Oregon high school track and field: Meet the state’s top distance runners – OregonLive
Don’t Edit
BEST DISTANCE RUNNERS IN OREGON TRACK & FIELD
Don’t Edit
Over the next two weeks, Rene Ferran will be introducing us to many of the state’s top high school track and field athletes.
Today, it’s the distance runners. Here are more than 40 of the state’s best in the 800, 1500 and 3000.
This list does not include Jesuit standout Makenna Schumacher, the two-time Class 6A state 3000-meter champion and 2017 state cross country champion who signed with the University of Washington in November but is out for the season because of various injuries.
***
Text by Rene Ferran, who can be reached at rferran.oregonianhssports@gmail.com. Photos by Chase Allgood, Ben Ludeman, Amanda Miles, Serena Morones and Rockne Roll. All marks through April 15.
***
Earlier:
Meet the state’s top sprinters and hurdlers
Don’t Edit
Abdinasir Hussein, Jr., Roosevelt
Personal bests: 800, 2:01.60; 1500, 4:03.30; 3000, 8:36.95.
Hussein broke onto the running scene last spring with a fifth-place finish in the 3000 at the Oregon Relays. A month later, he returned to Hayward Field and placed eighth in the 6A 3000 at state. In the fall, he qualified for the state cross country championships for the second time with a second-place finish at the PIL district meet and placed 40th. Hussein has drawn interest from Boise State, Northern Arizona, Colorado and Wisconsin, among others. “Abdi has a strong drive to be a great runner, which is seen with his 6 a.m. first runs of the day, followed by afternoon workouts,” said Roughriders coach Jonquill Vann. “He’s driven and focused on running at the next level.”
Don’t Edit
Ahmed Ibrahim, Jr., Parkrose
Personal bests: 800, 1:58.13; 1500, 3:58.05; 3000, 8:51.0.
The youngest of three brothers to run for the Broncos, Ibrahim started his career by just missing the medals podium at the 5A state cross country meet with a 13th-place finish as a sophomore. He took home hardware from his first trip to the 5A state track meet, though, with a fourth-place finish in the 1500 and a seventh in the 800 after winning Northwest Oregon district titles in each. Last fall, he won the district cross country title and took third at state, drawing the attention of several colleges, including Boise State, Georgetown and the U.S. Military Academy. “A lot can be said about Ahmed’s growth in terms of his athletic ability and maturity,” said Parkrose coach Steve Sexton. “One aspect of Ahmed that I admire is his low anxiety when in competition – he seems to not allow anxiety to take all his energy and attention, but just seems to go with the flow. Every good team needs somebody to elevate their game, and Ahmed has that influence on everyone.”
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Aidan Palmer, Jr., Franklin
Personal bests: 800, 1:59.06; 1500, 4:08.4; 3000, 8:50.23.
Palmer turned out for track his freshman year to stay in shape for soccer, his first love, but he quickly realized that he had a knack for distance running. The next fall, he chose cross country over soccer and qualified for the 6A state meet, placing 38th. He didn’t make it out of a deep PIL district meet in track last spring, but he announced himself a top contender in the fall, winning the district cross country title and placing second at state, drawing looks from Gonzaga, Boise State, Washington and Portland. “He’s a great all-around kid who made the hard choice to give up soccer and completely commit to distance running,” said Quakers coach Jacob Michaels. “He’s a ferocious competitor with one of the greatest kicks I have seen in high school, and Franklin is known for its distance runners who can kick hard and win state championships.”
Don’t Edit
Alejandra Lopez, Sr., Kennedy
Personal bests: 800, 2:26.1; 1500, 4:51.88; 3000, 10:32.01.
Lopez had won eight medals at OSAA state championships during her career, including two second-place medals in the 2A 1500 and 3000 last spring, before finally climbing to the top of the podium at the 3A/2A/1A state cross country championships in November. The Southern Oregon commit was the Tri-River Track Athlete of the Year in 2018 and currently leads the 2A ranks in the 3000 despite battling nagging injuries. “Alejandra was not particularly athletic in her younger years but tried track in middle school and had some success running distance races,” said Trojans coach Steven Ritchie. “She has really developed as a runner in high school and achieved some great things. Alejandra worked her tail off during the summer to get ready for cross country, and it worked out well for her.”
Don’t Edit
Andrew Payton, Jr., Tualatin
Personal bests: 800, 1:58.04; 1500, 3:59.16.
