OREGON TWILIGHT
WELCOME TO TRACKSIDE
The Daily Emerald’s Track & Field publication.
By Jack Lazarus & Owen Murray Sports Editors
Hey there Duck fans, Thanks for supporting The Daily Emerald. We’re so excited to bring you more of the reporting we’ve been producing all year, and we’re thrilled to do it again at Hayward Field this season. Welcome to Eugene, and thank you for supporting student journalism. In this edition, you’ll find stories about the history of Hayward Field, plus how the Ducks’ dominant cross country and indoor track and field seasons came to be. We’ve got writers covering some of Oregon’s standout events — in this edition, it’s shot put and javelin — plus a recap of the Penn Relays, where newly-crowned NCAA 1500-meter record holder Simeon Birnbaum kicked for the win.
We hope that you’re able to enjoy Eugene as much as we do. Covering every sport is a privilege as student journalists, but doing so in and around the sport that makes the university special is even more so. We’re proud to provide coverage of this season’s meets at Hayward Field. On behalf of our sports desk, our design and ediorial teams, our photographers and everyone at The Daily Emerald, thank you for reading. Welcome to Track Town, USA!
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026
OREGON TAKES PENN RELAYS WHEEL
Read on page 11
(ON THE COVER) Oregon distance runner Tomas Palfrey breaks off from the lead after pacing Oregon distance runner Simeon Birnbaum for the first two laps of the men’s 1500m invite race. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on April 18, 2026. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
(RIGHT) Oregon Ducks hurdler Kai Graves-Blanks and Wichita State Shockers hurdler Josh Parrish compete neck-and-neck in the men’s 110m hurdles invite event. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on April 18, 2026. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
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107 YEARS OF HAYWARD MAGIC
What to know about the country’s most historic track and field venue.
By Jack Lazarus Sports Editor
Taking up much of the University of Oregon campus’ eastern border, Hayward Field proves an architectural marvel and a site of some of the track and field world’s most important events in recent history.
Classified as one of three Class 1 facilities by World Athletics, Hayward is one of the most impressive venues in all of track and field and will play host to a plethora of events this summer, including some of the NCAA’s best, the best high-school level athletes from around the country and the Prefontaine Classic, which brings the top-tier athletes to Eugene for competition.
The place didn’t start with fireworks and the eyes of the world, however.
Bill Hayward initially had no clue that Oregon’s brand-new football stadium at the time would be named after him. Oregon’s track and field coach and trainer for the football team remained in the locker room during the halftime ceremony that saw the soon-to-be hallowed grounds take on his namesake in 1919.
The stadium only served as a venue for football games in the opening two years, with Hayward Field’s historic track only installed in 1921.
The football team played its final game at Hayward in 1966 before moving to Autzen Stadium the next year. The school began renovations to make Hayward Field a track-specific venue just three years later, which
gave Hayward its renowned nickname as the “world’s fastest track,” largely due to a Pro-Turf track design that used a mixture of sand and urethane.
They also led to Hayward being selected to host the U.S. Olympic Trials for the first time in 1972, which saw legendary Oregon runner Steve Prefontaine qualify for his first and only Olympic Games. Since then, Eugene has hosted the Olympic Trials a total of eight times, including the most recent in 2024.
In 1987, Hayward made the switch to the metric system of measurement as well as the internationally accepted track configuration, which had shorter straights and longer turns. This meant that the infield also needed to expand, which used a different form of Pro-Turf.
The constant investment into Hayward Field in its early days thrust it into the upper echelons of track and field venues around the world, but the stadium didn’t become the true spectacle it is today until the newest changes finished in 2020.
Starting in 2018, Oregon demolished both of the original grandstands and created a brand new stadium-style concourse that surrounds all but one turn on the track. The Ducks also added a stateof-the-art underground training facility, which in turn helped guarantee the success of the track and field programs.
Due to the harsh nature of the weather in Oregon, being able to train at consistent conditions year-round has made the men’s and women’s programs into two of the most successful in the NCAA.
SWEEPS IN CROSS COUNTRY, INDOOR BIG TEN FUEL OREGON TRACK AND FIELD’S SEASON SO FAR
The Ducks have been dominant on the conference level in 2025-26. The next step must come at the national meets.
