Oregon high school state track and field preview: Storylines, favorites, what to watch (boys)

A classification-by-classification look at this weekend's OSAA boys track and field state championships

By René Ferrán 

A classification-by-classification look at this weekend's OSAA boys track and field state championships 

Caleb Lakeman (Tualatin) photo by Taylor Balkom 

Where: Hayward Field, University of Oregon, Eugene

When: Thursday — 3A/2A/1A Field Events, 10 a.m.; 3A/2A/1A Running Events, 12:30 p.m. Friday — 6A/5A/4A Running and Field Events, 9 a.m. 3A/2A/1A Field Events, 3 p.m.; 3A/2A/1A Running Events, 4 p.m. Saturday — 6A/5A/4A Field Events, 9:30 a.m.; 6A/5A/4A Running Events, 12:30 p.m.

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CLASS 6A

2022 district champions

Roosevelt (PIL); Jesuit (Metro); Sherwood (Pacific); Central Catholic (Mt. Hood); Tualatin (Three Rivers); Summit (Mountain Valley); South Medford (Southwest)

Returning 2021 champions

Sherwood (team); Micah Perry, Jr., Barlow (110 hurdles); Nolan Malcomson, Sr., Ida B. Wells (300 hurdles); Adam Maxwell, Sr., West Linn (High jump); Blake Smith, Sr., Newberg (Triple jump)

What to watch

Team race

The Bowmen advanced the most qualifiers (18) as they look to add their first OSAA state championship to the unofficial title they won last spring. While they don’t have some of the top-end talent of some of their top challengers, they can score points all around Hayward Field.

Mt. Hood champion Central Catholic has plenty of firepower with 16 qualifiers, but almost all of it is on the track — the Rams likely won’t be picking off points in the field events, but with two top relays and entries capable of scoring points in every running event, that could prove the winning formula for a first state title. Tualatin (the 2019 champion) and Summit, looking to make an impact in its last 6A meet before dropping back to 5A next year, each brings 13 to Hayward and should challenge for podium finishes, if not top honors. 

Records ready to fall with sizzling distance races on tap

A month ago at Hayward Field, Tualatin senior Caleb Lakeman won one of the best distance races in state history, running 8:10.91 to win the Oregon Relays 3,000 that saw nine in-state runners break into the state's all-time top 50 list — Lakeman’s winning time ranks No. 4. 

Seven of those nine will contest the 3,000 on Friday morning, joined by Sunset senior Benjamin Balazs — who moved to No. 13 on the all-time state list with his victory at the Metro district meet last week — and Franklin senior Charlie North, runner-up at the 6A state cross country meet. At least one of them won’t even make the podium.

The next day, eight of them plan to double in the 1,500, including seven who were part of an Elite Mile at the Jesuit Twilight Relays that saw Lakeman run the third-fastest mile in state history. 

It all promises to produce two scintillating distance races to open the action on both Friday and Saturday of championship weekend, with state-meet records of 3:49.76 and 8:10.66 in severe jeopardy. 

Southern sprinters threaten northern dominance of 100, 200

It’s not often that Southern Oregon runners earn the title of Fastest Boy in the State. North Medford’s Tyren Wolfe was the last 6A state champion in the 100 and 200 from south of the Willamette Valley, adding the 200 in 2016 to the 100 title he won in 2015. Only one other Medford-area runner — Crater’s Jack Galpin in the 200 in 2011 — has won either of the short sprints in the past 50 years.

That crown could head south on I-5 rather than north this spring. The top two contenders in the 100 and 200 come from down south — South Medford junior Andrew Walker in both events, joined by Roseburg senior Landyn Dupper in the 100 and North Medford senior Nathan Rider in the 200. 

Central Catholic senior Xavier Simpson and Oregon City junior Jayce Bartley (winner of the Varsity 100 at the Jesuit Twilight Relays) will challenge in both races, and Simpson’s teammate, Stryder Todd-Fields, also is among the contenders in the 100.

Can Tigard’s Jackman cap meteoric rise with two state titles?

How much more improvement can we see from Tigard senior Elijah Jackman?

Entering the spring, he hadn’t thrown the shot put 50 feet in competition, and he hadn’t thrown farther than 153 feet in the discus. 

