Small schools compete at larger track and field invites

THE GORGE — Trout Lake junior Melody Stock raced to a personal best in the 1500 meters last week, headlining performances by Gorge-area small school track and field athletes.

Stock is the OSAA Class 1A state leader in the 1500 after her 4-minute, 46.84-second clocking at the April 23-24 Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays in Portland. She also leads the state among 1A athletes in the 3000 (10:46.5).

The Jesuit invitational attracted athletes from as far away as Texas. Stock’s teammate Cora Sharp competed in the long jump (15-10.5), and senior Jayden Kusky threw the boys shot put 48 feet, 6.25 inches.

Horizon Christian had four athletes compete in the meet: Josh Carley raced to a personal best of 9:33.74 in the boys 3000; Charlie Haynie ran the 110 hurdles (15.55 seconds); Judah Garrett threw the javelin (148-3), and Landon Whitaker long jumped (18-5.25).

The Hawks competed April 25 at the 16-team, 22nd annual Portland Christian Invitational where junior Milo Bielen won the shot put with a personal best 45-foot throw and was sixth in the discus with another PR of 120 feet. Haynie was second in the high hurdles and third in the lows, and fellow sophomores John Tu (400) and Carley (1500) ran to personal bests. Horizon’s 4x100 boys relay team of Tu, Haynie, Whitaker, and Garrett was third.

Dufur competed at the April 23 Buckaroo Round-Up at St. Paul High School. The Ranger girls had season bests from Ellie Brock in the 200 (27.96) and 400 (1:03.29), and she also won the 800 (2:39.21) — and ran a leg on Dufur’s 4x400 relay. Teammate Alessandra Meza was second in the 1500 (5:37.98) and 800 (2:46.8) – both personal bests.

The Ranger boys won the meet’s final event — the 4x400 relay — as Zeb Stelzer, Noah Coleman, Chase Richards, and Ian Pechanec ran 3:45.79.

Glenwood and Lyle-Wishram went to the April 24 Naches Valley Invite (WA.), where Lyle’s Ezekiel Marble won the 110 hurdles and later raced to a PR of 41.92 in the 300 hurdles. Marble's time broke a nearly 40-year-old school record, set in 1987. Lyle’s Jack Thiemann bounded 40-2.5 in the triple jump 19-1 in the long jump.

Glenwood’s Giana Jackson was fourth in both the girls long jump (16-1) and 100 (13.6) – both personal bests for her.

Sherman competed at the Carnival of Speed in Milton-Freewater, where 27 teams gathered. The Huskies were led by the performances of Chloe Simpson, who won the girls high jump and was second in the triple jump (PR 32-9). Renan Christiansen was third in the boys shot put at 46-7.