By Owen Murray Associate Sports Editor
In 2022, Hayward’s new and improved look led to it being selected as the venue pionships, which was the first time the
dition and magic will be in full force as generations of the track and field world
Before a Duck touched the outdoor track in 2026, Oregon track and field had already manufactured a successful campaign. Sweeps of both the Big Ten cross country and indoor team titles gave way to four top-five finishes at the NCAA meets, including a pair of runner-up spots in indoor. Their roster is littered with All-Americans ahead of an outdoor season that will see them host the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field. The Daily Emerald recaps Oregon’s 2025-26 season so far: In cross country, Abdel Laadjel was named the Big Ten Men’s Athlete of the Year as he romped to an individual win at the conference meet in 23:11.60 over 8K and finished ninth individually at NCAAs. Aiden Smith (No. 25) and Simeon Birnbaum (No. 33) also finished in the top 50 before the national meet, where Oregon finished fifth in its best-ever performance.
The Women of Oregon were led through a third-place finish at nationals by All-Americans Silan Ayyildiz (18:57.90 over 6K, ninth at NCAAs) and Diana Cherotich (No. 31). With her win at the conference meet, where Oregon won the team title with a conference-record-low 18 points, Ayyildiz went back-toback as the Women’s Athlete of the Year. Cherotich was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in her first fall season as a Duck.
“Honestly, it’s pretty crazy, because when I first came to Oregon, we weren’t very good,” Big Ten coach of the year Shalane Flanagan told LetsRun. “We’re solid, and the fact that the men’s and women’s programs are pretty sad right now about a third and a fifth (place) means we’re in a good place, clearly.”
On the short track, Oregon now owns all four available conference titles since the Ducks joined the conference after sweeping the Big Ten meet in Indianapolis. Birnbaum, a junior, won both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter races to buoy the men’s win alongside a shot put silver medal from indoor Big Ten Men’s Freshman of the Year Ben Smith.
Ayyildiz doubled up, too, with conference victories in both the mile and 5000m. Aaliyah McCormick, the reigning 100-meter hurdles outdoor national champion, set a 7.89-second meet record in her 60-meter hurdles win, and Juliet Cherubet won the 3000m.
Wilma Nielsen, the second-place miler at Big Tens, turned in a 4:40.06 race at the NCAA meet to take her second-straight national title and was named the conference’s Indoor Athlete of the Year. McCormick won the 60m hurdles race in 7.86 seconds, lowering her personal best again, and Ayyildiz finished top-13 in both the mile and 3000m. The Ducks’ distance medley relay also won the title, featuring Ayyildiz, Cherubet and Lakey Doht-Barron, and Indoor Freshman of the Year Liisa-Maria Lusti won the pentathlon with 4,498 points.
Mississippi State University transfer Peyton Bair won the indoor heptathlon with an Oregon-record 6,503 points. His mark broke Ashton Eaton’s national-title-winning score from 2010. Aiden Carter also scored a personal best, Oregon No. 5 all-time 5,908 points to finish ninth. Smith and Kobe Lawrence finished fourth and second, respectively, in the shot put while Birnbaum (second) and Benjamin Balazs (sixth) scored in the 3000m. Since heading outside, Oregon’s season has been highlighted by Birnbaum’s NCAA-record 1500-meter finish at the Team Invitational in April and the DMR win he anchored at Penn Relays. Four Ducks ran a men’s school-record 38.59-second 4x100-meter at the Desert Heat Classic on May 2 ahead of this week’s Oregon Twilight meet.
(ABOVE) Sprinters in the men's 100m invite race cross the finish line. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on April 18, 2026.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
The University of Oregon Ducks host the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational, on April 18, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. (Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
DUCKS’ SHOT PUT
LED BY TWO OF NCAA’S BEST
Kobe Lawrence and Ben Smith have excelled in the circle so far.
By Rowan Shea Sports Writer
The shot put, originally developed in the highlands of Scotland in the 19th century, has been an Olympic sport since 1896. The event consists of a 16-pound metal orb held against an athlete’s neck as they push, spin and launch the object through the air.
Over a century later, and 4,700 miles away from the rolling highlands, Oregon track and field has two of the best shot putters in the NCAA: redshirt sophomore Kobe Lawrence and redshirt freshman Ben Smith.
Lawrence is competing in his second season as a Duck, blowing past last season’s numbers.
Smith is competing in his first season as a Duck. Although he was on the team last season, he did not compete in the indoor season, and competed unattached (as an individual, unaffiliated) in the outdoor season.
In the 2025-26 indoor season, Smith and Lawrence excelled in their event. It seemed as if each time they went out to throw, there was a good chance they were going to set a personal best, a meet record, a new school record — or all three.