Fast forward to a month ago, when at the Wilsonville Invitational, he went 193-2 in the discus, moving to a tie for 11th on the all-time state list and within spitting distance of the top five. He then moved just outside the top 50 all-time in the shot with his winning throw of 58-8 at a four-team Three Rivers League meet this month.

His last time at Hayward, he had a strong showing in the shot — his 56-9 was second at the Oregon Relays and his personal best at the time — but a season worst in the discus. He’ll have redemption on his mind this weekend as well as a couple of state titles in his sights. 

Perry, Malcomson on collision course to 110 hurdles rematch

Barlow junior Micah Perry and Ida B. Wells senior Nolan Malcomson have shared the state lead in the 110 hurdles since their photo finish at the Sherwood Need for Speed Classic on April 9, both posting 14.41 times, with Perry winning the race by mere thousandths of a second.

The two haven’t met on the track since, but with Perry having the No. 1 seed and Malcomson No. 4, they could get paired twice at state — side-by-side in Friday’s prelims and again Saturday in the final, where they’ll likely be joined by seniors Caden McIlhenny of Grant, Adam Maxwell of West Linn and Tyler Bradley of Lakeridge in what should be a loaded race. 

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CLASS 5A

2022 district champions

Wilsonville (Northwest Oregon); Crater (Midwestern); Silverton (Mid-Willamette); Pendleton (Intermountain)

Returning 2021 champions

Churchill (team); Jeremiah Schwartz, Jr., Ridgeview (400); Tyrone Gorze, Jr., Crater (1500); Samuel Jennings, Sr., Pendleton (Javelin); Cooper Becklin, Sr., Wilsonville (High jump) Taylor Morehouse, Sr., The Dalles (Pole vault); Nathan Fields, Sr., Churchill (Triple jump)

What to watch

Team race

Wilsonville’s chances of winning a fifth state title (and first since 2006) took a hit when senior Rocco Marshall, a Sacramento State signee who was the state leader in the long jump (he won the title in 2021) and among the 5A leaders in the 100 and 200, suffered a season-ending injury on Day 1 of the NWOC district meet. The Wildcats still have a meet-high 19 qualifiers, but Pendleton and Silverton each brings 18 entries to Hayward Field. 

Crater might have the fewest qualifiers (15) of the four district champions, but the Comets’ dominance of the distance races will keep them in the title chase. Defending champion Churchill has Fields poised to score between 30 and 40 points in his four events but doesn’t have the depth to challenge the top four. Central (12 qualifiers), North Bend (12) and Crescent Valley (11) could find their way to the podium.

In a Fields of his own

With Marshall out of the long jump due to injury, that leaves Fields the favorite to win at least two state titles and among the contenders in his other two events.

He comes to his final state meet the defending champion and state leader in the triple jump, and he has the best long jump of anyone in the field. He also is the state leader in the 110 hurdles and is No. 2 behind Pendleton’s Anders Oja in the 300 hurdles — Oja is only one-hundredth of a second behind Fields in the highs.

Since 5A formed in 2007, only two boys — Marshfield’s Blake Kemp in 2011 and Marist Catholic’s Liam Henshaw in 2014 — have won three individual titles in a year. No one has won four. 

A couple of streaking Comets in the distances

Gorze has broken one of Evan Holland’s 5A junior class records this spring, running the fastest 3,000 by an 11th-grader at the Oregon Relays. He now takes aim at Holland’s all-classification junior record in the 1,500 (3:46.59) as well as Olympian Galen Rupp’s state junior record of 8:10.42 in the 3,000 on the same track that both distance greats called their college home. 

His teammate, Josiah Tostenson, broke national freshman records in the 1,500 and mile at last month’s Jesuit Twilight Relays. He broke the state freshman record in the 3,000 at the Bob Newland Classic. 

North Salem sprinter vying to make school history

Only one North Salem sprinter has won a boys state title — Jim Norval won the 100- and 220-yard dashes in 1956. Sophomore DeMari Thompson hopes to end that 66-year drought this spring, coming to Hayward Field as the top seed and 5A state leader in the 100 and the No. 2 seed in the 200, four-hundredths behind Thurston senior Tanner Crosswhite. 

