- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,195,228
- Reaction score
- 59
Mykola Alekna didn't get to compete for Oregon during the NCAA outdoor season this spring, but he did finally get to wear the Ducks uniform Saturday.
The world record-holder from Lithuania, three months after having surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, won the men's discus competition during the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League track and field meet at Hayward Field Saturday afternoon.
Alekna's winning throw of 233 feet, 1 inch came on his fifth attempt and moved him out of second place. Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia was the runner-up at 229-5.
It was Alekna's second straight Pre Classic victory.
Alekna, who transferred from California to Oregon last summer but was never able to compete for the Ducks because of his injury, competed in his Oregon kit much to the delight of many in the crowd of 12,452.
"It feels amazing," Alekna said. "I don't know how to put it into words. An amazing, amazing competition here at Hayward and super happy to be competing in a Duck uniform. So yeah, everything went awesome."
Alekna got injured in March bench pressing "200 kilos" -- aka, 440 pounds -- and had surgery two weeks later, ending his senior season as a Duck.
"I never felt anything like that before," Alekna said. "So I knew something bad happened."
He'll have a chance to take an injury redshirt and return next spring if he wants to, and Oregon coach Jerry Schumacher hasn't been shy about his desire to keep Alekna in the fold for one more season.
But Alekna is also an Olympic silver medalist who has plenty of opportunities to train and compete professionally if he chooses.
"I don't have a decision yet, but we'll see," Alekna said Saturday. "I'll announce when I have a decision."
Camryn Rogers doesn’t lose very often and Saturday it took a record-setting throw to take her down.
Jiale Zhang, a 19-year-old from China, landed a throw of 255-8 on her final attempt to win the women’s hammer, a mark that broke her own world U20 record.
Zhang’s previous best was 253-5 from Aug. 2, 2025.
The throw bumped Rogers out of the lead and into second place, as the reigning Olympic and world champion lost a competition for only the fourth time in the last three seasons.
“She did amazing,” Rogers said of Zhang. “I feel like every time you get into a comp right now in women’s hammer throw, you gotta be ready to go, and she was ready today.”
Chase Jackson extended her dominance in the women’s shot put, and she needed just one throw to do so.
The two-time outdoor world champion, reigning world indoor world champion and nine-time U.S. champion (indoors and outdoors) hit a mark of 67-5½ on her opening attempt that proved to be insurmountable to the rest of the field.
"I always do good in Hayward, it's just where I belong," Jackson said. "It was a really good series, no fouls, all pretty clean. I just got to keep working my technique, but good series. I'm very excited."Jessica Schilder of Netherlands was second at 65-11¾, the only other performer to throw further than 20 meters (65-7½).
Former Duck great and Oregon school record-holder Jaida Ross was eighth with a mark of 61-5¾.
The reigning Olympic and world champion rose to the occasion Saturday to overcome a tough challenge by Larissa Iapichino.
Davis-Woodhall jumped 23-4¾ on her second attempt to move into first place after Iapichino opened with a 23-4½ to set the Italian national record.
Neither would jump farther, though Davis-Woodhall did produce an impressive pair pf wind-aided marks when she went 23-2 (+2.6 wind) and 23-4½ (+2.5) on her third and sixth attempts, respectively.
Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri threw a world-leading 74-3½ to win an uneventful men’s shot put competition.
Fabbri recorded his best throw on his first attempt, as did second-place finisher Rajindra Campbell of Jamacia, who opened with a 72-8½.
“I've been struggling the whole season with my first round,” Fabbri said. “I felt like I always have to build up in competition. … So, I'm very happy to go 74-3½.”
The competition was without three-time Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser, who scratched because of an injury.
The top American finisher was Jordan Geist in third place at 72-1½.
All-time great Joe Kovacs struggled to an eighth-place finish at 69-¾.
“Honestly, for me it was a pretty rough day,” Kovacs said. “I love doing well here. Today wasn’t the day.”
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at [email protected] and you can follow him on X @chansen_RG
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Mykola Alekna returns to form at Prefontaine Classic
Continue reading...
