Simeon Birnbaum set a meet record at Hayward Field by winning the men's 800 meters in 1:44.67. This performance also marked his personal best and made him the third-fastest in Oregon program history for that distance.
Key points
Simeon Birnbaum won the men's 800 meters
He set a meet record of 1:44.67
This performance was a personal best
Birnbaum is the third-fastest in Oregon program history
Mentioned in this story
Hayward Field
Simeon BirnbaumOregon TwilightOregon
The distance was different for Simeon Birnbaum, but the result was the same.
It was another record-setting night at Hayward Field for the Oregon track and field star as Birnbaum put on another superlative performance in front of the home crowd during the Oregon Twilight meet.
Birnbaum won the men's 800 meters in 1 minute, 44.67 seconds to set a meet record and personal record. He also became the third-fastest performer in program history at that distance.
Oregon’s Hayden Williams-Downing wins the women’s javelin during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Taylor Wiseman throws in the women’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon alum Jaida Ross throws for Nike Oregon Track Club in the women’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Emily Fitzsimmons win the women’s pole vault during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Q&A
What record did Simeon Birnbaum set at Hayward Field?
Simeon Birnbaum set a meet record by winning the men's 800 meters in 1 minute, 44.67 seconds.
How does Birnbaum's performance rank in Oregon track history?
Birnbaum became the third-fastest performer in Oregon program history for the men's 800 meters.
When did Simeon Birnbaum set the meet record at Hayward Field?
Birnbaum set the meet record during the Oregon Twilight meet on May 8, 2026.
What was Birnbaum's personal record time in the men's 800 meters?
Birnbaum's personal record time in the men's 800 meters is 1 minute, 44.67 seconds.
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Former Duck Ryann Porter jumps during the women’s triple jump during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Samuel Blount throws in the men’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Toby Stolberg wins the women’s high jump during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Landen LeBlond competes in the women’s 1,500 meters during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Taylor Wiseman throws in the women’s discus during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Marie Josée Bovele-Linaka throws in the women’s discus during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Philomath’s Olivia Hernandez wins the middle school girls mile during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon’s Marie Josée Bovele-Linaka throws in the women’s discus during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Gus VandenHeuvel wins the boys middle school mile during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
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See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Hayden Williams-Downing wins the women’s javelin during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
1 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Hayden Williams-Downing wins the women’s javelin during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
2 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Taylor Wiseman throws in the women’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
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Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum sets meet record at Hayward Field
Oregon alum Jaida Ross throws for Nike Oregon Track Club in the women’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
4 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Emily Fitzsimmons win the women’s pole vault during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
5 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Former Duck Ryann Porter jumps during the women’s triple jump during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
6 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Samuel Blount throws in the men’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
7 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Toby Stolberg wins the women’s high jump during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
8 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Landen LeBlond competes in the women’s 1,500 meters during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
9 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Taylor Wiseman throws in the women’s discus during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
10 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Marie Josée Bovele-Linaka throws in the women’s discus during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
11 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Philomath’s Olivia Hernandez wins the middle school girls mile during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
12 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Oregon’s Marie Josée Bovele-Linaka throws in the women’s discus during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
13 / 13
See photos as UO track and field athletes compete at Oregon Twilight
Gus VandenHeuvel wins the boys middle school mile during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The victory came three weeks after Birnbaum set the collegiate record in the 1,500 during the Oregon Team Invitational, and a week before an expected 1,500-5,000 double at the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
"He's a really talented kid," Oregon coach Jerry Schumacher said. "It's fun to see someone like that out here at Hayward Field ripping up the track and doing the things that he's doing."
Birnbaum said he typically does speed sessions on Fridays, so dropping down to the 800 allowed him to stay in his routine while also getting the perk of being in a competition.
"We went back and forth between am I working out or racing?" he said. "But my heart's in racing. I mean, it's hard to turn down a night race in front of your home crowd."
Finishing in second and third were Oregon's Bodey Lutes and James Harding, who both set PRs.
Lutes, a freshman from Coos Bay competing in an Oregon uniform for the first time, crossed in 1:45.62. Harding was a step behind in 1:45.66.
"That was a fun race to watch," Schumacher said. "Had a lot of different dynamics going on there with those three guys up front."
Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum wins the men’s Wade Bell 800 meters May 8 during the Oregon Twilight at Hayward Field. Birnbaum's time of 1 minute, 44.67 seconds is third on the program's all-time list.
Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum wins the men’s Wade Bell 800 meters May 8 during the Oregon Twilight at Hayward Field. Birnbaum's time of 1 minute, 44.67 seconds is third on the program's all-time list.
Silan Ayyildiz sharpens up with a fast 1,500
The senior who is gearing up for her final postseason at Oregon ran a season-best 4:06.97 to win the women's 1,500 in the penultimate race of the night.
Ayyildiz is the returning Big Ten outdoor champion in the 5,000 and runner-up in the 1,500. She also won 2026 conference titles indoors in the mile and 5,000.
She looked sharp Friday, winning by a large gap over professional Christine Aragon (4:09.17) and Oregon teammates Juliet Cherubet (4:10.12) and Wilma Nielsen (4:11.78).
The race was the outdoor opener for Nielsen, the back-to-back NCAA indoor mile national champion who last competed at the end of March during the World Athletics Indoor Championships. It was also her first outdoor race as a Duck after an injury sidelined her last season.
Nielsen looked rusty Friday and couldn't keep pace when Ayyildiz and Aragon took the race out.
Benjamin Balazs wins Oregon Twilight McChesney 1,500
The junior's 2025 season was the best by an Oregon steeplechaser in 45 years. Friday he showed he's got some speed to go with his endurance.
With a aggressive kick over the final 50 meters, Balazs won the McChesney 1,500 in 3:36.23 – a PR by more than 2 seconds – to become the No. 7 performer at that distance in program history.
It's also the second-fastest time by a Duck this season after Birnbaum's collegiate record of 3:31.69.
"This is just spin the wheels before conference and see what I can do," Balazs said. "I think I surprised myself a little bit. I knew I was ready for something good. It was my first 1,500 of the year and it went pretty good."
Birnbaum, 30 minutes removed from his win in the 800, paced the race through the first 1,200 meters and set the field up for success, not just Balazs.
Professional Thomas Ratcliffe was second in 3:36.53, followed by a trio of Ducks who set PRs in Jeffery Rogers (3:36.57), Tomas Palfrey (3:37.49) and Tayson Echohawk (3:37.52). Elliott Cook was sixth in 3:40.14.
Oregon’s Silan Ayyildiz runs on her way to a win in the women’s 1,500 meters at the Oregon Twilight in the Ducks' final competition before the Big Ten Conference championship meet.
Oregon’s Silan Ayyildiz runs on her way to a win in the women’s 1,500 meters at the Oregon Twilight in the Ducks' final competition before the Big Ten Conference championship meet.
Former Ducks excel during Oregon Twilight meet
Jaida Ross and Shelby Moran returned to Hayward Field Friday and put up a pair of record-setting performances.
Ross, the 2024 Olympian and NCAA outdoor champion, won the women's shot put with a meet-record mark of 62 feet, 6¾ inches.
Moran, who set the school record in the women's hammer in 2024 with a throw of 229-8, also broke the meet record Friday with a winning mark of 238-9.
Also back was former Duck Ryann Porter, who set a season best in the triple jump with a winning mark of 44-0.
Oregon alum Jaida Ross throws for Nike Oregon Track Club in the women’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon alum Jaida Ross throws for Nike Oregon Track Club in the women’s shot put during the Oregon Twilight on May 8, 2026, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Other notable performances during the Oregon Twilight meet
Oregon freshman Marie Josée Bovele-Linaka won the women's discus with a throw of 190-7, a mark that is just outside the top 10 in the NCAA this season. Duck freshman Alicia Khunou was second with a throw of 179-8.
Oregon's Benjamin Smith and Kobe Lawrence went 1-2, respectively, in the men's discus as well. Smith threw 190-2 to get the win, and Lawrence posted a season-best mark of 182-1 to take second.
What's next for Oregon track and field?
The postseason begins for the Ducks this week at the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska. The conference meet runs Friday-Sunday and will be streamed on B1G+.
Chris Hansen covers University of Oregon football, men’s basketball, track and field, cross country and softball for The Register-Guard. You can reach him at chansen@registerguard.com.
