Oregon’s top high school girls track and field athletes: Meet the state’s best sprinters

Who are the top sprinters in Oregon high school girls track and field this season?

By René Ferrán

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

Our first list focuses on the girls sprinters and hurdlers. Here are some of Oregon’s best in the 100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles.

There are hundreds of great athletes in the state, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any athletes you think should be added!

Mia Brahe-Pedersen (Lake Oswego) photo by Taylor Balkom

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Amariah Clay, Sr., Beaverton

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 15.93; Long jump, 16-5; Triple jump, 34-8

As Beavers coach D’onte Claypool noted, Clay was born ready to compete — her mom was a college basketball player who became pregnant with Amariah during the season. Last spring, Clay finished sixth in the 100 hurdles at the 6A state meet, and she’s already run a personal-best 15.93 at the season’s first Metro League dual. She plans to run for Willamette University.

Anna Miller, Sr., Mountainside

Personal bests: 100, 12.35; 200, 25.33; 400, 1:01.62 

Miller has been a leader for the Mavericks program since her freshman year, when she anchored the 4x400 to a runner-up finish at the 6A state meet and finished seventh in the 200. The Western Washington commit won the Metro titles in the 100 and 200 last spring before finishing fourth in the 100 and seventh in the 200 at state. “You’d see her as a freshman and be like, ‘Who is this Anna Miller?’” coach John Gaffney said. “And today, she’s still this fun-loving kid who’s a great representation of our program and school.”

Ava Gross, Sr., Westview

Personal bests: 100, 12.73; 200, 25.53; 400, 58.59

Gross broke through as a junior last spring, finishing second in the 100 at the Metro district meet, then placing fifth in the 200 and seventh in the 400 at the 6A state meet. Coach Aaron Koford recalls when the Oregon State commit came out as a freshman, “she was still in the process of discovering track, but it became obvious to us all that she had some real potential. She made some of her biggest improvements when everything was limited or outright not happening, improving her technique and working toward reaching her potential. She is an entirely different type of athlete now, and I’m excited to see how her senior season goes.”

Brooksie Isham, Jr., South Salem

Personal bests: 100 hurdles 16.07; 300 hurdles, 48.35; High jump, 5-0

Isham didn’t get the opportunity to compete at the 6A state meet, but she still posted some of the top times by an underclassman last spring — running her personal bests in a season-ending dual meet against Sprague that portends big things ahead this season.

Catherine Touchette, Sr., South Eugene

Personal bests: 100, 12.84; 400, 59.84; 100 hurdles, 15.96; 300 hurdles, 45.31; Long jump, 17-0½

Touchette is a jack-of-all-trades for the Axe, but her specialty is the low hurdles, in which she placed fourth at the 6A state meet as a freshman and won the Eugene City Championships last spring.

Catie Dice, Jr., Jesuit

Personal bests: 300 hurdles, 47.29

Dice steadily improved during her first season with the Crusaders, running her personal best in the 300 hurdles in the prelims at the 6A state meet before placing eighth in the final while also running legs on the 4x100 (seventh) and 4x400 (third) relays.

Chloe Shedrick, Sr., Sheldon

Personal bests: 100, 13.17; 200, 26.27; 400, 57.85

Shedrick had a breakthrough junior season, winning the 400 at the Eugene City Championships and placing fifth at the 6A state meet. She then teamed with Ella Thomas, Gabrielle Harms and Camille Lawrence to finish sixth in the 4x100 and seventh in the 4x400 at The Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field. She has signed with Sacramento State. “Chloe has grown a great appreciation for track and is so excited to see where it takes her in college,” Irish coach Erin Regali said. “She’s ready for the challenge.”