The world record-holder from Lithuania, three months after having surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, won the men's discus competition during the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League track and field meet at Hayward Field Saturday afternoon.
Alekna's winning throw of 233 feet, 1 inch came on his fifth attempt and moved him out of second place. Kristjan Ceh of Slovenia was the runner-up at 229-5.
It was Alekna's second straight Pre Classic victory.
Alekna, who transferred from California to Oregon last summer but was never able to compete for the Ducks because of his injury, competed in his Oregon kit much to the delight of many in the crowd of 12,452.
"It feels amazing," Alekna said. "I don't know how to put it into words. An amazing, amazing competition here at Hayward and super happy to be competing in a Duck uniform. So yeah, everything went awesome."
Alekna got injured in March bench pressing "200 kilos" -- aka, 440 pounds -- and had surgery two weeks later, ending his senior season as a Duck.
"I never felt anything like that before," Alekna said. "So I knew something bad happened."
He'll have a chance to take an injury redshirt and return next spring if he wants to, and Oregon coach Jerry Schumacher hasn't been shy about his desire to keep Alekna in the fold for one more season.
But Alekna is also an Olympic silver medalist who has plenty of opportunities to train and compete professionally if he chooses.
"I don't have a decision yet, but we'll see," Alekna said Saturday. "I'll announce when I have a decision."
You must be registered for see images
China’s Jiale Zhang takes down Olympic champ in hammer
Camryn Rogers doesn’t lose very often and Saturday it took a record-setting throw to take her down.
Jiale Zhang, a 19-year-old from China, landed a throw of 255-8 on her final attempt to win the women’s hammer, a mark that broke her own world U20 record.
Zhang’s previous best was 253-5 from Aug. 2, 2025.
The throw bumped Rogers out of the lead and into second place, as the reigning Olympic and world champion lost a competition for only the fourth time in the last three seasons.
“She did amazing,” Rogers said of Zhang. “I feel like every time you get into a comp right now in women’s hammer throw, you gotta be ready to go, and she was ready today.”
Chase Jackson wins the shot put
Chase Jackson extended her dominance in the women’s shot put, and she needed just one throw to do so.
The two-time outdoor world champion, reigning world indoor world champion and nine-time U.S. champion (indoors and outdoors) hit a mark of 67-5½ on her opening attempt that proved to be insurmountable to the rest of the field.
"I always do good in Hayward, it's just where I belong," Jackson said. "It was a really good series, no fouls, all pretty clean. I just got to keep working my technique, but good series. I'm very excited."Jessica Schilder of Netherlands was second at 65-11¾, the only other performer to throw further than 20 meters (65-7½).
Former Duck great and Oregon school record-holder Jaida Ross was eighth with a mark of 61-5¾.
You must be registered for see images attach
Tara Davis-Woodhall holds on to win women’s long jump
The reigning Olympic and world champion rose to the occasion Saturday to overcome a tough challenge by Larissa Iapichino.
Davis-Woodhall jumped 23-4¾ on her second attempt to move into first place after Iapichino opened with a 23-4½ to set the Italian national record.
Neither would jump farther, though Davis-Woodhall did produce an impressive pair pf wind-aided marks when she went 23-2 (+2.6 wind) and 23-4½ (+2.5) on her third and sixth attempts, respectively.
You must be registered for see images attach
Men's shot put won on opening attempt
Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri threw a world-leading 74-3½ to win an uneventful men’s shot put competition.
Fabbri recorded his best throw on his first attempt, as did second-place finisher Rajindra Campbell of Jamacia, who opened with a 72-8½.
“I've been struggling the whole season with my first round,” Fabbri said. “I felt like I always have to build up in competition. … So, I'm very happy to go 74-3½.”
The competition was without three-time Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser, who scratched because of an injury.
The top American finisher was Jordan Geist in third place at 72-1½.
All-time great Joe Kovacs struggled to an eighth-place finish at 69-¾.
“Honestly, for me it was a pretty rough day,” Kovacs said. “I love doing well here. Today wasn’t the day.”
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at [email protected] and you can follow him on X @chansen_RG
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Mykola Alekna returns to form at Prefontaine Classic
Continue reading...
