Oregon freshman, who didn’t race at home venue during collegiate season, makes big impact by edging Bullis School standout Greene by 13.02 to 13.10 margin in final; Coleman, Dwol, Fey, Pickett, Pinckney, Rayan and Tatham also win

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

EUGENE, Ore. – When given the chance to run in front of the home crowd at Hayward Field, expect an Oregon Duck to bring a bit more to the starting line.

Not that any of the other athletes are lacking a competitive fire, but Oregon athletes happen to have a bit of an edge on their home turf.

In the case of Aaliyah McCormick, the moment was there for the taking in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. She held on and never let go.

CRASH KAMON PHOTOS | KIM SPIR PHOTOS | CHUCK ARAGON PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS

TOYOTA USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS VIEWING INFO

USATF U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS WEBCAST INFO

Weeks had passed since McCormick had last raced, but she showed no signs of rust in Friday’s final at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships, managing to collect a national title in a wind-legal 13.02 seconds on action-packed day one of the three-day meet that will determine the American roster for the Pan American U20 Championships, scheduled for Aug. 4-6 in Puerto Rico.

“I am so relieved,” McCormick said. “I just feel so good, like, I wish you could just feel what I feel.”

The San Diego native and Pac-12 outdoor runner-up took home the win in her Hayward Field debut over Myla Greene of Bullis School in Maryland, a Tennessee commit who placed second in 13.10.

Rylee Hampton, a junior representing Houston Cypress Ridge High in Texas and Space City, was third in 13.35.

McCormick found herself behind early with Greene getting out strong from the blocks, clearing the first five hurdles with no problem. Upon reaching the sixth hurdle, McCormick managed a slight edge over Greene.

“In this race, I just remembered to continue my technique,” McCormick said. “Like my arms and cut down my knees. I just wanted to make sure I figured it out.”

Closing hard over the final hurdles, McCormick’s technique played in her favor as she pulled away for good on the ninth and 10th hurdles. 

Greene’s time elevated her to No. 10 on the all-time prep list for wind-legal performances.

“This season has been really long and to come out here and produce a really good time, I can check that off my checklist. It’s really great,” Greene said. 

Nathaniel Rayan of Scotch Plains-Fanwood in New Jersey, the New Balance Nationals outdoor champion, claimed the men’s title in the 110 hurdles, edging out North Carolina’s Blaise Atkinson by a 13.40 to 13.42 margin.

Nike Outdoor Nationals champion Alexander Chukwukelu from North Forney High in Texas was third in 13.45.

Oklahoma’s Agur Dwol secured the women’s triple jump title with her third-round effort of 42 feet, 2.75 inches (12.87m), despite fouling on her final three jumps. Tennessee’s Suzan Ogunleye hit 41-10 (12.75m) for second place, with LSU commit Taylor Fingers of Mansfield Timberview High in Texas taking third at 41-9.75 (12.74m).

Florida State’s Kyvon Tatham jumped 51 feet (15.54m) on his fifth jump to claim the men’s triple jump title over Arizona’s Sir Jonathan Sims and his mark of 50-6 (15.39m). Sterling Scott’s final jump of 49-8.25 (15.14m) earned the MIssouri-bound standout from Starkville High in Mississippi a third-place finish. 

Texas’ Elizabeth Pickett outkicked Brown’s Nimrit Ahuja for the women’s 5,000 title, running 16:58.86 to 16:59.12. Finishing third was Madison Clay of Catawba College in a time of 17:02.

Notre Dame’s Ethan Coleman, runner-up at the ACC Indoor meet in the 5,000, survived rising temperatures in the late afternoon en route to winning the men’s 10,000 national title in 31:37.75. Purdue-Fort Wayne’s Austin Hall ran 32:31.92 to place second, with Oregon’s Aiden Smith trailing in third in 32:43.76.

UCLA’s Michael Pinckney launched the hammer 219-11 (67.03m) to win the competition by a foot over California Polytechnic State’s Rory Devaney at 218-11 (66.73m). Baylor’s Gary Moore finished a close third with a mark of 218-4 (66.56m).

Madeleine Fey of Midlothian High in Texas, the Nike Outdoor National champion in discus, won the women’s competition with a throw of 168-7 (51.38).

Hadley Lucas from Bloomington North High in Indiana finished second, throwing 164-1 (50.01m), and Penn’s Angeludi Asaah was third, throwing 162-4 (49.48m).

Day one of the women’s heptathlon competition concluded with JaiCieonna Gero-Holt of Emerald Ridge High in Washington, representing Washington Track & Field Academy, in the lead with 3,435 points, highlighted by her personal-best high jump clearance of 6-1.50 (1.87m).

Four high school boys secured the top four spots into the men’s 800 final, with Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens High in South Dakota bouncing back from Thursday’s senior 1,500 race by clocking 1:50.54 to win his heat.

Andrew Regnier of Waunakee High in Wisconsin (1:50.93) and Daniel Watcke of Hinsdale Central High in Illinois (1:51.10) were second and third, respectively, to Birnbaum. Tinoda Matsata of St. Andrews Episcopal in Maryland won his heat in 1:51.55.

Ali Ince from Normal Community in Illinois cruised in the women’s 800 prelims, running 2:08 to win heat one over Iowa State’s Makayla Clark in 2:08.18.

Maine-Orono’s Evan Thornton-Sherman picked up a big “Q”, winning heat two of the men’s 1,500 with the fastest time overall in 3:50.43.