recruiting Class
The University of Oregon officially announced its 2020 track and field recruiting class.
"I think it's a recruiting class that is balanced and addresses some of our needs in our program," Oregon coach Robert Johnson said.
Here's a brief look at some of the newcomers:
Keep in mind, none of these athletes had a senior season outdoors due to the coronavirus, so all personal-record times and marks and titles were earned as juniors or before.
Micah Williams, sprints
There has never been anyone faster in the state of Oregon than the standout from Portland's Benson HS. He is the prep record-holder in the 100 meters (10.21 seconds) and 200 (21.03) and in 2019 he had the second-fastest 100 time nationally. The two-time Gatorade boy's track and field runner of the year also won the 2019 New Balance Nationals indoor title in the 60 with a time of 6.60.
Evan Holland, distances
Between his sophomore season in track and field and his senior season of cross country last fall, Holland won six Class 5A state titles for Ashland — two in cross country (2018 and 2019) and outdoor sweeps of the 1,500-3,000 in 2018 and 2019. The two-time Gatorade Oregon boy's cross country runner of the year, placed sixth at the 2019 Nike Cross Nationals meet. His PR of 8:13.10 in the 3,000 is fourth-fastest all-time in Oregon, and his PR of 3:50.42 in the 1,500 is eighth-fastest.
Maddy Elmore, distances
The Eugene native out of South Eugene won the 6A title in the 1,500 last year in a PR of 4:27.13, making her the ninth-fastest performer in Oregon history and the fourth-fastest since 1985. Elmore is a six-time Southwest Conference champion with five titles on the track and one in cross country (2019).
Colleen Uzoekwe, sprints
As a junior in 2019, Uzoekwe won 6A state titles for Portland's Westview HS in the 100, 200 and long jump, and was the runner-up in the high jump. Her PR of 11.86 in the 100 ties her for fourth all-time in the state.
Riley Traeger, throws
While a junior at Silverton in 2019, she was the Class 5A state title in the javelin and then followed with a win at the 2019 USATF National Junior Olympics.
Taylor Chocek, multis
Chocek qualified for four events at the state meet in 2019 for South Eugene and scored in three as the Axe went on to win the team title. She followed with a seventh-place finish in the heptathlon at the USATF National Junior Olympics.
Jadyn Mays, sprints-jumps
A dominant athlete from Arizona, Mays won 11 state championships in three years, including titles in the 100, 200 and 4x100 all three years. She also won long jumps titles in 2017 and 2018. Her PR of 11.56 in the 100 is fourth all-time in Arizona. Also has a PR of 23.84 in the 200 and 19 feet, 5 inches in the long jump.
Jett Kinder, multis
The decathlete from Tennessee won a silver medal at the 2019 Pan American U20 Championships. Set his PR of 7,077 points during his state-meet championship performance as a junior in 2019.
Nicole Louw, distances
She was the 2019 South African U20 champ in the 1,500 and runner-up in the 800. Has PRs of 2:07.64 in the 800, 4:21.44 in the 1,500 and 9:33.07 in the 3,000.
Alexa Webster, hurdles
The 2019 USATF National Junior Olympics champion in the 400 hurdles has a PR of 59.42 that would already put her in the UO top 10.