Oregon high school track and field: Meet the state’s top jumpers

Here are more than 40 of the state’s best in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.

We’re highlighting many of Oregon's top high school track and field athletes.

Our third list focuses on the jumpers. Here are more than 40 of the state’s best in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.

All marks through May 8

Photo by Taylor Balkom

Earlier:

Sprinters and hurdlers

Distance runners

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Aaron Olson, Sr., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: Pole vault, 16 feet

Olson became the 32nd vaulter in state history to clear 16 feet when he made the height at an April 28 Three Rivers League dual meet at Tualatin. He entered high school primarily a football player before dedicating himself to this highly technical event, breaking through at the end of his sophomore year, when he placed fourth at the 6A state meet, and he went to an elite pole vault camp during the COVID-19 offseason to continue his improvement. “Aaron has a desire to become better in the pole vault,” Lakers coach Vince Kinney said of Olson, who has offers from Southern Oregon and Eastern Washington.

Abby Sheets, Sr., La Salle Prep

Personal bests: 100-meter hurdles, 16.09 seconds; High jump, 5-6

Sheets will follow in the footsteps of her father, Dan, and compete collegiately, signing with Sacramento State to compete in the high jump and perhaps the heptathlon. She placed sixth in the high jump at the 5A state meet as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore. “Abby is an extremely hard worker mixed with a gifted talent,” Falcons coach Mikel Rathmann said. “She has great things ahead for her in college.” 

Adam Maxwell, Jr., West Linn

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 15.44; High jump, 6-7

Maxwell just scratched the surface of his talent as a freshman, when he qualified for the 6A state meet and placed sixth in the high jump. He cleared 6-6 or higher in each of his first four meets this spring, including his personal-best mark April 28.

Andrea Roth, Sr., North Lake

Personal bests: 300 hurdles, 48.46; High jump, 5-0; Long jump, 15-5; Triple jump, 33-11

One of several members of her family to compete for North Lake this spring, Roth might have a future as a heptathlete. During her career, she has won five medals at the 1A state meet, including twice in the triple jump and 300 hurdles, and this spring, she ranks among 1A leaders in seven events, including the leading mark in the triple jump (33-8).

Anika Sukumar, So., West Linn

Personal bests: Long jump, 18-0¼; Triple jump, 37-10.

Sukumar didn’t get a freshman season because of the pandemic, but she’s made up for lost time this spring, going over 18 feet in the long jump in her first high school meet and cracking the all-time top 50 list with her state-leading triple jump May 5. 

Bella Sanderl, So., Summit

Personal bests: High jump, 5-5

Sanderl broke the school’s sophomore record in the high jump when she cleared 5-5 on April 21. She now has her sights set on the school record of 5-6 set nine years ago, and Storm coach Dave Turnbull has predicted she’ll get it by season’s end. 

Chloe Collier, So., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: 100, 12.77; Long jump, 16-6¼. 

Collier has experimented with several events this spring and long-term might become a heptathlete. Her success in the long jump has surprised no one but herself. “She usually guesses how long she jumped before they measure, and she always underguesses,” Lakers coach Vince Kinney said.

Cooper Seguin, So., Summit

Personal bests: High jump, 5-10; Triple jump, 40-11¼.

Seguin is an athlete Storm coach Dave Turnbull hopes will develop into a state-caliber high jumper. He’d been struggling early in the season, so on a lark, Turnbull turned him into a 300 hurdler for a week, and after posting a respectable 44.89 for his first effort, he returned to the high jump pit and cleared his personal best on his third attempt. “He smiled, and I said, ‘I guess we have to have you run the hurdles every time now,’” Turnbull recalled. “He smiled again, gave me a high-five, and we enjoyed a great day on the track.” 

Dakota Webb-Hawkins, Jr., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: 100, 12.97; Long jump, 16-5½; Triple jump, 35-4.

Webb-Hawkins grew up in Lake Oswego but attended Putnam her first two years of high school, placing fifth at the 5A state meet in the high jump as a freshman. She transferred to Lake Oswego this school year, and at the Friday Night Lights meet in Newberg on May 7 she jumped her personal bests in both of her events. “She has a positive personality and is very supportive of her teammates,” Lakers coach Vince Kinney said. “She is very coachable and is a joy to have on the team.”