Payton has developed into a middle distance specialist on the track, winning the Three Rivers district title in the 1500 last spring and placing sixth at the 6A state meet. In cross country, after finishing second at district and 17th at state as a sophomore, he came back last fall to win the district title and place 13th at state.
Don’t Edit
Anika Thompson, Soph., Junction City
Personal bests: 800, 2:26.52; 1500, 4:53.51; 3000, 10:21.27.
Thompson excels the longer the race goes. As a freshman last May, she finished second at the Sky-Em district meet in the 3000 and placed fourth at the 4A state championships. Last fall, she took second at the 4A cross country state meet to Tillamook’s Solace Bergeron. “Anika is a fearless competitor with a great work ethic,” said Tigers coach Jared Brougher. “When she races, she can make decisions on the fly regarding race strategy. She has set her sights on the JCHS record board and on competing at state for a second year in a row.”
Don’t Edit
Anna Chau, Sr., South Salem
Personal bests: 800, 2:20.97; 1500, 4:42.56; 3000, 10:01.49.
Chau has placed at the 6A state meet in the 3000 each of the past two years, finishing seventh as a sophomore and fifth last year. She took seventh in the 1500 after sweeping the Greater Valley district titles in the longer distances. Chau also has posted back-to-back 12th-place finishes at the state cross country championships after placing fourth as a freshman.
Photo: Molly J Smith, Statesman Journal
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Arlo Davis, Jr., Ashland
Personal bests: 800, 1:59.04; 1500, 4:00.00; 3000, 9:09.24.
Davis made his name known in the distances with a 14th-place finish at the 5A state cross country meet as a sophomore. He followed that last spring by emerging from a deep field to place fifth in the 1500 at state, and in the fall, he improved to a fourth-place finish at state in cross country. “He and Evan (Holland) are both hard-working student-athletes with great leadership skills for teammates to follow,” said Grizzlies coach Hans Voskes. “Their success is not just because of their incredible talent but their ability to work hard and race even harder.”
Don’t Edit
Ben Brown, Sr., Central Catholic
Personal bests: 1500, 4:08.63; 3000, 8:57.07.
Brown has had an up-and-down career. After what Rams distance coach Dave Frank described as a “difficult sophomore year,” he came back to earn third-team all-state honors with a 16th-place finish at the 6A state cross country championships. He battled through injuries to qualify for state in the 3000 in the spring but didn’t make the podium, but in the fall, he roared back with a fourth-place finish at the state cross country meet to lead the Rams to a title over pre-race favorites Franklin and Jesuit. He has committed to run for Gonzaga University. “After a solid, yet unsatisfying, junior year of track, Ben redoubled his efforts during the summer,” Frank said. “As great as his individual achievements were, Ben basked far more in the glow of the team title. He is a true leader and has been a huge factor in the development of our younger runners.”
Don’t Edit
Charlie Robertson, Soph., Franklin
Personal bests: 800, 1:58.97; 1500, 4:06.64; 3000, 8:59.39.
As a freshman, Robertson won the PIL JV cross country title, and he came back last fall to place third at district and seventh at the 6A state championships. He has run a 1:58/4:06 double this spring and could end up being a middle distance threat for the Quakers. “He and Aiden (Palmer) are amazing racers who rise to the occasion,” said Franklin coach Jacob Michaels. “The great thing about racing is anything can happen at a state meet.”
Don’t Edit
Chloe Foerster, Fr., Jesuit
Personal bests: 800, 2:13.90; 1500, 4:59.09.
Foerster entered high school fresh from state titles in the 400 and 800 at the Oregon Middle School Meet of Champions, and she started her prep career with a bang – placing in the top 10 in every cross country meet, including a third at Metro district and seventh at the 6A state championships. This spring, she’s run a state-leading 2:13.90 in the 800, making her the latest distance standout to join the fold at Jesuit. “Chloe has adjusted to high school racing really well and embraced her new team,” said longtime Crusaders distance coach Tom Rothenberger. “She’s very talented, got a good attitude and is super hard-working. She’s just learning how to race; adjusting to high school racing was new for her.”
Don’t Edit
Daniel Beckstead, Sr., Grants Pass
Personal bests: 800, 1:59.64; 1500, 4:00.40; 3000, 8:40.94.
Beckstead is a two-time Southwest district cross country champion who placed sixth at the 6A state meet in the fall, following a junior campaign on the track during which he won the district 3000 title and earned two medals at state – sixth in the 3K and seventh in the 1500. He plans to run at Lane Community College. “On the 4th of July two years ago, Daniel lost two teammates who were also dear friends of his in a tragic plane crash,” Cavemen coach Jenner Yriarte related. “I believe that the ‘high’ of running might be his connection to them, because he runs with an unbelievable passion. He will do great things in this world, as he will no doubt take these attributes with him beyond the track.”
