Jones, Adams, Ritzenhein, and Beard Bring All-American Talent to Hayward Field, April 3-4

By Maddie Mooney

EUGENE – Top girls across the country will be competing at Hayward Field on April 3-4 for the Oregon Relays Presented by AthleticNET. With national-class athletes competing across all event groups, the 21st edition of the event promises to be the most thrilling and action-packed Oregon Relays yet.

Here are ten stars to keep an eye on this weekend (note, relay participation is not listed):

Aster Jones (Sr., Roosevelt, OR) - 100m / 200m

After a stellar junior season that saw Jones crowned as a not only the Oregon Relays Champion in the 100m and 200m, but also a four-time OHSAA State Champion in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and Sprint Medley Relay, Jones returns to defend her titles in Eugene, coming into the meet with personal bests of 11.51 seconds and 23.17 seconds in the 100m and 200m. The high school phenom is set to attend UCLA in the fall, and hopes to start her senior outdoor season right where she left off last year.

Clara Adams (Jr., Wilson Long Beach, CA) - 200m / 400m

Adams has been dominating both sprints and long sprints since she entered the high school scene. After a short indoor stint, which concluded with All-America honors in the 400m, Adams returns to Eugene to make some noise. Adams will be out for redemption this season after crossing the finish line first at the CIF State Track & Field Championships, but then receiving a disqualification after the race. Adams holds a personal best of 23.42 seconds in the 200m and 52.58 seconds in the 400m.

Sophia Castañeda (Sr., Newberg, OR) - 400m

The 400m is sure to be a battle for the crown as Castañeda returns to defend her title against a stacked field. Castañeda is no stranger to winning the one lap race, holding a personal best of 53.16 seconds, while entering with accolades such as a runner-up finish in the 400m at New Balance Nationals Indoor and a third place finish at the USATF U20 Championships last summer to her name. The Michigan commit looks to improve on her meet record she set last year at the Oregon Relays, but will have to beat out a tough field in order to do so.

Kjirsten Ludeman (So., Sehome, WA) - 800m

Following a very solid indoor season, Ludeman came out the gate swinging, running a blazing 2:06.64 across 800m, setting a massive personal best. This is the fourth fastest time run nationally so far this season. Ludeman also won the WIAA State Championship meet across 800m in 2025 and helped her team to a first place finish in the 4xMile relay at Nike Outdoor Nationals. 

Addy Ritzenhein (Sr., Niwot, CO) - Mile

Colorado star Ritzenhein showed her strength across all distance events at Nike Indoor Nationals last month, running the mile, two mile and 1600 leg of the DMR. Ritzenhein’s short and sweet indoor season shows she is ready to rip in a competitive field at the Oregon Relays on Friday and Saturday. The future Northern Arizona Lumberjack will be looking to improve upon her third place finish in the mile from last year, entering the race with a 4:42.56 personal best.

Cassidy Armstrong (Sr., Ballard, WA) - Two Mile

The 2025 Nike Cross Nationals All-American translates her cross country strength to the track with ease. The Duke bound senior has already run an impressive 10:08.71 3200m this outdoor season, so she is primed and ready to take on the fantastic competition on Friday night and chase after her first Oregon Relays crown.

Sophia Rodriguez (Jr., Mercer Island, WA) - Steeplechase

You regularly know her as a top contender in the mile and two mile, but Washington native Rodriguez is entering new territory with her steeplechase debut at the Oregon Relays. Her success on the cross country course and strength on the track in both the mile and two mile suggest she will be a force to be reckoned with in the steeplechase. Rodriguez will be hoping to mimic the success of her older sister, Victoria—who won the steeplechase event last year—and keep the title in the family for another year.

Anna Schneidler (Jr., Eastlake, WA) - 300m Hurdles

Schneidler brings a myriad of accolades to the line with her, as the 2025 WIAA 300m hurdle state champion, Nike Outdoor Nationals All-American and USATF U20 Championships All-American. To make all of these more impressive, it was her first year running in the long hurdle event. Schneidler returns to Eugene to better her times from the debut year, a blistering 41.74 seconds, and upgrade her 2025 Oregon Relays silver to gold.

Addison Kleinke (Sr., Churchill, OR) - Pole Vault / Long Jump

The sky is the limit for Texas A&M bound Kleinke. After soaring to a 14-1.25 this past indoor season, Kleinke has real potential to etch herself in the Oregon Relay history books. The senior will be looking to claim her first Oregon Relays crown on Saturday, after finishing second in 2024 and fourth in 2025. Her indoor momentum should set the senior up to reach new heights and beat out some great vaulters coming in from around the country.

Kimberly Beard (Sr., King's, WA) - Discus / Hammer / Shot Put

One of the most exciting feats will be taking place in the throwing circle across Friday and Saturday. Beard, the nation’s best prep hammer thrower and the Washington state record holder in the weight throw, will be contesting the triple of discus, shot put and hammer this weekend. Beard enters as the top seed in the discus and hammer and is a top six seed in the shot put, and it would be an impressive feat to see her leave with a trio of golds.