Dakota Webb-Hawkins

Dale Thompson, Sr., Sunset

Personal bests: Long jump, 16-8; Pole vault, 12-4

Thompson has slowly crept up the state’s all-time vaulters list this season, going over 12-3 at an April 29 meet, then bettering that vault a week later at a Metro League dual at Mountainside when she went over 12-4.

DeShanae Norman, Jr., Gladstone

Personal bests: Long jump, 18-4½; High jump, 5-9

Norman started her career at Benson, where she tied the Class 6A freshman state record in winning the PIL district title with a 5-7 jump. She transferred to Gladstone as a sophomore, and her personal-best jump at a Tri-Valley dual meet April 29 moved her into a tie for fifth on the all-time 4A list.

Desmond Jenkins, Jr., Westview

Personal bests: Long jump, 21-7

Jenkins won a Metro JV district title in the long jump as a freshman, and he’s ranked among the state leaders in the event all spring after adding 20 inches to his personal best in the first meet of the season — he leads Metro League long jumpers. “He’s athletic, hard-working and a coachable student-athlete who’s improving every week,” Wildcats coach Rebecca Martin said. “Bright future.”

Devik Chiang, Sr., Grants Pass

Personal bests: High jump, 6-1; Triple jump, 43-11

Chiang narrowly missed a state berth in the triple jump as a sophomore and appeared to be someone who would qualify the next two years and contend for medals, if not titles. Unfortunately, that won’t come to pass, but he did set personal bests in both of his primary events at the first meet of the season April 21, with his triple jump ranking third in the state (No. 2 in 6A).

Dylan Stroup, Sr., Newberg

Personal bests: Long jump, 19-6; Triple jump, 41-10

Stroup will play football at Central Washington after earning all-conference recognition on defense, but he’s making the most of his final track season as well, bettering his PRs in both jumps at an April 28 Pacific Conference dual meet. “Dylan is our strongest and most versatile athlete,” Tigers coach Brandon Ramey said. “He is an extremely hard worker and will make a great college athlete.” 

Emily Murphy, Fr., North Lake

Personal bests: High jump, 4-10; Shot put, 28-8; Javelin, 86-10

Murphy ranks among the state leaders in the high jump and has taken to the throws, missing the school record in the shot put by six inches despite picking up the event for the first time at the Cowboys’ first meet. She ranked among the school’s all-time top 10 in the javelin after just two practices. 

Emma Gates, Jr., Cascade

Personal bests: 100, 12.81; 200, 26.11; High jump, 5-11

Gates owns a couple of 4A titles — she broke the freshman record by clearing 5-7 to win the Oregon West district title en route to earning the state and national titles that season, and she broke a 48-year junior class record previously held by Olympic medalist Joni Huntley when she made 5-11 at an Oregon West dual meet April 23. She became the fifth girl in state history to make that height and ranks second nationally this spring. “She is kind and the hardest worker in whatever she does,” Cougars coach Molly Gehley said. “She is fun and exciting to watch, a well-rounded athlete and student.” 

Gabriel Burchfield, Sr., Hidden Valley

Personal bests: Long jump, 20-4¾; Triple jump, 41-4¾; High jump, 6-5

Burchfield earned a fifth-place medal in the high jump at the 4A state meet as a sophomore. This spring, he cleared a personal-best and 4A-leading 6-5 at the Medford Rotary Relays on April 24 and is among the 4A leaders in his other two jumps.

Grace Leasure, Jr., Oregon City

Personal bests: Triple jump, 37-8; High jump, 5-5

Leasure narrowly missed qualifying for state in the triple jump as a freshman, although she did run a leg on the fourth-place 4x400 relay. Her best triple jump this spring was just a quarter-inch off making the state’s all-time top-50 list. She’s also improved her PR in the high jump by seven inches and ran the second leg on the state-leading 4x400 relay. 

