STANFORD, Calif. – Sophomore Andrew Wheating ran the ninth-fastest 800 in school history to win the event, while A.J. Acosta ran the fastest 1,500 meters by a Duck in 24 years Sunday at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational.

Wheating’s personal record time of 1:47.82 was the second-fastest in the Pac-10 this season, and was the best 800 time at Oregon since Simon Kimata clocked 1:46.55 in 2002. He edged Christian Smith (1:48.15) and Kevin Hicks (1:48.26), both of Ote Elite, to win the race.

Not to be outdone, fellow sophomore Acosta posted a personal best in the 1,500, placing third in the elite heat with a time of 3:40.52. He was the fastest collegian in the field, finishing behind only Matt Tegenkamp of Nike (3:40.04) and Chris Lukezic of Reebok (3:40.29). Acosta edged Stanford’s Russell Brown by less than half of a second for top college honors.

Acosta’s 1,500 time ranks as the fourth-best in the nation according to Trackshark.com.

More impressive, it was the fastest 1,500 time by an Oregon runner since Joaquim Cruz set the school record in the event when he won the 1984 NCAA championship in a time of 3:36.48. Acosta’s time was less than a second off Oregon’s career top 10.

The Ducks also posted the third- and fourth-fastest 3,000 meter steeplechase times in the Pac-10 in 2008. Freshman Isaac Stoutenburgh ran a personal-best 8:52.66 to finish seventh, while Chris Winter was right behind in 10th at 8:56.24, a season-best for the junior as both Ducks upped their NCAA regional marks.