SEATTLE, Wash. – Jaida Ross and Alysah Hickey collected wins Saturday at the Ken Shannon Last Chance in Seattle. Ross bettered her NCAA-qualifying mark in the shot put while Hickey secured her second win of the season in the long jump. The Ducks also combined for four top-10 program performances and 10 lifetime bests.
Ross entered the day with a top-10 national ranking in the shot put but improved that position Saturday with a lifetime best of 18.23m/59-9.75 in a winning effort. Based on results from the weekend, Ross now ranks fourth in the NCAA this season. She had a previous PB of 17.74m/58-2.5 from the Don Kirby Invite two weeks ago.
The Medford, Ore., native led a 1-2-4 finish for the Ducks with current NCAA leader Jorinde Van Klinken in second (17.79m/58-4.5) followed by Mine De Klerk (17.02m/55-10.25). With her personal-best throw, De Klerk moves to fourth on the UO all-time list.
Hickey, behind her effort in the long jump, joined Ross in the UO winner’s circle Saturday. She began her series with a mark of 6.39m/20-11.75 which stood tall enough against the field for the victory. Entering the NCAA selection process, Hickey has a season- and lifetime-best of 6.79m/22-3.5 which ranks second in the country.
Jadyn Mays ran a season-best time of 7.13 to finish second in the 60 meters with freshman Lily Jones in third overall with time of 7.30, a new indoor best for the Portland native. With her outing, Mays moves up to sixth on the national performance list ahead of the NCAA Championships.
In a pair of top-10 program performances, Ella Clayton became the fourth-fastest indoor quarter miler in program history while Ella Clayton broke into the UO top 10 in the 800 meters. Navigating the oversized track at the UW Dempsey facility, Clayton crossed the finish line in 52.63 to finish fifth in the 400 meters. Nelson took more than a second off her previous best with a time of 2:05.17 in Seattle.
On the men’s side of the 800 meters, Elliot Cook finished second overall with a time of 1:47.01, just off his lifetime best of 1:46.93 from earlier this season. He also carries a best of 3:55.34 in the mile, and is ranked among the top 15 nationally in both events.
Coupling a new lifetime best with a top-10 finish Saturday, Eugene native Maddy Elmore registered a time of 4:35.25 in the mile, a top-40 time in the NCAA this season. She finished second in her section and eighth overall.
SATURDAY RESULTS
Ken Shannon Last Chance…
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