DeShanae Norman, Sr., Clackamas 

Personal bests: 400, 59.80; 100 hurdles, 15.21; 300 hurdles, 46.33; High jump, 5-10; Long jump, 19-0

Norman has had a well-traveled career. She was a standout freshman at Benson, where she won PIL district titles in both hurdles and the high jump and took fourth in the long jump at the 6A state meet. She transferred to Gladstone and competed for the Gladiators last spring, winning 4A state titles in the high hurdles and long jump. Now, she’s at Clackamas, looking to make her mark with the Cavaliers before becoming a heptathlete in college.

Emelia Warta, Jr., La Salle Prep

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 16.87; 300 hurdles, 47.90

Warta completed her first high school season with a flourish, placing at the 5A state meet in both the 100 hurdles (sixth) and 300s (fourth). Warta, a first-team WaFd SBLive Oregon all-state soccer selection as a midfielder, plays for the Thorns Academy and also shows off her footwork as an avid hacky sack player around campus. “Emelia works tremendously hard and is really excited for this track season,” coach Mikel Rathmann said. “She does a great job at balancing all her responsibilities when it comes to school, club soccer and track.”

Gabriella Harms, Jr., Sheldon

Personal bests: 100, 12.53; 200, 26.14; Long jump, 17-8

Harms is one of the school’s top three-sport athletes, playing varsity volleyball, basketball and track. As a sophomore, she took home sixth-place medals from the 6A state meet in the 100 and long jump, ran the second leg on the runner-up 4x100 relay and led off the fourth-place 4x400. She then ran with teammates Ella Thomas, Chloe Shedrick and Camille Lawrence at The Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field, medaling in the 4x100 (sixth) and 4x400 (seventh). “She’s adapting to the challenges of all three sports,” coach Erin Regalli said. “Time management, health and a positive attitude help her balance it all.”

Harley Daniel, Sr., Oregon City

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 14.19; 300 hurdles, 43.32; Long jump, 18-8

Daniel will go down as one of the best hurdlers in state history. She ranks No. 5 on the all-time lists for both the 100s and 300s, winning 6A state titles in both races last May. The University of Utah signee also helped the Pioneers soccer team reach the state semifinals in the fall. “Harley is one of the best senior leaders we have had in our program,” coach Kristin Mull said. “She is an incredible technician over the hurdles and puts in the effort required to be the best hurdler in school history.”

Josie Donelson, So., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: 100, 12.94; 200, 25.17; 400, 57.66; 800, 2:28.66

The Lakers had two standout freshman sprinters last spring, and while Mia Brahe-Pedersen earned all the headlines, Donelson quietly shined in her own right, placing second at the 6A state meet in the 400 and sixth in the 200 while running legs on the champion 4x100 and 4x400 relays. She then anchored a 4x400 relay that finished ninth at The Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field. Donelson has an eclectic taste in music and often sports a T-shirt of all types of musical artists at practice. She’s also her worst critic on the track, coach Vince Kinney said. “Her competitiveness is unmatched, and she steps up at the most important moments,” he added. “She is a very talented athlete that wants to be the best.”

Karlee Touey, Sr., North Valley

Personal bests: 100, 12.31; 200, 26.79; 300 hurdles, 45.03; Long jump, 18-5

Karlee, the younger sister of 4A state record-holder Baylee Touey, has carved out quite the career herself. She won her first state medal as a freshman by placing sixth in the 300 hurdles, then won her first state title last May by running a personal best in the 300 hurdles. She took second in the long jump and the 100 and anchored the 4x100 relay to a third-place finish.

Keira Denny, Jr., Franklin

Personal bests: 400, 58.91

Denny splits her time during the spring between club soccer and track and is slowly working her way back into track form this season. Last May, she won the PIL district title in the 400 and narrowly missed making the 6A state final, running her personal-best time in the prelims. She also led off the seventh-place 4x400 relay at state.