Jennings hopes to skip to No. 2 on all-time javelin list

Pendleton senior Samuel Jennings has only a couple more chances to improve upon his 5A state record in the javelin (224-9) he set last summer before the BYU signee heads off on his two-year mission. There's no better setting to perhaps pass former Sandy great Art Skipper (227-7) and move to No. 2 on the all-time state list than at Hayward Field, where Skipper won a couple of state titles. Olympian Sam Crouser’s 255-4 set in 2010 is the state record. 

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CLASS 4A

2022 district champions

Valley Catholic (Cowapa); Madras (Tri-Valley); Philomath (Oregon West); Cottage Grove (Sky Em); Henley (Skyline); Baker (Greater Oregon) 

Returning 2021 champions

Hidden Valley (team); Brody Bushnell, Jr., Philomath (1500); Colton McMaster, Sr., Astoria (Shot put, Discus); Trent Summers, Jr., Marshfield (Pole vault); Eli Hayes, Sr., Henley (Triple jump) 

What to watch

Team race

With Hidden Valley down in numbers for this year’s meet, that leaves a wide-open title race. Valley Catholic advanced 13 entries to tie Baker for most qualifiers, and the Valiants will count on middle-distance ace Henry Tierney to lead the way. Henley, Philomath and Siuslaw each qualified 12 entries.

Mazama and Marshfield don’t have the depth of those five teams, but the Vikings have the most top seeds (four) of any team, while the Pirates will load up in the pole vault and with junior Alexander Garcia-Silver in the distances. 

Track events

If Mazama makes a run at a first team title since 1993, it will do so because of the strength of its sprint corps. Seniors Brandon Gailey (100, 200), Blaine Jeffrey (110 hurdles) and Savien Burk (300 hurdles) come in with the fastest times in 4A this spring in their events, and the Vikings could score up to 56 points in those four events. Two races that will affect the team standings feature two of 4A’s top distance runners — Tierney and Bushnell — going head-to-head in the 800 and 1,500. Garcia-Silver also will run the 1,500 and is the favorite to get 10 points for the Pirates in the 3,000. 

Field events

McMaster has a couple of 4A state records in his sights in his final OSAA meet before heading to Dartmouth. He is less than 2 feet off the records in the shot put and discus, and there’s no place better than Hayward to set a record. Marshfield has three of the classification’s top five pole vaulters and will need big points from the trio of Summers and sophomores Jonathon Parks and Danner Wilson to vault into the title race. Henley’s hopes ride on a big weekend from Hayes, who will compete in the long, triple and high jumps and is the 4A state leader in both horizontal jumps.

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CLASS 3A

2022 district champions

Catlin Gabel (District 1); Santiam Christian (District 2); La Pine (District 3); Douglas (District 4)

Returning 2021 champions

Catlin Gabel (team); Sam Veverka, Sr., Riverdale (100, Long jump); Malcolm Grant, Jr., Catlin Gabel (200); Benjamin Bourne, Jr., Santiam Christian (1500, 3000); Stephen Machin, Sr., La Pine (Shot put)

What to watch

Team race

The Eagles positioned themselves well to defend the culminating-week title they won last spring and win their third OSAA title since 2015. They advanced a meet-high 18 qualifiers, but Santiam Christian, La Pine and Warrenton — all with 15 qualifiers — won’t make Catlin Gabel’s title defense easy. 

Track events

Grant chose not to defend his title in the 110 hurdles, but sophomore Joshua Widdows will battle 3A leader Jayden Christy of Santiam Christian to keep the title at Catlin Gabel. St. Mary’s senior Gavin Cougle will make Grant’s title defense in the 200 and Veverka’s in the 100 difficult — Cougle has run 3A’s only sub-11 100 and sub-22 200 all spring. Bourne has not posted fast times this spring, but with strong fields including Catlin Gabel senior Evan Williams (the 3A leader in the 1,500 and 3,000) and top qualifier Zander Moha of Warrenton, that could inspire Bourne in his title defense. Eagles senior Eli Foster, last spring’s 800 champion, saw his repeat chances derailed by injuries. 

Field events

Machin figures to add the discus title to the shot he won last spring — his season best in the shot is seven feet farther than anyone else in the field and in the discus is 32 feet better. Veverka also comes in as the top seed in the long and triple jumps, although by much narrower margins as he defends his long jump title. La Pine freshman Devon Kerr, a state champion in wrestling during the winter, comes in as the top seed in the pole vault. 