In the Big Ten Championships, Lawrence finished sixth after throwing for 19.29m (63’3’’), and Smith finished second, throwing for 19.93m (65’5’’). But the NCAA Indoor Championships were the Ducks’ playground.
Lawrence set a new school record on the biggest stage of the indoor season: the Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Though Lawrence didn’t take home first, he threw for 20.50m (67’3’’), a personal best, and secured second place.
Smith did not compete in the 2024-25 indoor season, but he’s excelled in the 2025-26 season. Along with Lawrence, Smith had a great day on the big stage. He threw for a personal best, Oregon No. 2 mark, in the NCAA Indoor Championships, with a 20.37m (66’10’’) throw to finish fourth.
A couple weeks into the outdoor season, Lawrence and Smith got their first outdoor shot put events underway. Until the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational on April 18, both had been competing exclusively in discus events.
Smith showed growth throughout the indoor season, each meet’s numbers getting better, and that continued into the outdoor season.
He took home first in the event with a throw of 20.39m (66’10’’), which was a personal best and placed him fourth all-time in the outdoor shot put event. That throw placed him second in the outdoor season USTFCCCA shot put rankings, just behind University of Mississippi thrower Tarik O’Hagan.
“I felt good. Thought I looked good,” Smith said.
Lawrence finished second, and set a season best at 19.50m.
“Felt good, trying to build my way back up,” Lawrence said. “My timing is a bit off right now.”
Smith and Lawrence have one remaining home regular season meet: the Oregon Twilight, on May 8.
(ABOVE) Oregon thrower Kobe Lawrence throws shotput. The University of Oregon hosted the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on April 18, 2026.
(BELOW) Oregon thrower Ben Smith throws during shotput at the Oregon Team Invitational.
(Katie Poluyansky/Emerald)
FITZSIMMONS, THRANA ENTER OREGON TWILIGHT
MEET WITH MOMENTUM IN SCHOOL RECORD BOOKS
Emily Fitzsimmons broke Oregon’s women’s pole vault record at the Oregon Team Invitational, while Daniel Thrana set the Ducks’ third all-time mark in men’s javelin.
By Henry Light Sports Reporter
Last time pole vaulter Emily Fitzsimmons and javelin thrower Daniel Thrana performed at Hayward Field, they accomplished feats that haven’t been matched in an Oregon uniform in over a decade. They will return for the Oregon Twilight meet riding momentum from career days at the Oregon Team Invitational.
“We set the bar high, and it doesn’t matter if it’s on the track, or it’s in the throwing circles, or it’s out in the pole vault, that’s what we want our athletes to be thinking,” Oregon head coach Jerry Schumacher said. “When they accomplish it, now (it’s), ‘Hey, I’ll take another step on the ladder.’”
Fitzsimmons headlined the field side of the Oregon Team Invitational, breaking Becky Holliday’s 23-year-old school record of 4.47m (14’ 8”) with a 4.48m (14’ 8.25”) pass. The senior had regularly cleared the school record mark in practice, but doing it officially for the first time allowed her to set her sights higher.
“I’m just really proud to be a part of this team, and feel like I’m contributing at the level that I expect us to be at Oregon,” Fitzsimmons said. “I’m just proud of the work we put in, and it translating over the years, and us figuring things out as we go. That’s what the sport is about, having a flexible mindset and being able to change and turn things around until it all clicks.”
Fitzsimmons entered the outdoor season with high expectations after ending her 2025 season with the third-highest mark in Oregon history, a 4.44m (14’ 6.75”) clearance at the NCAA Championships. With the Oregon Twilight meet shaping up to be her second-to-last on home turf ahead of this year’s NCAA Championships, she can look to extend her record with another late-season peak.
“Emily in the pole vault, that was outstanding to see, es pecially on her home track, because we want to bring her back here for NCAAs, because she placed really well last year,” Schumacher said.
Thrana’s 78.31m (256’ 11”) heave in the second round of the Oregon Team Invitational was the best by an Ore gon thrower since Sam Crouser’s 79.19m (259’ 9”) mark in 2015. Cyrus Hostetler’s 83.16m (272’ 10”) throw in 2009 still dwarfs any other in Oregon history, ranking No. 17 in NCAA history; however, Thrana’s encroach ment on second place set a high bar for his first season as a Duck.
The junior ripped the No. 5 throw of the 2026 Division I season on a difficult day that saw him slip into a foul in the first round and fight through cramps later. Coming out of that chal lenging meet with a personal best gave Thrana crucial confidence for later meets.
