Oregon's Simeon Birnbaum Breaks NCAA 1500m Record

Ducks star runner clocks 3:31.69 at home meet, the fastest time in collegiate history.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:03am by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, energetic painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that convey the explosive movement and raw athleticism of a runner surging towards the finish line.Birnbaum's record-breaking run ignites the Oregon track and field team's home crowd with a display of pure speed and power.Eugene Today

Oregon junior Simeon Birnbaum shattered the NCAA 1500-meter record with a time of 3:31.69 at the Oregon Team Invitational, becoming the fastest collegiate runner ever in the event. Birnbaum, who has battled injuries early in his career, dominated the race and pulled away from the field in the final lap, with three of his teammates finishing in the top five.

Why it matters

Birnbaum's record-breaking performance cements his status as one of the top distance runners in the country and puts the rest of the NCAA on notice ahead of the outdoor championship season. The Ducks' strong showing at their home meet also sets them up well for the upcoming Penn Relays and Oregon Twilight meets.

The details

Birnbaum, who ran nearly the entire final lap alone, told his pacer Tomas Palfrey to go faster multiple times during the race as he felt he could handle the increased pace. He negative-split his final lap by over 4 seconds to demolish the previous NCAA record of 3:35.70. Three of Birnbaum's Oregon teammates - Tayson Echohawk, James Harding and Anthony Fasthorse - finished third, fourth and fifth respectively, all in personal-best times.

  • On April 3, Birnbaum ran a personal-best 13:19.73 in the 5,000m at the Stanford Invitational.
  • On April 19, Birnbaum set the new NCAA 1500m record of 3:31.69 at the Oregon Team Invitational.

The players

Simeon Birnbaum

A junior at the University of Oregon and one of the top distance runners in the country, who has battled injuries early in his career but is now breaking NCAA records.

Tomas Palfrey

Birnbaum's teammate at Oregon who paced him during the record-breaking 1500m race.

Jerry Schumacher

The head coach of the Oregon track and field team, who initially wanted Birnbaum to run a more conservative pace before ultimately giving him the green light to go for the record.

Tayson Echohawk

An Oregon teammate of Birnbaum who finished third in the 1500m race.

James Harding

An Oregon teammate of Birnbaum who finished fourth in the 1500m race.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It feels incredible. During the race, my pacer, Tom (Palfrey) and I were running pretty quick, maybe a tiny bit slow at one point, and I told him, 'Faster.' I was that confident that I could handle a little bit faster, and I said that two or three times. It's like, you're doing something really, really hard and it doesn't feel that hard, and it's one of the best feelings ever.”

— Simeon Birnbaum

“I mean, I knew he was going to run well. You never know exactly what the performance is going to look like, but obviously 3:31 is rare air in collegiate 1500m running. I'm excited for him — it couldn't happen to a better kid. He works hard, and there's more to go, too.”

— Jerry Schumacher, Oregon Head Coach

What’s next

Birnbaum and the Ducks will now shift their focus to the upcoming Penn Relays and Oregon Twilight meets as they continue to build momentum towards the outdoor championship season.

The takeaway

Simeon Birnbaum's record-breaking performance showcases his immense talent and the depth of the Oregon track and field program. After battling injuries early in his career, Birnbaum has emerged as one of the premier distance runners in the NCAA, setting the stage for an exciting outdoor season ahead.