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CLASS 2A

2022 district champions

Nestucca (District 1); Delphian (District 2); Central Linn (District 3); Coquille (District 4); Grant Union (District 5)

Returning 2021 champions

East Linn Christian (team); Zac Knapp, Sr., Enterprise (1500, 3000); Miguel Pimienta, Sr., Nestucca (300 hurdles); Jaysson Swirtz, Sr., Nestucca (Javelin); Ben Behrens, Jr., Colton (High jump); Hunter Angove, Sr., Bandon (Pole vault); Zak Holsey, Sr., Waldport (Long jump); Trevor Angove, Sr., Bandon (Triple jump) 

What to watch

Team race

Bandon finished second by 10 points to Coquille at the District 4 meet, but the Tigers qualified 11 entries (matching Nestucca for meet-high honors), including three anchors in the Angove twins and senior Ansen Converse. The two South Coast powers will challenge Delphian (10 qualifiers), Weston-McEwen (nine) and Grant Union (eight). Enterprise, with Knapp as the top seed in the 1,500 and 3,000 and senior Levi Ortswan the top seed in the 400, could sneak into the trophy hunt.

Track events

With three champions from last year’s culminating-week championships not returning — Portland Christian senior Luke Lehman skipped the 800 to compete in the 200 and 400 this spring, while Delphian’s Anthony Popa (200) and Lost River’s Victor Alonzo (400) didn’t turn out — this year’s state meet should be wide-open. Perhaps the only sure thing will be Knapp, a University of Idaho signee who won the 2A/1A cross country title in the fall and now hopes to add OSAA track titles to those he won last spring. Coquille senior Gunner Yates, a WaFd Bank SBLive Oregon all-state selection at running back, is the top seed in the 100 and 200. 

Field events

Bandon’s title hopes hinge on how the Angove twins fare in their events. Trevor is among the favorites in the long, triple and high jumps, while Hunter broke the school record in the pole vault at the district meet to become the fifth 2A vaulter to clear 15 feet. Salem Academy sophomore Caleb McGraw and Regis senior Cameron Diacetis should reprise their season-long duel in the shot — McGraw won the latest round at district last week — and the top four in the discus are within 21 inches of each other on the 2A state rankings. 

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CLASS 1A

2022 district champions

Southwest Christian (District 1); Pacific (District 2); Horizon Christian (District 3); Adrian (District 4)

Returning 2021 champions

Powder Valley (team); Conley Martin, Sr., Adrian (100); Colin Friend, Sr., St. Stephen’s Academy (1500, 3000); Greg Reedy, Sr., Days Creek (Shot put); Kale Ferguson, Jr., Joseph (Discus); Elijah Wytcherley, Sr., Glendale (High jump)

What to watch

Team race

Adrian won a tight three-team battle with Powder Valley and Joseph to win the Eastern Oregon district meet. The Antelopes will depend on their sprint corps, led by the Martin brothers (Jace and Conley) to power their title hopes. They and Southwest Christian advanced a meet-high 12 entries, while the Badgers have 10 qualifiers and the Eagles nine. 

Track events

Adrian’s Conley Martin chose not to defend his title in the 400, instead joining younger brother Jace in the 100 and 200 — Jace is the top seed in each — and on the Antelopes’ state-leading 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Friend is the clear favorite to repeat in the 1,500 and 3,000, coming to the meet as the 1A state leader in the 1,500 by eight seconds and the 3,000 by 35 seconds. Harper senior Ryan Talbot, the 1A state leader in the 110 hurdles, didn’t compete after the Oregon Relays, giving Powder Valley senior Kaiden Krieger the chance to sweep the hurdles titles.

Field events

Wytcherly, the state leader for all classifications in the high jump, sandbagged a bit at the district meet with his busy schedule — he’ll compete in the long jump and both hurdles races as well as his specialty at state, where he hopes to join Prairie City’s Cole Hoberg and Griswold’s Tim Porter as 1A record-holders at 6-9. The javelin competition should be fun to watch, with the top five throwers all within 4 feet of each other on the 1A state rankings, led by North Clackamas Christian senior Luke Nelson at 165-4. With Talbot, the 1A leader in the pole vault, not in the field, the OSAA champion might come from Washington — Trout Lake teammates Sawyer Dean and Landon Heberling are the only 13-foot vaulters remaining. 

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