Oregon sophomore Raevyn Rogers won the women’s 800 meters at the Pepsi Team Invitational this Saturday in 2 minutes 3.77 seconds—a good race, of course, but one that Rogers thinks she can do better.
Coach Robert Johnson did not give Rogers a specific time he wanted her to hit. He only told her to show off her full speed at certain points on the track, so for most of the race, Rogers seemed to be simply jogging ahead of the group.
“I really saw this meet as an opportunity to see where we were as far as with training and as far as where we are in the season, and so, I’m glad I can go off this and grow off this moment,” said Rogers.
Rogers took an early lead, outrunning the majority of the other competitors. University of Washington’s Baylee Mires held her ground for the first lap and a half as she and Rogers isolated themselves from the remainder of the field, until Rogers kicked up speed on the backstretch. Mires finished with a time of 2:05.95, two seconds behind Rogers. USC’s Mikaela Smith (2:07.95) finished in third. The other University of Oregon athlete in the race, freshman Lilli Burdon, finished in eighth in 2:16.88.
The race was Burdon’s debut as an Oregon athlete. She did not compete in this year’s indoor season. From her high school career at St. Hilda’s High School in Australia, she owns a personal record of 2:08.74.
However, Rogers’ day was not over. She anchored the women’s 4×400 relay team to earn first place in 3:32.07. This propelled the women’s team to an overall team victory.
Last year at the NCAA Championships, Rogers won the 800-meter race, breaking two minutes, with a time of 1:59.71. She earned the fourth fastest time by an Oregon Duck and the title of fastest freshman in NCAA history.
When asked about pressure from her recent success, Rogers said, “I try to run my own race regardless of the meet or any situation. I try to just run my own race, and be comfortable.”
Even though Rogers won, she still isn’t satisfied. “I’m glad I posted that time,” she said, “but I know I’ve got to do better.”