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Ellyse Tingelstad, Jr., Joseph
Personal bests: 1500, 4:57.75; 3000, 10:49.28.
Tingelstad skipped eighth grade and entered high school a year early, and she finally caught up to her peers during a sophomore season in which she was undefeated in the 3000 en route to becoming a double-champion at the 1A state meet in the 1500 and 3000, breaking her sister Isabelle’s school records in the process. She also has made the podium all three years at the 3A/2A/1A state cross country meet, placing a career-best fifth last fall. “Ellyse is just an outstanding athlete,” said Eagles coach John Roberts. “She loves to run; she is a workaholic. It’s been a joy coaching her and her older sister, too.”
Don’t Edit
Emma Schmerbach, Soph., South Medford
Personal bests: 800, 2:19.23; 1500, 4:40.68; 3000, 10:12.32.
Schmerbach is a two-time Southwest district cross country champion who placed seventh at 6A state as a freshman. She followed that in the spring by winning the 1500/3000 district double on the track and bringing home two state medals (fourth in the 3K, fifth in the 1500) from Hayward Field. “Emma is already one of the best distance runners in school history, and she’s only a sophomore,” said Panthers coach Amanda Boster. “Emma is very competitive, and that spirit really comes out while she races and gives it her all as she tries to be first to the finish line. She is also a three-sport varsity athlete, which helps her to stay mentally fresh and avoid injuries. It’s going to be another exciting year as Emma goes for another medal at state.”
Don’t Edit
Emmett Klus, Sr., Burns
Personal bests: 400, 51.91; 800, 1:57.50; 1500, 4:08.58; 3000, 9:23.25.
Klus focused on the longer distances earlier in his career, placing fifth in the 3000 as a sophomore at the 3A state meet to go with a third in the 1500. He turned his focus to the middle distances last spring and made the long trip home to Southeast Oregon a double champion, sweeping the 800 and 1500 state titles at Hayward Field. The Western Oregon signee then showed off his range in November by winning the 3A/2A/1A state cross country title. “Emmett is a hard-working kid who is a pleasure to coach,” said Hilanders coach Nick Miller. “An extremely humble runner, regardless of where he places in a race, he waits around the finish line and congratulates all of his competitors.”
Don’t Edit
Ethan Reese, Sr., Sunset
Personal bests: 800, 1:53.45; 1500, 4:00.98.
Reese won the Metro district 800 title as a sophomore but didn’t make the finals at the 6A state meet. He flipped the script last spring, finishing third at district and earning a wild card into the state meet, where he proceeded to hold off a strong field to win the title. That proved to be a springboard into cross country season, during which he won Metro district and state championships. Reese will run for Princeton. “Ethan is very intelligent and a savvy racer,” said Apollos coach Dan Neeway. “He has been able to take advantage of opportunities during races with his ability to quickly judge his situation.”
Don’t Edit
Evan Holland, Jr., Ashland
Personal bests: 800, 1:53.84; 1500, 3:54.32; 3000, 8:21.17.
Holland has developed into one of the top distance runners of this generation. The 8:21.17 he ran at the Arcadia Invitational for 3000 meters this month (on his way to an eighth-place finish in the 3200) ranks in the top 15 in state history – just the latest accomplishment in his burgeoning career. Holland swept the 1500 and 3000 state titles at the 5A meet last spring, then added the state cross country title in the fall after placing second as a sophomore. For good measure, he won Nike BorderClash and the Northwest Regional titles before finishing 16th at Nike Cross Nationals. “He and Arlo (Davis) are both hard-working student-athletes with great leadership skills for teammates to follow,” said Grizzlies coach Hans Voskes. “Their success is not just because of their incredible talent but their ability to work hard and race even harder.”
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Fiona Max, Jr., Summit
Personal bests: 800, 2:18.31; 1500, 4:34.08; 3000, 9:46.16.
In six career races at an OSAA state championship meet, Max has finished no worse than second. She won the 5A 3000 last spring for her first state title, then won a matchup with defending 6A state champion Makenna Schumacher of Jesuit at the cross country championships to lead the Storm to the team title in their first year as a 6A school. She followed that with a third-place finish at Nike BorderClash, a sixth at NXR Northwest Regionals and an 11th at Nike Cross Nationals, then broke 5 minutes in the mile in finishing second at the Nike Boise Indoor to Idaho state champion Lexy Halladay. “Fiona has proven herself as a fierce competitor,” said Summit coach Dave Turnbull. “She has the qualities we all want in our athletes. Look for great things from Fi!”
