Ducks Dampen Bruins 94-69

For the first time in 23 years, Hayward Field hosted a dual track meet Saturday. In the hail, rain and wind of a Willamette Valley spring afternoon, the Ducks treated the visiting UCLA Bruins just as brusquely, giving the Bruins a 94-69 trouncing.

A 1-2-3 sweep in the javelin gave the Ducks a strong start and they never looked back. Colin Veldman and Jordan Stray posted personal records and entered Oregon's top 10 in the event and gave the Ducks the first and second place points the form chart said belonged to UCLA.

A.J Acosta won the 1500 meters with a time of 3:46.87 and team mate Jordan McNamara slipped past UCLA's Leaf Barnes just before the finish line to claim second.

"We wanted to show them who Oregon was," said sophomore Ashton Eaton. The Bend, Oregon native won the 400 with a PR of 46.74 seconds, ran on both winning relays and took third in the long jump.

"A lot of people talked about how it was going to be close, and with it just being the men, we had to stand up and come together. We can't let somebody come into our historic Hayward Field and take us over."

Senior sprinter Phil Alexander was held out of competition after he suffered a mild hamstring pull running a leg on Oregon's victorious 4X100 relay. Jared Huske and Marcus Dillon made certain Alexander's points didn't go to the Bruins. Huske claimed two firsts, the 110 high hurdles and the 400 intermediates and anchored the 4X100. Dillon won the 100 meters with a time of 10.87 and picked up a first in the 200 with a mark of 21.58, and ran legs on both relays.

Oregon also earned first place finishes in the high jump (Vernell Warren 6' - 7 ½"), 5,000 m (Kenny Klotz - 14:10.70) and 800 m (Andrew Wheating - 1:48.83)

Thankfully it won't be another 23 years before there is another dual meet at Hayward Field. The Bruins are set to return next year for another of the fan friendly head-to-head competitions.