It was a historic day for the track and field program at Umpqua Community College as the Riverhawks hosted the Umpqua Open, the first track and field meet held on the college's new track and field facility. The meet marked the return of collegiate track competition to campus for the first time since 1995 and featured athletes from Willamette University, Southwestern Oregon Community College, and the University of Oregon Running Club.
The Riverhawks delivered a strong showing in front of the home crowd, highlighted by multiple event victories, personal bests, and several podium finishes across both the men's and women's competitions. ��♂️��♀️
Men's Highlights
Freshman Keiron Desouza led the way in the sprints, winning the men's 100 meters in 11.02, while teammate Easton Raber placed third in 11.19, giving Umpqua two athletes in the top three.
In the middle-distance events, freshman John Patterson captured the 800 meters in 1:58.53, breaking the two-minute barrier for the first time in his collegiate career. Patterson also doubled back to finish second in the 1500 meters in 4:09.54.
The Riverhawks were particularly strong in the distance events as Viggo Beck won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:20.97, with teammate Vincent Romero finishing second to give Umpqua a 1–2 sweep.
In the field events, freshman Rylan Bryant placed second in both the shot put (14.62m) and discus (40.75m), while sophomore O'Brien Bowen finished fourth in the high jump with a clearance of 1.77m.
Umpqua also claimed the pole vault title as Chase Powell cleared 4.26 meters, tying for the top mark of the competition.
Women's Highlights
The Riverhawk women also produced several standout performances. Sophomore Analise Miller won the 400 meters in 1:00.38, a personal best, while teammate Nallela Mather placed sixth.
Freshman Aunika Miller delivered a strong performance in the distance events, finishing second in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:50.89.
Sophomore Becky Tshianyi captured the 100-meter hurdles title in 15.84 and also placed third in the high jump with a mark of 1.43 meters, showcasing her versatility.
In the throws, Lucy Brooks earned a victory in the discus with a throw of 32.15 meters, while Gabrielle Morgan placed third in the shot put. Sophomore Kambree Lee added another field event win for Umpqua, taking the javelin with a throw of 33.79 meters.
The Riverhawks also dominated the pole vault, sweeping the top three spots with Ellison Huffman (3.27m), Daniela Leavitt (2.97m), and Grace Bachmeier (2.82m).
Relay Action
The women's 4x400 relay team of Analise Miller, Nallela Mather, Mya Vigil, and Aunika Miller placed second in 4:15.08, narrowly behind Willamette in a tightly contested race.
A Historic Day
Beyond the results, the meet represented a milestone moment for the program and the college community. With athletes from four programs competing and dozens of personal best performances recorded, the Umpqua Open celebrated both the opening of a new facility and the continued growth of the Riverhawk track and field program. ��
Umpqua will look to build on the momentum from the historic home opener as the outdoor season continues in the weeks ahead.