Don’t Edit
Frances Dickinson, Jr., Hood River Valley
Personal bests: 1500, 4:50.20; 3000, 10:13.74.
Dickinson didn’t turn out for track until her sophomore season after she placed 10th at the 5A state cross country meet the previous fall, and she posted fourth-place finishes at state in both the 1500 and 3000 at Hayward Field. Dickinson came back last fall and finished in the top 10 in all seven races she ran, finishing the season by winning the 5A state title and leading the Eagles to their first team title since 1992. Over the winter, she competed in cross-country skiing, placing 17th in the 5.5K freestyle and 21st in the 4K classic at the Nordic State Championships. “Frances has matured substantially as a runner in both her mental and physical preparation,” said Hood River Valley coach Brandon Bertram. “Frances is driven daily by her equally motivated teammates.”
Don’t Edit
Francesca Ierulli, Sr., Wilson
Personal bests: 800, 2:21.86; 1500, 4:41.67; 3000, 10:10.83.
Ierulli finally broke through at an OSAA state meet last spring, when she finished sixth in the 6A 1500 and seventh in the 3000 at Hayward Field. She followed that last fall with her first podium finish in three trips to the state cross country championships with a sixth-place finish. She’ll be back at Hayward Field next spring – she has been asked to walk on to the Oregon track team. “Fran is a dream athlete for a coach,” said Trojans coach Thor Esbensen. “She is a hardened competitor and seeks out the best athletes to compete against. She is an inspiration to her team, and she has always cared more about her team than her individual accomplishments.”
Don’t Edit
Giovanni Bravo, Sr., Woodburn
Personal bests: 1500, 4:00.55; 3000, 8:58.67.
Bravo is a two-time medalist at the state cross country championships, placing seventh at the 5A meet as a junior and eighth at the 4A meet last fall. On the track, he broke through in the 1500 last spring, winning the Mid-Willamette district title and placing sixth at state. If nothing else, Bravo has shown a flair for the dramatic – he won the 138-pound state title at the 4A wrestling championships in February by hitting a suicide cradle for the winning near fall with 5 seconds left in the match. “What I like most about Giovanni is his drive to compete,” said Bulldogs coach Craig Christoff. “I know that when he runs a race, he will not leave anything in his tank.”
Don’t Edit
Haile Stutzman, Sr., Silverton
Personal bests: 1500, 4:03.29; 3000, 8:43.79.
Stutzman broke through last spring by qualifying for the 5A state meet for the first time, taking home a fifth-place medal with a 6½-second personal best in the 3000 final that broke the school record. He followed that in the fall by earning his first podium finish in four trips to the state cross country championships, placing sixth after winning the Mid-Willamette district title for the first time. He recently committed to Huntington University in Indiana for cross country and track. “Haile is meticulous in his preparation for his events,” said Foxes coach Erik Cross. “He is hyper-focused on doing the things necessary to stay healthy and give himself the best chance to perform well in competition. Beyond athletics, Haile is one of the kindest students I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.”
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Hannah Rannow, Jr., Siuslaw
Personal bests: 800, 2:18.54; 1500, 4:53.98; 3000, 10:29.29.
After a so-so freshman season, Rannow broke through last year, following a 13th-place finish at the 4A state cross country championships by winning the state title in the 800 and taking fifth in the 3000 – she won Far West district titles in both events. In the fall, Rannow finished fourth at the state cross country meet, and this spring she ran a 5:13.44 mile to finish second to Arcata (Calif.) exchange student Thea Norlund at the Prefontaine Invite. “Hannah is one of the hardest-working athletes I’ve ever coached,” said Vikings coach Chris Johnson. “There is no question that her success is a by-product of her work ethic. Luckily, Hannah is versatile, so we can go a lot of different directions as far as what races she will run during the championship phase of the season.”
Photo: Mike Smith
Don’t Edit
Henry Giles, Sr., Sherwood
Personal bests: 1500, 4:00.58; 3000, 8:40.63.
Giles showed his versatility when he broke school records in the 1500 and 3000 in track and the 5000 in cross country during his junior year, when he qualified for state for the first time in both sports, placing seventh in the 6A 3000 for his first podium finish. “It’s business as usual for him to go out and push the limits of his ability,” said Bowmen coach Terrel Smith. “He has come into this season in shape, ready and hungry for a significant senior year.”
