NEW ORLEANS – Two Oregon relay teams were recognized as 2013 Accusplit Top Relay Teams. Both the men’s 4x1500 meter and the women’s 4x400 meter teams posted the best NCAA relay performances during the 2013 season.

The men’s team of Chris Brewer, Matt Miner, Jeramy Elkaim and Mac Fleet won the Penn Relays’ 4xMile event in a time of 16:17.57, the fastest time in the world last year. That time was converted to 15:04.14 for the Accusplit award.

The relay was a display of Oregon’s depth and talent at the mile. The Ducks had five men break the four-minute mile barrier during the 2013 indoor season and qualified three to the NCAA Championships. During the outdoor season, three Ducks also qualified for the 1,500 meters at the NCAA Championships, one of which being the 2013 NCAA Champion, Fleet.

“These relay teams were some of the highlights of our season last year,” said head coach Robert Johnson. “Our group of men’s milers were so impressive all year. From the indoor season with so many breaking the four minute barrier, to this great relay win at the Penn Relays, and capped off by Mac’s win at the NCAA Championship in June.”

English Gardner, Chizoba Okodogbe, Laura Roesler and Phyllis Francis also set their 4x400 mark at the Penn Relays with a time of 3:26.73, breaking a 10-year old Penn Relays and Franklin Field Record by nearly a full second. The same quartet also set an indoor school record at the NCAA Championships to secure Oregon’s fourth-consecutive Indoor National Championship.

It is the second year in a row the Oregon women’s 4x400 has been honored as the top performers in the country.

“The women’s 4x4 group was so important to our team last year,” Johnson said. “They sealed the victory for us at the indoor championship and set an amazing meet record at Penn. It is great to be the top 4x4 team for the second year in a row.”

Oregon will travel to the Penn Relays again during the 2014 season (April 24-26).

“The Penn Relays is a tremendous competition for our team,” he said. “It sets the stage for the competitive environment we face during the championship portion of our season. We are looking forward to returning in the spring for another great test.”

The 2014 indoor season will begin Jan. 17, at the Washington Preview while the outdoor season will start March 22, at Hayward Field with the Oregon Preview.