Interview by MileSplit Contributor Tristen Shaw
FAIRVIEW, Ore. -- Hanne Thomsen threw her name into the national contenders conversation on Saturday at the Nike Portland XC Invitational at Blue Lake Park.
The Montgomery (CA) High School sophomore, based just north of San Francisco -- and who made the 650 mile trip for Nike Portland XC -- absolutely dominated the proceedings, clocking the nation's fourth-fastest girls 5K in a time of 16:49.20, which won her the elite girls Danner Championship race.
"I really just wanted to come into this race knowing I had push if I needed to," she said.
Thomsen, a sophomore from California, was nearly 50 seconds ahead of the next-closest competitor, Skyline's Anna Callahan, who was second in 17:38.60. Summit's Ella Thorsett was third in 17:48.30.
Thomsen is a perfect 3-for-3 on the campaign and is following a season in which she won a CIF Division 3 state title as a freshman.
Meanwhile, the girls of Bend Summit (OR), Team Nationals champions back in 2018, roared to the line in the Danner Championship section with 110 points, posting a team average of 18:32.
Summit had three girls inside the top 25 of a field that consisted of 178.
Girls Danner Championship: TEAM SCORES
PLACE TEAM POINTS SCORERS TIMES
1 Summit 110 2+6+18+37+47 (52+68) 1:22 1-5 Split | 18:32 Avg
2 Rancho Cucamonga (SS) 135 21+23+25+28+38 (109+117) 0:17 1-5 Split | 18:45 Avg
3 Lincoln HS 192 22+33+42+44+51 (91+107) 0:38 1-5 Split | 18:58 Avg
4 Sunset 203 14+17+40+45+87 (135+137) 1:30 1-5 Split | 19:00 Avg
5 Stadium High School 258 5+15+19+83+136 (148+156) 3:08 1-5 Split | 19:15 Avg
Just as impressive, though, was Alexander Garcia-Silver, a senior from Coos Bay Marshfield (OR) High School.
Hailing from the same town as the legendary Steve Prefontaine, Garcia-Silver has quickly built up quite the profile this fall.
On Saturday, he won the boys Danner Championship section at the Nike Portland XC Invitational in 14:55.20, pacing a total of five athletes under 15 minutes on the day.
"I knew the season was going to be special, but I didn't think something like this would happen," he said.
For Garcia-Silver, though, that was his fourth win in five races and his second straight sub-15 minute outing.
Something is obviously clicking.
The previous weekend, he ran 14:45.10 at the Prefontaine Memorial Run.
"I know there's a lot of good guys here," he added. "Boys coming from California, Washington, Hawaii. It means a lot to come here, to represent Marshfield High School. Coos Bay, Oregon. Oregon boy. Oregon boy."
Following Garcia-Silver was Lincoln's Samy Anderson, who clocked a 14:57.00, while Long Beach Poly's Cameron Rhone was third in 14:59.10, Milwaukie's Logan Law was fourth in 14:59.60 and Sehome's Zack Munson was fifth in 14:59.70.
Portland Lincoln claimed the team title with 106 points, posting a 15:51 team average for 5K.
"I know there's a lot of good guys here. Boys coming from California, Washington, Hawaii. It means a lot to come here, to represent Marshfield High School. Coos Bay, Oregon. Oregon boy. Oregon boy."
- Alexander Garcia-Silver
Boys Danner Championship: TEAM SCORES
PLACE TEAM POINTS SCORERS TIMES
1 Lincoln HS 106 1+9+15+37+44 (49+60) 1:27 1-5 Split | 15:51 Avg
2 West Salem 120 4+6+26+34+50 (58+62) 1:13 1-5 Split | 15:55 Avg
3 Franklin 144 14+16+31+35+48 (53+70) 0:31 1-5 Split | 16:10 Avg
4 Redondo Union (SS) 146 8+23+36+38+41 (69+94) 0:46 1-5 Split | 16:08 Avg
5 Madera South (CS) 213 12+22+29+55+95 (115+146) 1:12 1-5 Split | 16:19 Avg
Photos by Tristan Shaw