Don’t Edit
Hunter Nichols, Sr., Heppner
Personal bests: 800, 1:57.5; 1500, 4:14.58; 3000, 9:05.20.
Nichols has steadily moved up the podium at the 2A state meet in the 3000, finishing eighth as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and second last year with a 3-second personal best. He added a third in the 1500 to improve upon an eighth in 2017. In the fall, he posted a career-best third-place finish at the 3A/2A/1A state cross country championships, and several weeks later signed a letter of intent with Eastern Oregon. “Hunter has consistently worked hard for his own success, but he also has been a motivator and team leader,” said Mustangs coach and father Russ Nichols. “As the coach’s son, he was exposed to running at an early age and has always been committed to competing at the next level.”
Don’t Edit
Isabel Max, Jr., Summit
Personal bests: 800, 2:14.15; 1500, 4:45.65.
While twin sister Fiona has made herself into a long distance specialist, Isabel has turned into a middle distance machine, winning the 5A 800 state title as a sophomore after placing second in the event as a freshman. She ran the second leg on the state champion 4×400 relay. She also has a third-place finish at the 5A state cross country meet in 2017 and an eighth at the 6A meet last fall. “Izzy has developed great foot speed, and we will use that to our advantage this year,” said Storm coach Dave Turnbull. “She is also a straight-A student and has leadership qualities and the highest integrity.”
Don’t Edit
Jack Silveira, Sr., Cove
Personal bests: 800, 2:02.56; 1500, 4:21.87; 3000, 9:19.16.
When Silveira signed his letter of intent with Eastern Oregon in February, he related how he once considered distance running to be “evil.” He ran track just to stay in shape for football, but prodded by his teammates, he turned out for cross country as a junior and had immediate success, finishing 15th at the 3A/2A/1A state meet. He followed that in the spring by finishing second at the 1A state meet to teammate Tim Stevens in the 3000 and to Camas Valley’s Derek O’Connor in the 800. He is slowly working his way back into shape after suffering a calf injury that limited his offseason training.
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
James Talley, Jr., Cottage Grove
Personal bests: 800, 1:59.95; 1500, 4:14.64; 3000, 8:57.76.
Talley had a breakthrough sophomore season on the track, winning the Sky-Em district title in the 3000 and placing second at the 4A state meet with a 19-second personal best. He came back in the fall and won the district title in cross country before finishing 18th at state. “Jimmy is a highly self-motivated athlete whose drive encourages his fellow teammates and competitors,” said Lions cross country coach Jim Settlemeyer. “His easy-going attitude fosters camaraderie among his teammates and helps set the tone in practice.”
Photo: Andy Nelson, The Register-Guard
Don’t Edit
Jantz Tostenson, Sr., Crater
Personal bests: 800, 1:59.3; 1500, 3:59.93; 3000, 8:28.74.
Tostenson has won six track and two cross country medals at OSAA 5A state championships, including the 1500 state title as a sophomore and second-place finishes in the 3000 last spring and the state cross country meet in November. He will continue his career at Georgetown University. “Jantz is an incredibly hard-working athlete who has put all his energy and time into both academics and athletics,” said Comets coach Kierra Huggins. “He is a leader and encourages the distance team to push themselves to be the best athlete possible.”
Don’t Edit
Joey Peterson, Sr., Marist Catholic
Personal bests: 1500, 4:23.40; 3000, 9:21.13.
There might not have been a bigger surprise at November’s state cross country championships than in the 4A race, when Peterson – who hadn’t made the podium in either cross country or track during his career – seized the lead with a half-mile to go and held on for a three-second victory. “Watching him grow from one of our top JV runners as a freshman into a state cross country champion as a senior was something,” said Spartans coach Chase Wells. “He really put in lots of work and trusted the process. He’s pretty quiet with his emotions, but he gets this look on his face where you can see how determined he is and that there’s a fire burning inside him. He’s a true testament to what can happen if you are willing to put in the work, suffering and sacrifice to achieve your goal.”
Don’t Edit
Kelsey Gripekoven, Jr., Summit
Personal bests: 1500, 4:50.53; 3000, 9:57.92.
Gripekoven ran for Jesuit for 1½ years, qualifying for the 6A state meet in the 3000 as a freshman and placing fifth at the state cross country meet as a sophomore before transferring to another distance powerhouse in Summit over the winter. She won the Summit Invitational and Jesuit Twilight 3000s for the Storm before placing second at the 5A state meet in May. In November, she posted an 11th-place finish at the 6A cross country meet to help the Storm to the team title. “Grip has the heart of a lion, yet a calm, classy demeanor – what an interesting combination,” said Summit coach Dave Turnbull. “Grip will be great at the 1500 and 3000 this year, and we hope to see her high up on the podium.”