Harrison Canfield, Sr., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: Pole vault, 15-6

Canfield spent part of his childhood living in Morocco before moving to Lake Oswego for high school. He has steadily improved as a vaulter during his career as he’s learned to control his emotions on the runway, and he became the 58th Oregon vaulter to go over 15-6 at a Three Rivers dual meet April 21. He is set to vault for the University of Oregon next spring. “Harry is a technical vaulter and has learned a lot from previous years, and it has shown this year in how he responds to an undesirable jump,” Lakers coach Vince Kinney said. 

Harrison Canfield

Jaaden Steele, Jr., Hidden Valley

Personal bests: Long jump, 17-1; Triple jump, 37-7¾ 

Steele started her high school career with a bang, finishing second at the 4A state meet in the triple jump (after winning the Skyline district title while setting the 4A freshman record) and fourth in the long jump. While she hasn’t matched her personal best in the triple jump this spring, she does lead 4A and is No. 3 in the state rankings.

Jacob Trone, Sr., Churchill

Personal bests: 100, 11.26; Long jump, 22-2¾; Triple jump, 45-3

Trone started his career at Boulder City, Nev., before moving to South Eugene as a sophomore. He’s now made his way to Churchill, where he’s flourished. He’s bettered his personal bests in the long and triple jumps by nearly two feet, and he leads the state in the long jump with his April 22 effort.

Jadyn Vermillion, Sr., Sutherlin

Personal bests: 100, 12.59; 200, 26.16; Long jump, 17-10; Triple jump, 36-10

Vermillion competed for South Umpqua as a freshman, winning two 4A state medals, before transferring to Sutherlin, where she won 3A state titles in the long jump and 4x100 and took second in the 200 and triple jump as a sophomore. She’s also a basketball standout, winning Far West League MVP honors as a junior, and will play both sports at Umpqua Community College. Her coach, Mark Wiley, quoted William Blake (“No bird soars too high, if he soars with his own wings”) when describing Vermillion, saying, “This quote fits Jadyn because she ‘soars high’ in athletics and can do about anything athletically, yet is also an honors student. In track, she could excel at any event given her competitiveness and strong mindset.” 

Joey Chandler, So., Ida B. Wells (formerly Wilson)

Personal bests: Pole vault, 14-6

Chandler has improved each week during his first season with the Trojans, clearing 13-9 in his first meet, 14-3 in his third and 14-6 at a May 5 PIL meet at Jefferson to break the school record. 

Johanna Simonson, Sr., Oakland

Personal bests: Pole vault, 10-3

Simonson is a two-time Class 2A state qualifier in the pole vault, placing third as a sophomore, and leads 2A this spring after going over 10 feet for the first time May 5 and then 10-3 two days later. She hopes to walk on at Oregon State while studying soil conservation and agriculture education — but not before singing Sweet Caroline one last time when the Oakers’ team bus reaches the Oakland exit off I-5 after away meets. 

Julia Pinnell, Jr., Southridge

Personal bests: 300 hurdles, 52.44; Triple jump, 33-9½ 

Pinnell, a standout goalkeeper for the Skyhawks soccer team, decided to turn out for track for the first time this spring and ranks among the Metro League leaders in the low hurdles and the triple jump, making coach Katie Miller optimistic about what Pinnell can accomplish with a full season under her belt. 

Julia Sieber, Jr., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: 400, 59.78; High jump, 5-1

Sieber ran a leg on the seventh-place 4x400 relay at the 6A state meet as a freshman, but the standout soccer player was considering not turning out for track this season. Her decision to come out, coach Vince Kinney said, provided a boost to the relay team’s chance at breaking the school record — it ran 3:59.28 at a May 5 Three Rivers dual meet, just four-hundredths of a second off the mark set in 2014. 

Julia Sieber

Julie Roth, So., North Lake

Personal bests: High jump, 4-8

Andrea Roth’s sister has battled a sore ankle this spring but will be among the contenders for the 1A culminating-week meet in the long and high jumps. 

Karlee Touey, Jr., North Valley

Personal bests: 100, 12.41; 200, 26.79; 100 hurdles, 16.57; 300 hurdles, 46.74; Long jump, 17-7½ 

Karlee is the third Touey sister to compete for North Valley, following in the footsteps of 11-time state champion Baylee and five-time state medalist Kaylee. While the pandemic will cost her two chances to win state medals, Karlee won her first as a freshman with a sixth-place finish in the 300 hurdles. Her long jump this season ranks second in 4A — one of six events in which she sits among 4A leaders.

