The track and field state championships get underway on Friday for the Class 6A, 5A and 4A schools at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Boys: 3 to Watch
A year ago as a freshman, Redmond’s Carter Wachs couldn’t reach the Intermountain district final. Now, he’s the state leader (10.69) after winning the IMC title, but he’ll be challenged by a pair of district champions — Eagle Point senior Logan Moreno and Silverton junior Wyatt Metzger — as well as IMC rival Waylon Clarke of Caldera. Seniors Logan Peterson of Canby and Khen San of Centennial put together a thrilling NWOC district final, with Peterson pulling out the win to take over the state lead. Throw in Corvallis junior Rowan Finlay, who’d been the state leader most of the season, and the trio will give the Hayward crowd a show. Three jumpers from the Mid-Willamette Conference — seniors Camren Thompson of South Albany and Sean Ward of Dallas and Silverton sophomore Caden Druliner — have been the state’s top three for most of the season and will bring their rivalry to the state apron this weekend.
Boys: 3 to Cheer
One of the best middle-distance runners the state has ever produced already broke Galen Rupp’s state record in the 1,500 this season. Now, can
the University of Washington signee match that time and break the U.S. record in a high school-only competition? He’ll also run the 800 and look to become just the sixth Oregon prepster to break 1:50. Kitchen is more of a late bloomer in the Comets’ storied distance program, but he won the New Balance national indoor 5,000 title in March and broke Rupp’s 3K state record at last month’s Jesuit Twilight Relays. Can
the BYU signee match the 7:55.48 he ran indoors at the Husky Classic in February? Haines won a state title in the discus as a sophomore and medaled in both the shot (third) and discus (sixth) last spring. He’ll arrive at Hayward the state leader in both — by over six feet in the shot and almost four feet in the discus.
Girls: 3 to Watch
It should be a crowded lead pack Saturday afternoon that should include Crescent Valley senior Emily Wisniewski, who has won three 3,000 titles but has seen the double elude her each time. She’s fourth on the state list, with Canby senior Kenzie Bigej leading the way at 4:34.94 following her win at the NWOC district meet. Wilsonville sophomore Maisy Scanlan will be in the hunt in both hurdles races, but it’s the longer race that should be the tighter battle, as she’ll go up against NWOC rival Abella Leder of Canby in a rematch of their district final — Scanlan won in a state-leading 44.81 — with Intermountain champion Angel Hausner and Mid-Willamette titlist Tanya Green of Dallas also in the mix. Eagle Point senior Thianna Deng hasn’t lost a competition all season, but she arrives at Hayward looking up at Mid-Willamette district champion Taryn Cornell of Lebanon on the state list. Their duel will close out the field events this weekend.
Girls: 3 to Cheer
Dickson is halfway to matching Summit’s Kellie Schueler as a four-time champion in all three sprints, and she is the state leader in the 100 (11.70, No. 13 on the
all-time list ), 200 (24.09, No. 8 all-time) and 400 (54.71, No. 9). The
first four-time state cross country champion in state history and North Carolina State signee looks to become the first girl since Bandon’s Sailor Hutton (2015-18) and sixth all-time to win four 3,000 titles. Kleinke has reached heights never seen by an Oregon girl in the pole vault, breaking her own record at the Oregon Twilight by clearing 14-0¾. Now, she’s also reaching lengths rarely seen in the long jump — the state leader at 19-0½ is tied for No. 18 all-time.
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