Don’t Edit
Konnor Hathaway, Sr., Gladstone
Personal bests: 800, 1:57.81; 1500, 4:22.62; 3000, 9:55.7.
Hathaway has developed into an 800 specialist, honing his craft to the point where last May, he won the 4A state title with a 2-second personal best. He plans to study nursing in college and has talked with Pacific Lutheran about running collegiately. “What I’ve enjoyed most about working with Konnor that you don’t see from athletic.net is the toughness with which he runs each workout and each race,” said Gladiators coach Patrick Irwin. “Konnor’s willingness to push his body to its limits and still try to find that extra gear is an internal drive that doesn’t come along for a coach too often.”
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Kyla Becker, Sr., Lincoln
Personal bests: 800, 2:17.41; 1500, 4:31.30; 3000, 9:54.62.
Becker has the versatility to run anything from anchor leg on the 4×400 to the 3000, but it is the longer distances at which she excels most. She has qualified for the 6A state meet each of the past two years in the 1500 and 3000, placing third in both events as a junior, and in cross country, she has posted top-20 finishes all four years, including podium finishes as a junior (10th) and senior (third). She has signed with the University of British Columbia. “Kyla is the model of consistency,” said Cardinals coach Eric Dettman. “She’s worked her way from being a good freshman to a great senior. We expect her to be in the hunt to place extremely high in her events at the state meet.”
Don’t Edit
Lila Fenner, Jr., Catlin Gabel
Personal bests: 800, 2:19.36; 1500, 4:45.65; 3000, 10:43.94; Pole vault, 9-0.
Fenner ran last season in the shadow of teammate Maya Rayle, who set the 3A 1500 state record and won two state titles, but she wasn’t too shabby herself, finishing third in the 800 and 1500 at state. As a freshman, Fenner took third in the 3K and fourth in the 1500 at state. With Rayle now running at Harvard, Fenner has the spotlight to herself, and she has so far shined, winning the district cross country title and placing third at state to lead Catlin Gabel to the 3A/2A/1A team title. “Lila has been a great leader,” said Eagles coach Greg Hess. “She works hard every day and wants to compete and win.”
Don’t Edit
Lucy Huelskamp, Jr., Sunset
Personal bests: 800, 2:14.61; 1500, 4:30.13; 3000, 9:48.01.
Huelskamp has the middle distance chops to win the Centennial Invitational 800 in 2:14.61 and place second in the 1500 at the 6A state meet last spring, and the stamina to dominate at longer distances, finishing second in the 3000 at state and posting three podium finishes at the state cross country championships, including a career-best fourth-place finish in November. “Lucy holds herself to high standards in everything that she does,” said Apollos coach Dan Neeway. “She is driven by the desire to be the absolute best version of herself.”
Don’t Edit
Madeline Nason, Fr., Corvallis
Personal bests: 1500, 4:52.99; 3000, 10:28.58.
Nason announced herself on the Oregon prep running scene in the fall, when she finished second at the Mid-Willamette district cross country meet and third at the 5A state championships. She ranks among the top 20 in the state in the 1500 with her victory at The Willamette Falls Invitational. Nason also is a top distance swimmer – she placed 19th in the 1,000-yard freestyle at last month’s Northwest Speedo Sectionals and was the third-fastest among 15-year-olds in the race. “She swam two hours every day all winter, so we’re taking it very easy until the legs get in shape,” said Spartans coach Mark Hulburt. “She is very fit, but we’re taking it one day at a time. I do think she has the talent to run very fast in May, and that’s all we want.”
Don’t Edit
McKenna Priske, Jr., Marist Catholic
Personal bests: 1500, 4:58.01; 3000, 10:15.41.
Priske played volleyball each of her first two years at Marist Catholic before a finger injury ended her career and sent her looking for a new fall sport. She turned to cross country and proved to be a quick study, winning the Sky-Em district title in her first year with the fastest time by a 4A girl over 5000 meters before placing 39th at the state championships. Now out for track for the first time, she won the 1500 at the Marist Track Classic on April 6 and has broken 5 minutes over that distance.
Photo: Andy Nelson, The Register-Guard
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Mckenzi Hoyt, Sr., Burns
Personal bests: 800, 2:26.99; 1500, 4:56.06; 3000, 11:28.93.
