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—students were out and about, tulips were blooming along the walkways, and I kept running into people 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. Their signature philanthropy was a full-on dance competition where fraternities battle for the crown (and bragging rights). DG was one of the most admired sororities on campus, so naturally, everyone wanted to bring their A-game.

I’ve got to give major props to my fraternity brother, Levi Weiss. He was the mastermind behind our entire effort—coordinating practices, hyping everyone up, and even recruiting a professional 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 of some of the bigger houses, we weren’t about to let that stop us.

Some of the other fraternities leaned hard into gimmicks—ripping off shirts, flexing for the crowd, the whole showy thing. 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 first place.

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

Side note: We got DG in serious trouble for tossing flour all over the cement floor—so much so that the university banned them from hosting future events at Matthew Knight Arena. I still feel a little bad—but honestly, as a new fraternity trying to make our mark, it 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 under 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 something electric about Hayward Field—especially when the stands are packed. The noise, the energy, the history… it hits you all 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 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.

I marked off my steps—about twenty paces—and laid down my tape. Watching the race now, I have to give props to Ahmad for the clean handoff. As I sprinted down the backstretch, 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.

Watching the footage later, 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 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.