Martin, Clute Win at OSU High Performance

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Kendall Martin and Katie Clute ran to victory Friday at the OSU High Performance at Whyte Track and Field Center in Corvallis. The Men of Oregon were also in action Friday, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at Penn Relays in the distance medley relay.
 
Martin knocked more than nine seconds off her previous best, stopping the clock in 10:30.53 to win the invitational section of the steeplechase. The Zionsville, Ind., native entered the day having run 10:40.05 at the Oregon Preview (March 22) before Friday's breakout effort, still just the third steeplechase of her career.
 
By the penultimate water jump, Martin had caught up with early leader Caroline Jerotich of Washington State and took the lead for good just past the ensuing hurdle. Based on times coming into the weekend, Martin moves to fifth in the Pac-12 this season.
 
Clute led a trio of UO women inside the top nine. She and Zenah Cheptoo of WSU were stride for stride for most of the final lap before the UO freshman pulled ahead down the home stretch, crossing the line in 16:01.63 for the win. Melissa Berry posted a time of 16:11.49, good for fourth and new personal best. Anika Thompson (16:26.92) was ninth.
 
In their first of two races at Penn Relays, the UO team of Rheinhardt Harrison, James Harding, Matthew Erickson and Elliott Cook finished fourth (9:36.89) in the DMR Championship of America. Running third, Erickson ran 1:47.05 for the fastest 800-meter leg in the field. Cook closed in 4:00.69 to move the team from fourth to fifth during the final leg.
 
Friday marked Oregon's first Penn Relays appearance since 2017. Villanova (9:35.90) won Friday's race. The Ducks are back at it Saturday in the 4x800 Championship of America at 11:58 a.m. (PT).
 
Mia Barnett and Ella Nelson finished 2-3, and were the top two collegians, in the invitational section of the 1500 meters at the OSU High Performance meet. Barnett recorded a season-best time of 4:15.81 to finish just behind Olympian Gabriel DeBues-Stafford (4:15.59). Nelson clocked in at 4:18.84, nearing her best of 4:18.43 from the Bryan Clay Invitational earlier this month.
 
Vincent Corday got the team's day in Corvallis started with a runner-up finish in the 400-meter hurdles. The UO junior crossed the line in 53.65, within reach of his season-best 53.52 from the Brutus Hamilton Invite three weeks ago.
 
Up Next: The Desert Heat Classic in Tucson, Ariz., begins Saturday with field events starting at 12 p.m. and running events at 4:30 p.m. Mid-distance standouts Silan Ayyildiz and Klaudia Kazimierska will be running a 1500 meters at Drake Relays at 1:23 p.m. (PT), one of 12 events contested within the World Athletics Continental Tour.
 
Friday Results
OSU High Performance (Corvallis, Ore.)
MEN
200 Meters
15. Fuad Omer – 22.03W (+4.1)
19. Kojo Manu – 22.16W (+4.1)
 
400m Hurdles
2. Vincent Corday – 53.65
 
WOMEN
1500 Meters – invite
2. Mia Barnett – 4:15.81 (SB)
3. Ella Nelson – 4:18.84
 
1500 Meters
5. Allura Markow – 4:37.57
 
5,000 Meters
1. Katie Clute – 16:01.63
4. Melissa Berry – 16:11.49 (PB)
9. Anika Thompson – 16:26.92
 
3,000m Steeplechase – invite
1. Kendall Martin – 10:30.53 (PB)
7. Samantha McDonnell – 11.05.93
 
Penn Relays (Philadelphia, Pa.)
MEN
DMR
4. Rheinhardt Harrison, Matthew Erickson, James Harding, Elliott Cook – 9:36.89
 
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.