EUGENE - The Oregon Ducks survived some brushes with disaster and remained on course to win the women's title at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Thursday at Hayward Field.
The Ducks pushed all their big guns through qualifying on a cool evening before a crowd of 9,904, although 2016 Olympians Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens cut it too close for comfort in the 100 meters.
Washington and Stevens finished third and fourth respectively in the second of three qualifying heats in the 100.
Only the top two finishers of each heat qualified automatically for Saturday's final.