Kensey Gault, So., Ridgeview

Personal bests: 100, 12.45; 200, 26.45; 100 hurdles, 15.40; 300 hurdles, 46.12

Gault lost only one race her freshman season, following Intermountain district titles in both hurdles races and the 100 by winning 5A state titles in both hurdles and finishing second to North Salem’s Nerissa Thompson in the 100 final. She broke her right leg and tore her left MCL while snowboarding in December, but Ravens coach Mark Conrad hopes she can return this spring in time to defend her titles at Hayward Field.

Kylee Nelson, Sr., Lincoln

Personal bests: 100, 12.97; 100 hurdles, 15.95; 300 hurdles, 47.16

Nelson was a middling hurdler as a freshman who evolved into one of the state’s best heading into her senior season. She won the PIL district title in the 100 hurdles last May, then placed fourth at state in that event and fifth in the 300s. “Kylee has transformed herself into an elite senior hurdler, and it’s been a total joy to watch,” Cardinals coach Eric Dettman said. “Every day, she comes to practice ready to work. Her work ethic is second to none, and her teammates consistently look up to her.”

Lakely Doht-Barron, Jr., Central Catholic

Personal bests: 100, 12.67; 200, 25.39; 400, 59.65

Doht-Barron ran for Grant last spring, finishing second at the PIL district meet in the 200, before breaking through during the summer season with The Inner Circle Track Club. She won a USATF state title in the 100 and ran her personal best in the 200 at the AAU National Junior Olympics. She transferred to Central Catholic, where she’s expanding her range, taking second in the 400 at the Laker Classic. “Lakely is a gifted sprinter who has the ability to be competitive in all the sprint events,” Rams coach Robyn McGillis said. “As a junior, she’s open to exploring and discovering her skills and strengths in different event areas.”

Lilly Krisky, Jr., Mountainside

Personal bests: 200, 25.99; 400, 57.90

The longer the race, the better for Krisky, who won the Metro district title in the 400 and placed fourth at the 6A state meet — she was Metro runner-up in the 200. “Lilly is a super-dedicated track athlete who works on track year-round,” Mavericks coach John Gaffney said. “She’ll go through one of the hardest trainings, then 30 seconds later, she’s smiling, saying what a great time she’s having.”

Lily Jones, Sr., Roosevelt

Personal bests: 100, 11.80; 200, 24.93

Jones’ primary sport growing up was softball, but as she developed her speed, her focus quickly turned to the track — although she still competes in both sports during the spring. She announced herself by winning the PIL district title in the 100 as a freshman and placing seventh at the OSAA 6A state meet. She repeated as PIL champion last spring and finished second to Lake Oswego’s Mia Brahe-Pedersen at the state meet, then added a fourth-place finish in the 200. This spring, she moved to fifth on the all-time state list for the 100 as she considers offers from Cal-Berkeley, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Utah.

Mia Brahe-Pedersen, So., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: 100, 11.57; 200, 23.39

In just over one year of high school track, Brahe-Pedersen has become one of the most decorated sprinters in state history. She is No. 2 on the all-time lists in the 100 and 200, winning 6A state titles in each event in May and West Coast AAU Junior Olympic titles in July. She took fourth in the 100 and eighth in the 200 at The Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field, and last month, she won the Nike Indoor Nationals title in the 200 and took sixth in the 60. Most important to Lakers coach Vince Kinney, “she is one of the best teammates on the team. When it comes to relays or any team aspect, she is one of the top teammates in our program.”

Olivia Iverson, Sr., West Linn

Personal bests: 100, 12.21; 200, 24.37; 400, 57.05

Iverson broke through as a junior last spring, winning a Three Rivers district title in the 400 and placing third at the 6A state meet in the 200 and 400. She followed by finishing fourth in the 200 and seventh in the 100 at the West Coast AAU Junior Olympics, running personal bests in both to catch the eye of the coaches at Sacramento State, where she signed in November. “Olivia is a firecracker,” Lions coach Joe Cerny said. “She sparks our team with great enthusiasm.”