Katelyn Howard, Jr., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: Pole vault, 11-9

Howard has made tremendous improvement from her freshman season, when she picked up the event and had a best vault of 7 feet. She worked on her craft throughout the pandemic and got over 10-6 in finishing fifth at the Oregon State Pole Vault Championships in August. This spring, she’s made at least 11 feet at every meet, including her personal-best vault at a May 5 meet that put her on the all-time leaders list and just three inches off the school record. “Her determination in getting better shows in her improvement,” Lakers coach Vince Kinney said.

Kathryn Nyone, Sr., Portland Christian

Personal bests: 200, 26.60; 400, 1:00.51; High jump, 4-10; Long jump, 17-8½; Triple jump, 36-0

Nyone has won seven state medals during her high school career, including a sweep of the long and triple jump 2A state titles as a sophomore following a runner-up finish in the 3A long jump as a freshman. This spring, she leads 2A in the long and triple jumps. 

Kayla Morgan, Sr., Southwest Christian

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 16.90, 300 hurdles, 50.66; High jump, 5-4

Morgan took home three medals from the 1A state meet as a sophomore, including a fourth-place finish in the high jump, and cleared her personal best at the Blanchet Invitational on May 4 to take over the 1A lead in the event.

Lauren Chugg, Sr., North Lake

Personal bests: Long jump, 14-10½; Triple jump, 31-5½; Pole vault, 7-0

Chugg has been a constant in the Cowboys program throughout her career and ranks among the 1A leaders this spring in all three of her events. 

Lily Reynolds, Sr., Beaverton

Personal bests: 100, 12.95; High jump, 5-6

Reynolds has been remarkably consistent throughout her high school career, clearing 5 feet in all but three of her 24 meets and placing fifth at the Class 6A state meet as a freshman and a sophomore.

Lydia Barnett, Sr., Sunset

Personal bests: 200, 26.14; Long jump, 16-11½; Triple jump, 38-3¾ 

Barnett discovered her track destiny as a sophomore at the team’s preseason Octathlon, where coaches saw her potential in the triple jump and started her down the runway. By season’s end, she’d moved into the top 25 on the all-time state list and placed second at the Class 6A state meet.

Mackenzie Walker, Jr., St. Mary’s

Personal bests: 300 hurdles, 49.04; Pole vault, 11-6

Walker was primarily a hurdler as a freshman, placing sixth at the 3A state meet in the 300 hurdles. She took up the pole vault this spring, and in her second meet, she moved into the No. 3 slot on the all-time 3A list.

Micah Colburn, Sr., Damascus Christian

Personal bests: 110 hurdles, 15.33; Long jump, 20-7; Pole vault, 14-6

Colburn transferred to Damascus Christian as a junior after growing up in Trout Lake in south-central Washington, where he won a 1B state title in the pole vault as a sophomore among his five state medals. He moved to Portland before his junior year and was Valley 10 co-player of the year in basketball, leading the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1A state tournament and committing to NAIA Lincoln Christian in Illinois for college. This spring, he leads 1A vaulters (No. 3 among all classifications) and long jumpers.

Desmond Jenkins

Miles Grant, Sr., Catlin Gabel

Personal bests: Triple jump, 40-0; High jump, 6-6

Grant dabbles in many events for the Eagles, but in his specialty, he is a two-time district high jump champion who placed fifth at the 3A state meet as a sophomore. He’s gone over 6-6 twice this spring to lead 3A (No. 2 for all classifications). 

Nathan Fields, Jr., Churchill

Personal bests: Long jump, 20-1¼; Triple jump, 45-9

Fields focused on the hurdles as a freshman but has turned to the triple jump this spring. He jumped his personal best at the team’s first meet in mid-April and since has gone unbeaten in four meets while leading all state jumpers.

Noah Goodrich, Fr., Summit

Personal bests: High jump, 6-0

Goodrich has cleared 6 feet twice this season and is just a half-inch off the school’s freshman record. Storm coach Dave Turnbull believes he has the potential to reach 6-4 or even 6-6 this spring. 