“I was kind of surprised, because I didn’t feel like it was gonna go as far as it did, because it always looks short on the grass; it’s so big, and then I looked on the big screen, I was like, ‘wow, that was 78,’” Thrana said. “It bumped up my hopes for next meet, for sure.”
Oregon’s record books have already been rewritten following the first meet at Hayward Field in 2026, and the athletes with their names now near the top will chase new standards in their second home meet.
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That's what the sport is about, having a flexible mindset and being able to change and turn things around until it all clicks.
Emily Fitzsimmons Pole Vaulter
(ALL PHOTOS) Oregon Ducks pole vaulter Emily Fitzimmons clears a personal best of 4.44 meters in the women’s pole vault final, placing sixth. The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships were held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on June 12, 2025.
(Julia Massa/Emerald)
by ten writ Foreword
Andrew Wheating
BIRNBAUM KEYS OREGON WIN AT PENN RELAYS
Oregon closed out the Penn Relays with multiple standout performances, led by Simeon Birnbaum’s collegiate record in the men’s 1,500 meters.
By Joe Krasnowski Senior Sports Writer
Franklin Field in Philadelphia is not only home to the University of Pennsylvania Quakers but also hosted the 2026 Penn Relays over the weekend of April 23 to 25.
Simeon Birnbaum, Quincy Wilson and Silan Ayyildiz — three athletes who have starred at Oregon’s Hayward Field over the past few years — were some of the biggest name-value stars who competed over the weekend.
For Oregon, the track and field team won the men’s distance medley during Friday afternoon’s competition. The Ducks team of Tomas Palfrey, Fuad Omer, James Harding and Birnbaum combined for the winning time of 9:32.08, just 1/10 of a second ahead of Villanova University. Birnbaum went on to secure the men’s fifth Penn Relays wheel in the distance medley relay, and their first since 2017.
To secure the win, Birnbaum beat out Wildcat runner Marco Langon at the finish line, just barely besting his opponent with a final push. In celebration, he held the baton as a telephone, picking up the call and promptly hanging up as his teammates swarmed him with glee.
“Third time’s the charm,” Harding said in a video posted to the Oregon Track and Field X account. “Three years we’ve come here, gotten second every time… not getting second today.”
Oregon’s other runners echoed a similar sentiment.
“When you get second a couple times, you gotta get first on them,” Omer said in the same video.
Oregon’s three runners were photographed holding an 32-inch bronze plaque called “The Wheel,” given to Penn Relays champions.
The award, which depicts Benjamin Franklin presenting a gift to victorious relay runners, is known as one of the sport’s most iconic trophies.
Birnbaum was the main attraction of the event, racing to the front of the competition alongside Langon in the 20-year-old’s first race since breaking the 1500-meter collegiate record the previous weekend.
It was Oregon’s fifth win in the men’s DMR, with prior victories coming in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2017. The University of North Carolina’s DMR team took home the women’s championship, posting an NCAA record 10:36.82.
In the big picture, Oregon’s performance was a good step in the right direction for the program as a whole, as well as for individual runners’ hopes of qualifying for the NCAA Championships, held June 10 to 13 at Hayward Field.
Birnbaum is one of the top performers in the country and is considered a favor ite at the Championships. Ayyildiz is one of Oregon’s top performers and should be expected to post a high mark as well, both at Oregon Twilight, should she run, and at the NCAA Championships.
Twilight will serve as a prime opportu nity for Matthew Erickson and Palfrey to post times to help their odds of qualifying for the Big Ten Championships, hosted May 15 to 17 at the University of Nebraska.
Elliott Cook is another Duck to watch. He finished as the Big Ten Indoor run ner-up in the mile last year at the indoor championships, but did not run at this year’s indoor championships or at the Or egon Team Invitational.
(LEFT) Oregon distance runner Silan Ayyildiz kicks into a faster pace going into the fourth and final lap of the women’s 1500m invite race. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on April 18, 2026.
(Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
(RIGHT) Oregon distance runner Simeon Birnbaum celebrates with Oregon distance runner Tomas Palfrey after winning the men’s 1500m invite race and setting a new collegiate record. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on April 18, 2026.
(Saj Sundaram/Emerald)
Oregon distance runner Simeon Birnbaum celebrates after winning the men’s 1500m invite race and setting a new collegiate record. The University of Oregon Ducks hosted the second day of the Oregon Team Invitational at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on April 18, 2026. (Jonathan Suni/Emerald)