Hoyt placed fourth at the 2A state meet in the 3000 as a freshman and fifth at 3A state as a sophomore before transitioning to the middle distances last spring, when she placed fifth in the 800 and sixth in the 1500 after winning Eastern Oregon district titles in each. The Lane Community College signee also qualified for the state cross country championships for the first time last fall, placing second in the 3A/2A/1A meet to Kennedy’s Alejandra Lopez. “Mckenzi is a hard-working kid who will compete for a title in whichever two races we decide to run her in,” said Hilanders coach Nick Miller.
Don’t Edit
Mia Kane, Soph., Lincoln
Personal bests: 1500, 4:44.76; 3000, 10:08.17.
Kane splits time between the soccer pitch and the running trails, but she’s done pretty well so far as a part-time runner. She made the podium at the 6A state meet as a freshman with an eighth-place finish in the 1500, and in the fall she finished 10th at her first state cross country championships. “Mia is a super talent,” said Cardinals coach Eric Dettman. “As she continues to mature as a runner and build her base, she’ll be a heavy hitter in the years to come.”
Don’t Edit
Molly Grant, Soph., Jesuit
Personal bests: 400, 58.70; 800, 2:12.27; 1500, 5:04.91.
Molly and her twin sister Paige form the core of the Crusaders’ middle distance corps. Molly placed second in the 800 at the 6A state meet as a freshman and ran a leg on the state champion 4×400 relay, which she now anchors. Both twins also played JV volleyball, and Molly was part of Jesuit’s basketball team that made it to the Chiles Center last month. “She’s one of those athletes who just shows up every day – no complaining, just, ‘Yes, coach, what can I do to get better?’” said girls track coach Nick Davies. “She just wants to go out and compete.”
Don’t Edit
Paige Grant, Soph., Jesuit
Personal bests: 800, 2:13.70; 1500, 4:51.61.
While Molly is the slightly faster of the twins, Paige has a slight bit more endurance and eventually will branch out her repertoire to include the 1500 more regularly. In the meantime, she owns a fourth-place medal in the 800 from last year’s 6A state meet and ran a leg on the state champion 4×400. “She just shows up and works,” said Crusaders coach Nick Davies. “People who do that, good things will happen for them.”
Don’t Edit
Peter Lechman, Sr., Churchill
Personal bests: 1500, 4:03.88; 3000, 8:37.74.
Lechman broke through during his sophomore season, when he placed third in the 3000 and seventh in the 1500 at the 5A state meet. Last year, despite suffering from low iron levels that affected his running, he placed ninth at the state cross country championships and fourth in the 3000 at state. With his iron levels normalized, he blazed to fifth-place finishes in cross country at the state meet and NXR Northwest Regional Championships. “We are excited to see him come back for his senior year healthy and can’t wait to see what he will be able to do this year,” said Lancers assistant coach Gabriel LeMay. “The sky is the limit for this young man.”
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Quincy Norman, Jr., Forest Grove
Personal bests: 1500, 4:01.16; 3000, 8:33.98.
Norman followed a freshman season in which he placed second in the 3000 at the 6A state meet by placing third at the state cross country championships and taking eighth in the 1500 as a sophomore. The two-time Greater Valley district 3000 champion ranks in the top 20 statewide this spring in the 1500 and 3000.
Don’t Edit
Ryland McCullough, Jr., Crater
Personal bests: 800, 1:55.29; 1500, 4:09.4.
McCullough is one of the more accomplished of the Comets’ deep middle distance corps. He twice has qualified for the 5A state meet in the 800, placing third last spring with a 2-second personal best. He also ran the third leg on the Comets’ fifth-place 4×400 relay, then posted a 17th-place finish for the second consecutive season at the state cross country championships in November. “It is evident that running is his passion,” said Crater coach Kierra Huggins. “He is an athlete who takes the training and advice seriously from his coach.”
Don’t Edit
Samantha Prusse, Jr., Wilsonville
Personal bests: 800, 2:22.59; 1500, 4:51.12; 3000, 10:59.44.
While Prusse has proven her long distance ability at the 5A state cross country championships, qualifying all three years and placing sixth last fall for her first podium finish, she specializes in the middle distances on the track. She placed eighth in the 1500 at state as a freshman, then came back last spring to take home two medals – fourth in the 800 and fifth in the 1500. “Sam is a great athlete to coach,” said Wildcats coach Dave Barkley. “She is talented but is not resting on her talent. She does all of the little details and likes the process of training and racing.”