Noah Roth, So., North Lake

Personal bests: 300 hurdles, 49.77; High jump, 5-10

One of four jumpers in the family on the Cowboys team this spring, the 6-6 sophomore ranks among the 1A state leaders in the high jump while also running the fastest 300 hurdles by a North Lake runner since 1994. 

Owen Hawley, Sr., Newberg

Personal bests: Long jump, 22-0½; Triple jump, 44-1

Hawley made a name for himself on the football field this season for the Tigers, and now he’s enjoying a breakthrough season on the jumping runway, ranking among the state leaders in the long and triple jump. He has talked with Western Oregon, Linfield and George Fox about competing in both sports in college. “Owen is an exceptional athlete who at 6-5 has great speed, strength and leaping ability,” Newberg coach Brandon Ramey said. “He’s worked extremely hard over the last year to get stronger and continued lifting and training during the shutdown. The results from that are now coming to fruition.” 

Silas Roth, Sr., North Lake

Personal bests: 100, 11.88; High jump, 5-10; Long jump, 20-9½; Triple jump, 42-4

Noah’s older brother and a cousin to Andrea and Julie completes the Roth family connection on the track team this spring. He placed sixth as a sophomore in the long and triple jumps at the 1A state meet and ranks among 1A leaders in five events, including a 1A-best 40-9½ in the triple jump. 

Sophia Beckmon, So., Oregon City

Personal bests: 100, 12.38; 200, 24.93; Long jump, 19-5½ 

Beckmon broke the 6A sophomore record in the long jump at the Friday Night Lights meet in Newberg on May 7, moving into sixth on the all-time state list and No. 2 all-time among sophomores. She’s just 4½ inches off Michelle Reynolds’ state-record jump of 19-10 when she was a Churchill sophomore in 1987. Beckmon also anchored the Pioneers’ 4x400 relay team to a state-leading 3:56.97 on April 28.

Sydney McCann, Sr., St. Mary’s Academy

Personal bests: Pole vault, 12-8

McCann reached rarified air April 14 when she became the fifth girl in state history (and the first in the past seven years) to clear 12-8 in the pole vault. She’s a two-time 6A state qualifier who placed sixth as a sophomore and won the Oregon State Pole Vault Championships in August. A Blues team captain, McCann will compete for UC Davis next year. 

Trent Summers, So., Marshfield

Personal bests: Pole vault, 14-4

Marshfield has a strong vaulting tradition, and Summers is the latest to come through the program. He went 14-1 at the 112th annual Coos County Meet in October and had gone undefeated through six meets this spring, clearing his personal best at the Sky-Em League Showcase on April 30.

Dylan Stroup

Trevor Angove, Jr., Bandon

Personal bests: Triple jump, 43-11

Angove went 42-11 in his first meet as a freshman to win the 111th Coos County Meet but didn’t approach that mark again until this spring, when he jumped his personal best at the Spring Opener meet April 16. He again won the Coos County Meet on May 8 and led 2A entering the season’s final two weeks.

Victoria Azar, Sr., La Salle Prep

Personal bests: 100, 12.97; 200, 27.01; Long jump, 17-3

Azar plans to compete at George Fox next year, but in the meantime, she has become a stalwart for the Falcons program. “Track has always been a big passion for Victoria,” La Salle Prep coach Mikel Rathmann said. “She is a hard worker and always has extreme focus to detail, which shows in her technique.” 

Whitley Stepp, Jr., Regis

Personal bests: Long jump, 15-6½; Triple jump, 32-6; High jump, 5-5½ 

Stepp competed for Northwest Christian in Lacey, Wash., as a freshman, placing second at the 2B state meet, where she went 5-5. She picked right up where she left off in her first meet at Regis, clearing her personal best at a league meet at Jefferson. She is undefeated in all three jumps this spring and leads 2A high jumpers (No. 5 among all classifications).

Zach Porter, Sr., Southridge

Personal bests: Long jump, 21-2; Triple jump, 39-5; High jump, 5-10

Porter leads Metro League high jumpers this spring and was No. 2 in the long jump entering the final two weeks of the season. 

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Earlier:

Sprinters and hurdlers

Distance runners