On Saturday the Women of Oregon's track team achieved something never seen before: a triple crown. This academic year, they won NCAA Division One titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.
As in any great story, suspense held until the last event of Saturday's meet, the four by 400 meter relay. The Duck women had to win the race to outscore Georgia. Raevyn Rogers, who won the 800 earlier in the day, pulled ahead of USC's Kendall Ellis in the last stretch, electrifying the Hayward crowd. Afterward, in the pouring rain, she said she didn't expect to be in that position:
Rogers: “When I saw my teammates running, and then how we actually had to work for it, that just reminds us everything is not given to us. This meet was not given to us. This whole season was not given to us. The season wasn't given to cross country. It wasn't given to the indoor women's team.”
The women had several setbacks on the way. Coming into the meet, the record-setting 4 by 100 meter team failed to qualify and sprinter Hannah Cunliffe pulled out with an injury. On Saturday, Deajah Stevens tripped in the 200, scoring no points. The team did what they could with every obstacle. Stevens came back to be part of the winning relay, securing their spot in the history books.
