Friday is distance day at the Oregon Relays with the Bill McChesney 5K high-lighting the program. While collegiate and professional runners would have their moments, prep runners contributed their share to the action and for them the 3,000 Meter run offered some fine competition. The young ladies’ event went off first and sophomore Erin Clark gave a virtuoso performance, when she ran the entire event seemingly always in control. Alexia Martin of Kent Meridian took the field through a first a first lap of 79 and she was closely pursued by Clark of South Eugene & Jessica Vig of Crater. The lead pack was essentially made up of seven runners, who ran fairly close together and at times were a bit difficult to differentiate. Running clearly in sixth & seventh at that time were Hayley Gregoire of Beaverton & Camille Parsons of Camas.
Martin continued through 800 Meters in 2:42 with Clark in tow. Parsons was joined at that time by Kailey Ulland of Kentwood plus Gregoire, Vig & Mackenzie Roberts of Eagle. An ensuing split of 4:13 saw little change but Roberts assumed command during the next lap & led through 1600M in 5:37 but right behind Martin was Clark. Martin held third at that point and the race was now down to just six runners including Ulland, Parsons & Gregoire.
The Axemen runner seized the lead at the 8:29 mark in the race and bravely headed into the wind along the back stretch. The breeze was pretty stiff and going it alone had to be a concern but Erin quickly forged a three meter lead, which grew increasingly wider. In the end Clark finished alone in a fine time of 10:22.16 to win by 14 seconds over Mackenznie Roberts of Eagle. Camille Parsons closed well to take third one second ahead of Hayley Gregoire (10:41). Kailey Ulland & Alexia Martin garnered the next two places & Jennifer Zhu of North Medford followed in 7th. Rebecca Lupescu of Westview (10:55) & Emily Hazen of Richland claimed 8th & 9th, while Aviva Browning of Capital rounded out the top ten. Browning was also the last runner to break eleven minutes in the race & she was followed across the line by Izze Arens of Bellarmine Prep & Jessica Vig of Crater.
The guys’ version of the race saw Hudson Eustance of Cascade Christian take the lead but he was followed by a huge pack. Todd Jackson of Elma seemingly decided to stay out of trouble and moved into the lead with five laps to go and from that point onward, he was in charge of the race. Behind him there was a tactical race with Aaron Back of Sunset & Matt Melancon of Sheldon taking third & fourth positions. Beaverton had a trio in the top dozen runners with Dan Oekerman (7th), David Orth (8th) & Kevin Kavanaugh (12th) all being in contention at that point.
Jackson reached the 1600M mark in 4:51.4 & the 2K in 6:04 and proceeded to pick up the pace. He appeared to have the race well in hand until Matt Melancon decided to up the ante with 300 yards to go. From the beginning Jackson ‘s lead appeared far too much to make up, yet Melancon closed well to make a huge dent in the lead but in the end Jackson had earned victory in a time of 8:50.54. The Sheldon star finished a second later and his time of 8:51.67 moves him into the top position in Oregon so far. Dan Oekerman earned third with 8:54 and was followed by Aaron Back two seconds afterwards. Jack Bruchet of Elgin Park claimed fifth with 8:57 & was pursued by Hudson Eustance, who placed sixth in 9:00.06. Kevin Kavanaugh followed a second later & his team mate David Orth took 8th. Mitchel Butler of Siuslaw & Nick Roche of Tigard rounded out the top ten.
Prep runners also competed in the Distance Medley Relay and Katie Mahoney, Roddie Shanley, Maggie Jones & Lauren Perry left no doubt that they were the top team at Hayward this day. Their time of 12:24.59 came home twenty seconds in front of South Eugene (Paige Kouba, Anna Persmark, Nora Wilson & Erin Clark). The SE girls finished twelve seconds in front of Camas, which claimed third in 12:56. The Crater boys secured a solid sixteen second triumph, when their team of Neil Seibert, Jack Galpin, Hunter Sanders & Max Runia ran 10:32.75. Southridge ran 10:48 to edge Phoenix by a second and Eagle placed fourth.
Elizabeth Quick followed up last week’s victory in Pasco with a triumph at Hayward, as she topped twelve feet (12-04) for the second straight week. The next three vaulters cleared 10-11.75 with the difference in placement owing to misses. Olivia Campbell of Hood River was credited with second, while Allison Jeffries of Eagle & Jenna Crain of Kent Meridian earned the next two places. The girls discus championship went to Amy Froelich of Sheldon, who topped her fellow Axemen Cayla Bollinger 104-00 to 102-05. Kim Gomez of North Medford was a close third in the event with 102-00.
Logan Myers of Capital topped the guys in the high jump with a leap of 6-04 edging Griffen Ruehl of Sherwood on misses. Cole Smith of Hoquiam took third with 6-02. Lucas Molinari secured the shot put title with 47-06.5 and Randy Miller had a mark of 46-05.5 for second. Third place went to Nicholas Rea of Sheldon, who managed 44-11.75.
In other action of note Sally Kipyego spread-eagled the 1500M field with a facile victory of 4:06.23, as she finished all alone. Matt Centrowitz led the collegiate men with 3:42.49, while Elijah Greer earned 4th with 3:48.98. Former two-time Oregon State champion Kenny Klotz, the only runner to annex two Border Clash titles, showed that he is returning to form by securing victory in the second section of the event. The return-to-form feel-good story was followed by former Bellarmine Prep star Brie Felnagle, who handled a strong field that included Bridget Franek. Brie looked fluid and strong, when she surged into the lead for a solid 5K victory in a time of 15:43.87 defeating Franek by ten seconds. With Bill McChesney Sr. on hand to witness the race in honor of his son Bill Junior, Bedon Karoki led virtually the entire race to score a victory with a 13:38.57 clocking. Oregon sprint star Amber Purvis also impressed by taking the 200Min 23.13.