Oregon Seeks Another Title Sweep In The Midwest, But Faces Resistance From No. 1 Illinois Women, No. 5 Penn State Men

By David Woods for DyeStat

DyeStat Photos

INDIANAPOLIS – It didn’t take long for West Coast newcomers to dominate the expanded Big Ten Conference in track and field. Oregon swept men’s and women’s titles in the Big Ten Indoor Championships last year, and former Pac-12 colleagues took three of the top four men’s places.

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In the Big Ten’s 115th indoor championship, which runs from Thursday to Saturday at Fall Creek Pavilion, that trend will persist . . . with perhaps one exception. Illinois is ranked No. 1 nationally among women and could win a second team title in three years.

Meanwhile, Oregon will attempt to become the first program to sweep men’s and women’s titles in successive years.

Five women’s storylines

1, Illini field vs. Oregon and USC track

It will be an unconventional team race because respective strengths of Illinois (field), USC (sprints) and Oregon (distances) don’t overlap.

Illinois might have zero points on the track, unless long jumper Sophia Beckmon scores in the 60 meters. On the conference performance list, the Illini are 1-2 in the high jump and long jump, 1-2-3 in the triple jump, 2-3 in the 20-pound weight and 1-3-5 in the pentathlon.

On the track, USC sprinters rank 1-2-3-4-5 in the 60, 1-2 in the 200, first in the 400, first in the 4x400 relay.  Oregon has more balance, with hurdler Aaliyah McCormick and Estonian pentathlete Lisa Maria-Lusti complementing a distance crew that finished third in NCAA cross country.

2, Hana Moll goes it alone

Any time Washington twins Hana and Amanda Moll are on the pole vault runway, there is a chance for history.

In last year’s Big Ten meet, Amanda set a collegiate record of 16-1.50 (4.91m) – which turned out to be 2025’s highest vault in the world. This year Hana has vaulted a world-leading 4.88m, becoming the fifth American woman over 16 feet. Amanda, the defending NCAA indoor champion, is not entered. So her twin must go it alone.

3, Whole lot of racin’ in the half

While the mile at championships can be dawdling, there is a better chance the half-milers will go for it. The 800 meters features NCAA#2 Hayley Kitching of Penn State (1:59.22) and defending champion Chloe Foerster of Washington (1:59.91). Also in the field is New Zealand 19-year-old Boh Ritchie of Penn State (2:01.60).

4, Trojan horses

The 60 meters will be a USC showcase, led by defending NCAA champion Dejaz Defrand and sophomore Mia Brahe-Pedersen, a former prep superstar from Lake Oswego, Ore. Pedersen missed her 2024 senior season due to injury and it lingered through a vexing freshman year, but she has broken out in 2026. She ranks third in the Big Ten in the 60 meters, second in the 200.

5, Giving her best shot

Nebraska’s Axelinna Johnansson set a collegiate and Swedish record of 64-8.50 (19.72m) on Dec. 12 but has competed just once since then. She is seeking a third Big Ten indoor title in four years.

Five men’s storylines

1, Ducks vs. Nittany Lions

No. 3 Oregon and No. 5 Penn State are the lone Big Ten teams ranked in the top 15. USC had seemingly won last year before a 4x400 relay disqualification allowed the Ducks to prevail, 106-99.5. Penn State has never won the Big Ten indoors and just once outdoors (2017).

Oregon has entered Mississippi State transfer Peyton Bair, the NCAA and U.S. heptathlon leader, only in the long jump.

2, Mile mania

Even if a sub-4-minute mile isn’t what it once was, it is astounding the Big Ten has 26 men who have broken that barrier. That includes seven from Washington, six from Oregon and five from Michigan. Five other schools have at least one.

Last year’s tactical final was won by Michigan’s Trent McFarland in 4:03.56. Five men ran sub-4:00 in trials, and it took 4:00.80 to make the eight-man final. Meet record of 3:58.09 by Indiana’s Ben Veatch dates to 2022. Facility record is 3:56.72 by Butler’s Jesse Hamlin on Jan. 23.

Top six this year:

>> 3:52.32, Elliott Cook, Oregon, the 2024 NCAA 1,500 runner-up.

>> 3:52.37, Reuben Reina Jr., Washington, the 2025 SEC mile champion at Arkansas.

>> 3:52.49, Thomas Diamond, Washington, a 21-year-old Australian.

>> 3:52.73, McFarland, age 20.

>> 3:53.86, Tomas Palfrey, Oregon, a 23-year-old Australian.

>> 3:54.43, Tyler Bilyard, Washington, a 24-year-old from England.

3, Gold in that vault

The pole vault, if anything, exceeds the mile in quality.

Penn transfer James Rhoads of Washington and Nebraska sophomore Dyson Wicker are 1-2 in the NCAA at 19-1 (5.82m) and 18-10.5 (5.75m), respectively. Wicker is the top-ranked 19-year-old in the world.

Another top contender is Illinois junior Cody Johnston, returning to his home state. Johnston, of Hobart, Ind., set a Big Ten outdoor meet record of 18-6 (5.64m) at Eugene last year and is sixth in the NCAA indoors at 18-8.25 (5.70m). He has broken Illini records held by Dean Starkey, a 1988-89 NCAA indoor champion and 1997 world bronze medalist.

4, Youth takeover in 400 meters

The 400 boasts four at 45.70 or faster, all freshmen or sophomores.

Penn State soph Jack Palermo finished first in the conference last year but was disqualified. At 45.33, the 19-year-old ranks third in the NCAA and sixth in the world.

Behind him are USC freshman Jack Stadlman (45.51), a former California high school basketball player, and sophs Edidiong Udo of Ohio State/Nigeria (45.65) and Samuel Vessat of Purdue/France (45.68).

The 400 deepens in 2027 with the addition of Maryland recruit Quincy Wilson, the national prep indoor record-holder (45.66) and Olympic 4x400 gold medalist.

5, Roban eyes 600/800 double

Penn State’s Handal Roban would be a threat to break the collegiate indoor record in the 600 or 800 – he is No. 2 all-time in both – except he has declared at both distances. Saturday’s finals are at 3:10 and 3:50 p.m. in the 800 and 600, respectively.

The record of 1:14.79 in the 600 has lasted since 2018 by UTEP’s Michael Saruni. Roban is at 1:14.88. He is coming off a 1:44.73 in the 800, nearly equaling the 1:44.70 set Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman on Feb. 1. Roban, 24, a St. Vincent Olympian, won the NACAC outdoor 800 in 1:42.87 last August.

Contact David Woods at dwoods1411@gmail.com.