Ahead Of Big Ten Conference Meet, Oregon Twilight Offers Another Chance To Pin Down An NCAA Qualifier

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Lily Dozier photo

Olympian Karissa Schweizer is among the Nike Swoosh Track Club athletes entered in Friday's featured 1,500 meters races at the Oregon Twilight meet at Hayward Field. 

Schweizer is returning to the track after running a pair of top-three finishes in two mile races on home turf in Iowa two weekends ago. She ran 4:24.40 for second at the Grand Blue Mile in downtown Des Moines a couple of days before racing to third at the Drake Relays in 4:25.27.

As of Thursday morning, Shelby Houlihan is entered in the women's 1,500, too, The American record holder in the event will be back at Hayward Field for the first time since the 2018 Prefontaine Classic when she won the 1,500. 

Houlihan also raced in the Grand Blue Mile and mile races in Des Moines with Schweizer.

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The top section of the men's 1,500 includes Nike pros Sean McGorty, Kieran Tuntivate and Thomas Ratcliffe along with Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum and Evan Dorenkamp. 

Along with Schweizer, the women's 1,500 includes Gabija Galvydyte, Christina Aragon and Kaylee Mitchell of Swoosh TC, Eleanor Fulton (unattached), and Jenn Randall, Grace Fetherstonhaugh and Rylee Penn of Pacific Athletics.

The Oregon track teams are tuning up for next week's Big Ten Outdoor Championships and are also down to the final chances for athletes to earn postseason berths at the NCAA West prelims. As per tradition, the Oregon Twilight will include a ceremony for the Ducks' seniors. 

Gonzaga's Logan Law, Drew Kolodge and Mason Kissell are the top entries in the men's 5,000 meters. 

Matthew Erickson, Oregon's NCAA Indoor 800 meters champion, is racing the 400. 

Oregon's Ben Greene and Will Heslam are in the 800 meters, along with Tate O'Brien of the University of Victoria (B.C.).

Former Oregon All-American Shelby Moran leads the entries in the women's hammer. 

Ben Smith (unattached) and Kobe Lawrence and Adian Elbettar of Oregon are entered in the discus.