Oregon sophomore Shaniya Hall arrived strong to the Hayward Premiere on Saturday and won the 200 meters with a new personal best of 23.63 – a PR that had gone unchanged since her freshman year of high school.
She said the win “actually means a lot.”
Hall did not compete last season after she said she had injuries in both feet and experienced doubt about the future of her track career.
“I came a long way from last year, not thinking I’d make it this far,” Hall said. “To win my race is a blessing.”
Hall also ran in the 4×100-meter relay with Jadyn Mays, Iman Brown and Jasmine Montgomery. The team won in 43.95.
“So proud of her and the progress that she’s made so far this year. The sky’s the limit for that gal,” said Robert Johnson, Oregon’s track and field head coach. “She’s only going to continue to get better.”
Other notes from Johnson on the Ducks’ home outdoor opener:
Johnson said that the Ducks are also keeping an eye on their progress toward the World Athletics Championships in July. Some Oregon athletes participated in fewer events during this meet than they normally would.
Freshman Shana Grebo, for example, ran in the 4×100-meter relay but did not run in her signature 400-meter hurdles. Grebo, who broke a 39-year-old school record in the 400-meter hurdles at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego, has her training focused on worlds.
“We’re looking at the end of the year and then we work everything backwards from there,” Johnson said.
Micah Williams, the sophomore sprinter who went undefeated in the 60 meters at the indoor NCAA championships, also strayed from his signature positions. Williams ran the second leg of the men’s 4×100-meter relay instead of running the first leg, the position he competed in during the indoor season.
Johnson said Williams performed better on Saturday than he did last weekend in San Diego. “We’re going to continue to experiment with him on that backstretch and see what we get out,” Johnson said.
“By the time the championship comes,” Williams said, “I’ll be ready to rock the second leg.”
