Sprinter Micah Williams wins second straight 100-meter title at Pac-12 Championships
As expected, the Oregon men’s 15-year reign as the top team in the Pac-12 ended this weekend.
Micah Williams wasn’t willing to give up his crown, however.
The sophomore from Portland won his second straight 100-meter title Sunday afternoon as the men’s Pac-12 Track & Field Championship meet concluded its three-day run at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif.
The rebuilding Ducks, who had won every men’s team title between 2007 and 2022, finished in sixth place with 75 points. It was Oregon’s fewest points scored and lowest finish at a conference meet since 2000 when it scored 71 for seventh.
Washington won its first-ever team title with 151 points.
Still, Oregon had its moments, including from its biggest star.
Williams, who swept the 100 and 200 titles last season, was only entered in the 100 this season but made the most of his moment.
The 2021 Olympian exploded out of the blocks and built just enough of a lead to hold off hard-charging Udodi Onwuzurike of Stanford.
Williams crossed in 10.22 seconds to 10.23 for Onwuzurike, who later won the 200.
Williams also ran the second leg of the 4x100 relay that finished third in 39.30. That team also included Ryan Mulholland, Xavier Nairne and PJ Ize-Iyamu Jr.
Other podium finishes for the Ducks
Freshman Rafael Raap scored 7,695 points to finish as the runner-up in the decathlon Saturday.
Raap was leading the event heading into the 1,500 finale but was overtaken by Washington’s Oliver Thorner, who won with 7,761 points.
Raap’s 10-event performance was highlighted by a personal-record in the javelin of 195 feet, 7 inches.
Oregon’s Alex Slenning was third in the 3,000 steeplechase Saturday night in 8:44.69. It was his fastest time since 2019.
On Sunday, Matthew Erickson ran 1:48.98 to place third in the 800 for a second straight season.
Notable results
Mason Strunk finished sixth in the hammer Friday night with a PR throw of 220-10 that moved him into eighth-place on Oregon’s all-time list.
Freshman Anthony Trucks ran 14.19 to finish fourth in the 110 hurdles for five points.
The Ducks scored 13 points in the javelin. Ty Hampton, who won the title in 2022, led the trio of Oregon entries with a third-place finish at 225-10. Dalton Rasmussen (220-5) and Jett Kinder (204-3) finished in fourth and seventh, respectively.
Jonah Tactay was fourth in the triple jump Sunday with a mark of 49-3¾ for five points for the Ducks.
Ize-Iyamu Jr. scored in both sprint finals. The freshman finished seventh in both the 100 (10.52) and 200 (20.83).
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. For more sports coverage, visit registerguard.com. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Ducks men's track and field win streak ends after 15 years
