Raevyn Rogers, Klaudia Kazimierska go 1-2 in women’s 800 at Oregon Relays

Raevyn Rogers was struggling with her allergies Friday afternoon. Klaudia Kazimierska was still feeling the effects of a weeklong cold.

Those ailments didn’t prevent either runner from having a good race during the opening day of the Oregon Relays track and field meet at Hayward Field.

Rogers and Kazimierska — the former Oregon star and the current Duck standout — finished 1-2, respectively, in the women’s 800 meters.

It was a comfortable win for Rogers, the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, who crossed in 2 minutes, 2 seconds. Kazimierska used a late kick to move into second place and finish in a personal-record 2:03.28.

“I wanted to do my best,” Rogers said. “As soon as I got in Eugene my allergies were insane and I was nervous how today was going to go. Thankfully I was able to feel better during warmups and was able to still compete.”

Rogers wasted little time asserting herself in the race as she led for nearly all of the final 600 meters.

“I intentionally wanted to really give my best and really be aggressive because I know every time I step on the track I have to be that way,” she said. 

Kazimierska was near the middle of the pack with 300 to go when she found some space inside to move closer to the front.

By the time she hit the final turn, Kazimierska had moved outside and kicked past the last two runners who were trying to stay close to Rogers.

“(Coach Shalane Flanagan) told me to try and run even splits but that pace was really fast,” said the Oregon sophomore, who got sick last week running in the cold and rainy conditions at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California. “I feel like in the last 100 I moved outside and it was kind of too late to make that move, but a PR’s a PR.”

While she didn’t challenge Rogers for the win, the former Duck was still impressed with Kazimierska’s effort.

“If you’re on the team and you’re a Duck, you have to be strong, you have to be a competitor,” Rogers said. “For Klaudia to finish second is no surprise. She’s a hard worker.”

World record set in the DMR

The Brooks Beasts team of Brannon Kidder, Brandon Miller, Isaiah Harris and Henry Wynne thrilled the remaining crowd with a world record at the end of the meet.

The team reset the record in the distance medley relay, running 9:14.58 to take down the previous record of 9:15.50 set at the IAAF World Relays in 2015. 

Oregon Relays Pro Challenge races continue on Day 2

Great Britain’s Josh Kerr is entered in the men’s 800 at 8:53 p.m., as the 2023 world outdoor champion in the 1,500 and 2024 world indoor champion in the 3,000 takes on a field that includes Oregon’s Elliott Cook, Matthew Erickson, Rheinhardt Harrison and James Harding.

Former Duck Sam Prakel is also entered, as are 2018 NCAA 800 champ Harris and 2022 NCAA indoor champ Miller.

Also on tap is a women’s 1,500 that will include Karissa Schweizer, Christina Aragon and Kaylee Mitchell of the Eugene-based Bowerman Track Club, as well as Oregon’s Maddy Elmore, Silan Ayyildiz and Mia Barnett.

That race is scheduled for 8:45 p.m.

At 9:15 p.m. there will be a men’s mile featuring Olympian Moh Ahmed, Thomas Ratcliffe, Duncan Hamilton and Kieran Tuntivate of the Bowerman Track Club, former Duck Jackson Mestler and current Duck Tomas Palfrey among the 18 entries.

Follow Chris Hansen on X @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.