Oregon Ducks have rough final day in women's NCAA track and field meet

There were no victory laps or podium finishes for the Ducks on Saturday afternoon.

It was a tough day on the track for Oregon as the women’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet concluded at Hayward Field in front of an announced crowd of 6,065.

The Ducks opened the day with legitimate contenders in the 100 meters, 4x100 relay and 3,000 steeplechase, as well as some point potential in the triple jump.

Instead, the only points for the Ducks came via Kemba Nelson’s fourth-place finish in the 100 as they ended the meet tied for 11th place with 19 points with Ohio State and  Texas Tech and far out of contention for a team trophy.

Southern California won the national title with 74 points, followed by runner-up Texas A&M with 63. In third place was Georgia with 37.5 points and Alabama and North Carolina A&T were tied for fourth with 31.

Meet info:Final results from all four days of the NCAA championships

Nelson slips to fourth in fast finish

The Oregon junior was fast as she's ever been as she crossed in 10.90 seconds with a plus-2.2 wind to take fourth.

That was faster than her wind-aided 10.91 and her legal 10.98 from the NCAA West Prelims two weeks ago.

The winner, Cambrea Sturgis of North Carolina A&T, ran 10.74 to set the collegiate all-conditions record. Sturgis also won the 200 title Saturday in a collegiate-leading 22.12.

USC senior TeeTee Terry, the Pac-12 champ, was second in 10.79 and Alabama junior Tamara Clark was third in 10.88.

“I knew it was a fast race but honestly, I was surprised when I saw the time but I did that," Nelson said. "It feels good after a long season — indoor and outdoor — and running at a high intensity throughout, and to do (10.90) here, I am happy. I can’t complain.”

Konieczek fades out of contention

The 3,000 steeplechase lived up to the hype as the fastest final ever. The champion, however, was unexpected.

Oregon’s Aneta Konieczek, who ran the No. 2 collegiate time this season during Thursday’s semifinals (9:34.37), was in good position with three laps to go as she moved into third place but soon after, once the pace quickened, the junior slipped back to ninth.

That’s where she was with 400 to go and that’s where she ended, crossing in 9:44.67.

The winner was Roseburg High School grad Mahala Norris, who is a senior at Air Force.

Norris was in third heading after clearing the final barrier but kicked past Washington’s Katie Rainsberger and then caught Auburn’s Joyce Kimeli at the line for the win in 9:31.79.

"Coming around that last one, I didn’t think I’d be there, so, I thought I would go for it," Norris said.

Kimeli was second in 9:31.84 and Rainsberger, the former Duck, was third in 9:32.12.

All three ran personal records.

NCAA leader Courtney Wayment of BYU stumbled as she tried to clear the water jump for the last time and finished fourth in 9:32.93.

Baton drop dooms Ducks in 4x100

Any chance Oregon had of moving into trophy contention ended in the first event on the track when the Ducks dropped the baton on the second exchange leading to their disqualification.

With Kemba Nelson moving well down the backstretch on the second leg, it appeared as though Jasmin Reed took off too early and then had to slow down has Nelson stretched out the baton but the two couldn’t complete the exchange.

The Ducks had the No. 4 time in the NCAA this season at 42.86 and were the Pac-12 champions.

USC won the title in 42.82. They were led by a gutty effort on the anchor leg by Terry, who got past LSU’s final runner just before the finish line. The Tigers were second in 42.84 and North Carolina A&T was third in 43.03.

“Obviously, not the start we wanted," Oregon coach Robert Johnson said. "We thought, coming into today, if we hit on all cylinders, we would have had a chance to win a trophy. To start that way was a little deflating. We tried to rally but I’m proud of the team and the effort all season.”

Ruotolo ninth in the triple jump

Oregon freshman and Pac-12 champion Dominique Ruotolo, who was competing at Hayward Field for the first time, jumped 44-1 1/2 on her first attempt but couldn’t improve upon that mark as she placed ninth in the triple jump.

The winner was Texas Tech junior Ruth Usoro with a mark of 46-6 3/4. The runner-up was Georgia freshman Jasmine Moore, who nearly caught Usoro with a final jump of 46-4 1/4. Rice senior Michelle Fokam was third with a PR jump of 46-0 3/4.

“The first jump was just to get it out of the way because I was so nervous since it was my first time competing here," Ruotolo said. "When I was down there, I could literally feel the energy so I was trying to think about my phases but I just kept smiling, 'Oh no, I’m not focused.’ It was a good first jump but I just couldn’t get it going after that.”

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.