Another high-profile track meet, another brush with history for Crater seniors Tayvon Kitchen and Josiah Tostenson.
The distance-running duo, who ran the fastest 1,500-meter times in state history this season, continued their assaults on the record book Friday in the Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays at Jesuit High School.
The Brigham Young-bound Kitchen won the 3,200 in 8:33.82, breaking the national record of 8:34.10, set by Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City, S.D., in 2023. En route, Kitchen's 3,000 time of 8:01.56 broke the state record of 8:03.67, established by Central Catholic's Galen Rupp in 2004.
The Washington-bound Tostenson broke Rupp's state record in the mile by clocking 4:00.69, falling just short in his bid to become the first Oregon boy to break four minutes outdoors.
“It's hard to describe, week in and week out, what these guys do,” Crater coach Justin Loftus said. “I don't think when we talk about races that records are really a discussion point. It's more, 'How far can we take the ability that you have, the training that you've done, to the next level.'”
Tostenson and Kitchen, who moved to No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on the state's all-time list in the 1,500 with their performances March 29 at The Ten in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., had done much of their damage this season running together. In Friday's meet, though, they competed separately.
“We pretty much scripted it,” Loftus said. “Originally, we were going to go mile with both the guys, and then I brought it up with Tayvon, about maybe separating this weekend and seeing what he could do on his own. It just worked out nicely. It's fun for the kids to push themselves and see where it goes.”
Kitchen was up first with the 3,200. Despite running solo for the last five laps, he took more than 10 seconds off his personal best. His 3,000 time beat his outdoor best by more than 14 seconds, pushing toward his indoor best of 7:55.48, set at the Husky Classic in February.
Tostenson expected to duel with senior Owen Powell of Mercer Island (Wash.) in the Elite Mile, but Powell scratched during the week due to injury. Kitchen started the race to help pace Tostenson, then pulled out, leaving Tostenson on his own to chase the four-minute mark.
Tostenson, who ran the indoor mile in 3:57.47 in February, recorded his best outdoor mile by nearly three seconds. But he fell just short of his goal.
“He's improving, but that four-minute barrier is a big barrier,” Loftus said. “It would've been nice to break. There was a little headwind. I think that was a factor.”
Ultimately, the meet was a good test for Kitchen and Tostenson to go solo.
“We're just finding out how hard it is to solo things,” Loftus said. “Not everybody can do that. You look back at the Prefontaine era, and Pre doing that stuff by himself is pretty incredible.”
Add Jesuit Twilight
Lincoln sophomore Ellery Lincoln, the reigning 6A champion in the 1,500, captured the girls Elite Mile for the second year in a row.
Lincoln finished in 4:39.37, the No. 2 time in state history behind Maria Mutola (4:36.09, Springfield, 1991). It is the fastest mile time in the nation this season.
Lincoln's en route 1,500 time of 4:21.50 fell short of her PR of 4:20.89, which ranks No. 5 in state history.
Tualatin senior Campbell Brintnall won the 100 hurdles in 14.24, climbing to No. 6 on the state's all-time list. Her previous best was 14.47.
Brintnall beat Wells senior Avery Coker (14.35) and Molalla senior Peyton Craven (14.43), who recorded the No. 12 and No. 15 times in state history.
Churchill junior Addison Kleinke won the long jump with a personal-best 19-0 ½. She is tied for the top mark in the state this season with Jesuit junior Iman Foster, who placed fourth in Friday's meet. Kleinke also won the pole vault at 12-9, well off her state record of 14-0 ½.
Roosevelt junior Aster Jones finished first in the Elite 100 in 11.58. It came two days after Jones clocked a PR of 23.17 in the 200 in a PIL meet at Franklin, moving her to No. 4 all-time in the state.
Grant's boys won the 4x100 in 41.74, the No. 12 time in state history. Sophomore Nick Normington, senior Peyton Wood, junior Silas Wise and senior Antoin Hawthorne won by nearly a half-second.
Sandy sophomore Topher Gabel took the high jump at 6-10, giving him the state lead over South Salem junior Calvin Stewart (6-9 ¾). Gabel won by five inches over Stewart and Dallas senior Sean Ward.
Meet of Champions
Siuslaw's boys and Cascade's girls won the team titles at the 4A/3A/2A/1A Meet of Champions on Saturday at Sweet Home High School.
Siuslaw scored 103 points to finish ahead of Philomath (50) and Junction City (43) for the boys title. The Vikings got titles from senior Clayton Wilson (3,000) and juniors Kale Jensen (long jump) and Will Johnson (triple jump).
Junction City junior Kaleb Moore won the shot, discus and javelin. Myrtle Point senior Thomas Ferren won the 100 and 200 and ran a leg on the first-place 4x100 relay.
Cascade's girls put up 60 points to edge Coquille (55) and Philomath (52). The Cougars' lone winner was senior Kalina Saechao, who took first in the shot and discus.
Molalla's Peyton Craven, the 4A leader in the 100 hurdles and long jump, won both events. The other double-winner was Philomath senior Janice Hellesto, won took the 100 and 200.
jerryu@osaa.org
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