Don’t Edit
Solace Bergeron, Jr., Tillamook
Personal bests: 1500, 4:46.94; 3000, 10:29.23.
Bergeron has finished second at the 4A state meet in the 3000 each of the past two years, and she improved from third as a freshman to second last year in the 1500. She also has won back-to-back state cross country titles after placing second as a freshman, and she added a fifth-place finish at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships in November. “Solace has the ability to rise to the occasion and always runs her best when it counts,” said Cheesemakers coach Patrick Zweifel.
Don’t Edit
Sophie Fisher, Jr., Crescent Valley
Personal bests: 1500, 4:39.32; 3000, 10:11.47.
Fisher suffered an ankle injury right before the 5A state cross country meet her sophomore year that kept her from racing. That disappointment fueled her during the track season in the spring, which ended with her atop the podium after winning the 1500 state title. That followed a third-place finish in the 3000 and presaged a Mid-Willamette district title and fourth-place finish at the state cross country meet in November. “She seemed to flip a switch after her sophomore cross country season,” said Raiders coach Tyler Bushnell. “She just started chopping time off her previous bests in every event she touched. Through it all, she maintained such a healthy, open mind about the experience. We look forward to her continued development as one of the top distance runners in the state.”
Don’t Edit
Don’t Edit
Stephanie Finley, Sr., Oregon Episcopal
Personal bests: 1500, 4:45.27; 3000, 10:15.24.
Finley has displayed her versatility throughout her high school career. As a freshman, she placed third at the 3A state meet in the 1500 and 3000. The following year, she won a district title in the 400 and placed fifth at state, won the 1500 title and took second in the 3000. Last year, she anchored the fourth-place 4×400 relay, took second in the 1500 and finished third in the 3000. She also was a standout midfielder for the state champion soccer team. A leg injury cost Finley a month of her cross country season, and the Dartmouth commit finished fourth at the 3A/2A/1A meet – her fourth podium finish, including the 2016 title as a sophomore. “Stephanie is an incredible competitor and has greatly elevated the training and racing of our entire group over the last four years,” said Aardvarks coach Tyler Green. “She has committed herself to the long process of developing as a distance runner, training year-round to achieve the results she’s earned.”
Don’t Edit
Tim Stevens, Sr., Cove
Personal bests: 800, 1:56.56; 1500, 4:00.40; 3000, 8:48.22.
After his freshman season, one never would have guessed at the success Stevens would experience over the next 2½ years. After failing to get out of the Wapiti district meet that year, the University of Idaho signee has won back-to-back 1500/3000 doubles at the 1A state championships and sandwiched 3A/2A/1A state cross country titles in 2016 and 2018 around a runner-up finish as a junior. “Tim is the most humble athlete you will ever meet,” said Leopards coach Dena Ledbetter. “His work ethic is admirable as well as his character. Tim is a silent leader and role model on the team – a great teammate and an even better competitor. I have never witnessed him not giving 110 percent on anything.”
Don’t Edit
Will Sheaffer, Sr., Jesuit
Personal bests: 800, 1:55.13; 1500, 3:57.80; 3000, 8:43.63.
Sheaffer has been part of a state champion cross country team (2017) and, last month, a state champion basketball team. Now, the Cal Poly signee hopes to go out a state champion on the track this spring after taking home two medals from the 6A meet last May – an eighth in the 800 and a fourth in the 1500 – to go with two individual medals from the state cross country meet (sixth in 2017, third last fall). “He’s probably one of the best competitors I’ve ever coached,” said longtime Crusaders distance coach Tom Rothenberger. “He trained all winter during basketball season and has more mileage on him this year, which was why he was able to come out and run 4:03 (for 1500 meters) really relaxed. He’s positioned himself well, but we don’t know what his best event is. It may be the 1500, but we’ll also try the 3000, the 4×4. We’ll wait and see what sticks.”
Don’t Edit
Zane Fodge, Sr., McMinnville
Personal bests: 800, 1:54.23; 1500, 3:56.38; 3000, 8:39.52.
Fodge has posted three podium finishes at the 6A state cross country championships and the NXR Northwest Regionals, finishing eighth at state last November and 41st at Nike Cross Nationals. On the track, the Stanford signee has specialized in the middle distances, winning Greater Valley district titles in the 800 and 1500 last May before placing fifth in the 800 and third in the 1500 at state. “Zane is a very coachable young man with lofty goals,” said Grizzlies coach Vic Downs. “He is a very charismatic young man who brings excitement to his races. He runs hard and is never afraid of competition – in fact, he seeks it.”
Don’t Edit