Devon Allen has chance to crack Ashton Eaton's meet record

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Published by Adam Schneider/DyestatCollege.com editor on April 13th, 2016

Since 2006 all of the men's distance races between 800 meters and 5000 meters have seen the meet records reset (and five other events) and with the women nine of the 13 race records have been reset since 2007 (and three field events). Entrants from OTC Elite and Nike have helped push the collegians to top times. 

In Eugene the 1500m/mile is always a special event with the history of Oregon success going back to the days of Bill Bowerman. When Andrew Wheating ran for Oregon he set the 1500m (3:37.83 in 2010) and mile (3:58.16 in 2008) meet records. 

Blake Haney (#53, 3:46.08) and Sam Prakel (#11 3:42.57) of Oregon and Brandon Pollard of Gonzaga (PanAm junior runner-up) will try to repeat Wheating's feat or at least get some more outdoor race experience against pros by facing former NAIA champion Eric Avila, OTC Elite's Harun Abda, former Portland all-American Jared Bassett, and 2015 NCAA 800m champion Edward Kemboi. 

The Bill Dellinger 5,000 is always one of the best events of the competition. Ducks Jake Leingang, Travis Neumann, Matthew Melancon and redshirting freshman Tanner Anderson will get a chance against fast pros Jordan McNamara (former Duck all-American), Seguru Osaka of Nike Oregon Project and former NAIA champions Luc Bruchet and Matthew Clowes. This will be a great opportunity to run West Regional qualifiers. 

The Oregon women will send a fast group to the starting line of the 1,500 to face some tough pro competition. Ducks Ashley Maton, ranked 23rd at 4:20.61and Frida Berge and Oregon State's Morgan Anderson (4:23.53, ranked 50th among D1 collegians) will face former Duck all-American Nicole Blood and former US 800m team runners Geena Gall and Maggie Vessey. Future Duck and high school senior Katie Rainsberger is expected to race them. 

The 400 hurdles will be an unusually good competition this year with 2015 NCAA West Region competitor Ben Thiel of Oregon (50.32) going against teammate Devon Allen, ranked 43rd with a best of 52.25 and 29th ranked Fernando Martinez of Boise State (51.69). Andrew Strich of Spokane CC (52.89) is one of the top 10 hurdlers in junior college.

The women's shot put has three-time all-American Brittany Mann (ranked 35th at 52-1.25, pr 56-6.75) against Duck teammate Itohan Aikhionbare (ranked 25th at 53-3.50, 55-3.50) and NAIA all-American McKenzie Warren (53-7.50).

Two-time NCAA competitor Mitch Modin of Oregon will attempt to make his fourth appearance at the NCAA championships and he will compete against his teammates on Thursday and Friday. NCAA runner-up and Pac-12 champion Marcus Chambers will face Olympic 100 finalist Ryan Bailey over 400 meters. Devon Allen has a chance to break Ashton Eaton's record in the 110m hurdles (13.68 from 2010). Kodie Artner of Lewis & Clark is ranked tenth, 14.73, on the NCAA D3 list.

National junior college leader Roba Sultessa (1:51.00) of Clackamas CC will face some typically tough competition with meet record holder Tyler Mulder (1:46.79 from 2011) entered and Oregon senior Grant Grosvenor, ranked 30th on the collegiate list this year at 1:48.85. Lukas Jarron of British Columbia (1:53.18), 7th on the NAIA list this year, is also entered.

National junior college leader Judd Lewis of Spokane CC (9:33.73) will race a good field in the 3000 steeplechase, including Jackson Darland of Oregon's (8:53.91) season debut. Dakarai Hightower of Lane will face Kei-Jian Buckley, 19th ranked Matt Quist of Montana (7-1), and Bradley Laubacher and Ben Milligan of Oregon.