Quinn Greene, Sr., Lake Oswego

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 16.18; 300 hurdles, 47.42

Greene is another athlete who made a huge leap during the two-year COVID-19 hiatus from competition, going from barely making the 100 hurdles final at the Three Rivers district meet as a freshman to district runner-up in both hurdles races last spring. Next on her list would be winning a medal at state, which might elicit a celebration that could become the Denison University commit’s next viral TikTok video. “Quinn is one of our top upcoming athletes,” Lakers coach Vince Kinney said. “She has made many improvements throughout the year and has a lot of opportunities to make a splash in the hurdle races. The work that she has put in to the offseason will prepare her to be successful this year.”

Riley Patera, Sr., Tigard

Personal bests: 100 12.58; 20, 25.11; 400, 56.45; 800, 2:28.54

Patera was one of the state’s top freshmen three years ago, winning the Three Rivers district titles in the 200 and 400 and placing third at state in the quarter-mile. After COVID wiped out her sophomore season, the Oregon State commit moved to Arizona last season and ran for North Canyon in Phoenix, finishing third in the 400 at the Division 2 state meet. “We are excited that she’s back running at Tigard this spring,” coach Doug Kuffel said. “Riley is a great athlete who is very dedicated to being the best she can be. She is going to have a great senior season.”

Sara Rivas, So., Bend

Personal bests: 100, 13.20; 100 hurdles, 15.57; 300 hurdles, 47.69

Rivas kicked off her career with a fifth-place finish in the 100 hurdles at last May’s Class 6A state meet, then started this spring on fire, shaving a half-second off her personal best in the high hurdles and three seconds off her 300 hurdles best time.

Sophia Beckmon, Jr., Oregon City

Personal bests: 100, 12.06; 200, 23.75; 400, 58.74; Long jump, 19-10¼

Beckmon might be the best two-discipline trackster in the state this spring. Not only is she among the top sprinters — moving to No. 4 on the all-time state list in the 200 with her runner-up finish at July’s West Coast AAU Junior Olympic meet in Las Vegas and placing fifth at last month’s Nike Indoor Nationals — but she holds the state record in the long jump set when she won The Outdoor Nationals title at Hayward Field. She took third in the long jump at the Nike Indoors. “Sophia could probably be fantastic at any sport, but from an early age, she took an interest in track and field and has stayed focused on the sport she loves,” Pioneers coach Kristin Mull said. “She puts in the work and effort required to perform at the highest level in our sport. It’s going to be exciting to watch her continue to strive for excellence over the next two years.”

Sophie Bliss, Sr., Central

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 16.16; 300 hurdles, 46.66

Bliss began her career by making the OSAA 5A state meet as a freshman, finishing fourth. Last spring, she had runner-up finishes in the 100 and 300 hurdles at the 5A state meet in Wilsonville — her only defeats of the season.

Victoria Forst, Jr., Tigard

Personal bests: 100, 12.68; 200, 25.56; 400, 58.56

Forst has run track in the Tigard youth programs since age 8, and finally last spring, she made her mark at the high school level, placing in the 200 (eighth) and 400 (sixth) at the 6A state meet. Tigers coach Doug Kuffel said that Forst dedicated herself to the weight room during the offseason. “We are excited to see how that translates to the track this season,” he said.

Xian Hartenstein, Jr., Westview

Personal bests: 100 hurdles, 16.16; 300 hurdles, 46.18

Hartenstein made up for lost time after missing out on her freshman season. She won both Metro district hurdles titles, then came back three days later to finish fourth at the 6A state meet in the 300s and seventh in the 100s. She was named after the former Chinese capital where her parents became engaged — the name means “Western Peace” in Chinese. “Xian is always seeking feedback on how to continue to refine her hurdling abilities,” Wildcats coach Aaron Koford said. “It’s not an uncommon sight to see her stick around for a little while after other athletes have finished their workouts to fit in a little more hurdle mobility work or practice a detail in her race.”