Dancing for Anchor Splash and Breaking a UO Running Club Record

Spring had finally arrived in Eugene, Oregon, and you could feel it in the air. The campus had shaken off its winter haze—people were out and about, tulips were blooming along the walkways, and I started running into folks I hadn’t seen since fall term. There was this electric buzz everywhere, like the whole city had woken up.

Around that time, Delta Gamma was gearing up for their big annual event—Anchor Splash. It’s their signature philanthropy: a full-on dance competition where all the fraternities battle it out for the crown (and bragging rights). DG was known for being one of the most admired sororities on campus, so naturally, we all wanted to bring our A-game.

Now, I’ve got to give major props to my fraternity brother Levi Weiss. He was the mastermind behind our whole effort—coordinating practices, hyping everyone up, and even recruiting a real dance instructor to help us get our moves together. The wild part? We weren’t even a full fraternity yet—just a colony, trying to carve out our place. And while we didn’t have the numbers that some of the bigger houses had, we weren’t about to let that stop us.

Some of the other frats leaned hard into gimmicks. Ripping off shirts, flexing for the crowd—you know the type. But we took a different approach. We focused on creativity and story. Our routine was clean and simple, built around a clear three-act structure. Nothing too technical—just smart, cohesive choreography that even our most rhythm-challenged brothers could follow.

Honestly? We crushed it. No gimmicks, no cheap tricks—just heart, hustle, and a killer routine. In my (very humble) opinion, we should’ve taken home first place.

But hey—don’t take my word for it. See for yourself.

Side note: We got DG in so much trouble for tossing flour all over the cement floor that the university actually banned them from hosting future events at Matthew Knight Arena. I still feel a little bad about it—but honestly, as a new fraternity trying to make our mark, it kind of felt like a rite of passage. Messing something up for a sorority? Classic.

Right after the dance wrapped up, I hopped on my bike and headed straight to Hayward Field. No time to relax—I barely had a second to warm up before check-in. I remember weaving underneath the grandstands to find the staging area. Nerves were high. When our event was finally called, my teammates and I stepped out from the tunnel and onto the track together.

There’s just something electric about Hayward Field—especially when the stands are packed. The noise, the energy, the history… it all hits you at once. And wearing the “O” on my chest? That made it feel even bigger.

2016 was a breakout year for me—I’d already shattered the club records for the 100m and 200m at the Willamette Invitational. This was my shot at a third. We had the squad to do it; all that was left was to lock in and execute.

I marked off my steps—about twenty paces—and laid down my tape. Watching the race back now, I have to give props to Ahmad for the clean handoff. As I sprinted down the back stretch, I suddenly caught a flash of white in my peripheral vision.

It was Devon Allen—yeah, that Devon Allen. Two-time NCAA champ in the 110m hurdles. And he was flying.

When I rewatched the footage, I couldn’t believe how badly he smoked everyone—it wasn’t even close. But hey, the guy went on to become a two-time Olympian and an NFL wide receiver, so I think I can cut myself a little slack.

That day, we shattered the UO Running Club record with a 43:14 and took seventh place overall. We even beat Clackamas Community College—which, let’s be honest, had to sting a little for them!

Looking back, it was easily one of the most unforgettable days of my college experience. I had to show up for two teams that day, and somehow, I pulled it off. Definitely one of my proudest moments at the University of Oregon.