EUGENE – Another big meet, another historic performance by Lake Oswego's Mia Brahe-Pedersen.
Lake Oswego's star junior sprinter once again delivered under pressure Saturday, improving on her state record in the 100 meters and leading the Lakers 4x400 relay to a state mark in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A track championships at Hayward Field.
Brahe-Pedersen ran the 100 in 11.00 seconds, the No. 3 time in U.S. high school history. She beat her previous best of 11.08 and moved closer to the all-time mark of 10.94, set by Florida's Briana Williams in 2019.
“I was that close to going sub-11, which I know is coming soon,” Brahe-Pedersen said. “It's going to be in the cards for me the rest of the summer. If it doesn't happen the next time I race, it could happen the time after that. It's always a possibility. And it's going to come.”
In last year's state meet, Brahe-Pedersen ran what would have been state record of 11.09 in the 100, but it wasn't wind-legal. This time, the 11.00 was all above board.
“I think a lot of people questioned, like, 'Hey, can she really do it?'” Brahe-Pedersen said. “And I always knew that I could do it, my coaches always knew that I could do it. And I kind of proved that a few times over this season. I was just glad I could bring that magic again to the state meet.”
Brahe-Pedersen also won the 200 meters in 22.65, falling short of her state record of 22.61, and was integral in the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relays. She finished the meet by running a dominant third leg on the 4x400, which the Lakers won in 3:48.78, shaving more than one second off their state record of 3:49.83.
Behind Brahe-Pedersen and junior teammate Josie Donelson – who came within .01 seconds of the state record in winning the 400, captured the 300 hurdles and was part of both relays – the Lakers piled up 77 points.
After winning their first title last year, the Lakers shared the blue first-place trophy with Three Rivers League rival Tualatin. Lake Oswego trailed Tualatin by two points heading into the final event, the 4x400, and the teams finished 1-2, resulting in co-champions.
It is the first team title for the Timberwolves, who used their depth to rack up points. Their only title came from junior Lauren Ayers in the 3,000 on Friday.
“Hats off to Tualatin for coming through with an outstanding meet, exceeding their expectations,” Lake Oswego first-year coach John Parks said. “It was a good battle. It proves that the Three Rivers League is the best league in the state, for girls track and field, at least.”
With all but one of the Lakers' state scorers eligible to return next year, a third consecutive team title looks realistic, if not probable. And more records could fall.
“We're not done,” Brahe-Pedersen said. “We still have another year after this, and I just hope Oregon is ready.”
Donelson won the 400 in 53.94, just off the state record of 53.93, set by Sunset's Sasha Spencer in 1997. Donelson said she believes the record will fall soon.
“Absolutely. That's the plan,” she said. “I remember wanting to get to 55 and 54, but to be here at 53 at this point, I feel really good about it.”
Donelson began running the 300 hurdles for the first time late last month and has shot up the charts. Her winning time of 42.60 on Saturday ranks third all-time in the state, within striking distance of the record of 42.23, set by Oregon City's Harley Daniel last year.
“She's only had eight hours of training in the hurdles,” Parks said. “She is figuring it out.”
Lake Oswego's 4x100 relay team of junior Riley Ha, Brahe-Pedersen, Donelson and sophomore Marina Turpen won in 46.90. Ha, Turpen, Brahe-Pedersen and Donelson also teamed up to win the 4x400.
Oregon City senior Sophia Beckmon – who long-jumped 22-4 this season, one inch off the national record – entered the meet with high expectations. But she struggled to find a rhythm, fouling three times, and settled for a winning mark of 20-9, her third title in the event.
“I just look at it as another one of the things to learn from, as anyone should,” the Illinois-bound Beckmon said. “It really is me against myself when it comes to the long jump. Today, it was really just in my mind about it all. But it'll happen. I'm not expecting myself to PR every single meet, even though I do have very high expectations for myself and how I perform. Today was just a learning lesson.”
Beckmon also finished second in the 100 (11.32) and 200 (23.16) behind Brahe-Pedersen. The 100 was a personal best and keeps her No. 3 all-time in the state. She also is No. 3 in the 200 (23.11).
Beckmon has been instrumental in pushing Brahe-Pedersen.
“Sophia has been my best friend for about four or five years now, so having her there with me, it's very comforting,” Brahe-Pedersen said. “We also know that every time we're with each other, we keep each other calm, and we just kind of run our races like we know we can, and we can make history.”
Jesuit sophomore Emma Bennett won the 1,500 and 800. In the 1,500, she won by four seconds over Tualatin junior Lauren Ayers, who took the 3,000 on Friday.
“I knew going in that she has a crazy kick, so I just wanted to be in a position where I could start opening up hopefully a bit earlier than just one lap to go,” Bennett said.
Bennett bounced back from a disappointing cross country season, when she was plagued by tendinitis and finished 19th at state.
“I feel like the past few months have been consistently building it up,” Bennett said.
Central Catholic senior Kyeese Hollands, who successfully defended her title in the javelin Friday, added a title in the discus Saturday. Like in the javelin, she didn't record a PR, but her throw of 140-5 was enough to beat Tigard freshman Marissa Johnson (134-4), the shot champion.
“It's not what I wanted in the numbers, but I got out of here and I won, so I'm proud of that,” said Hollands, who also was fourth in the shot Saturday. “My two warmup throws were good and probably my farthest out there. Even my foul felt really good. I'm not mad about that, because there were good throws out there that just couldn't get marked.”
5A
Churchill freshman Addison Kleinke cleared 13 feet, 4 ½ inches to win the pole vault, adding to her previous state record of 13-1. She went over 13-4 ½ on her first attempt and failed on three tries at 13-7, which she tried to beat her personal best of 13-6, set as an eighth-grader.
Kleinke admitted to feeling pressure to live up to expectations this season.
“The beginning of the season was really rough,” she said. “I was struggling with some mental toughness, staying strong mentally. And I feel like I've been working through that. I got the height that I was looking for. It was definitely very frustrating for a while. But this is a really big one.”
One day after finishing second to Thurston senior Breanna Raven in the triple jump, Wilsonville junior Caroline de la Motte edged Raven to win the long jump. De la Motte jumped 17-6 ¾ on her final attempt to upset Raven (17-4), the two-time reigning champion, who entered with a personal best of 19-6.
“I've been waiting for that jump for two years,” de la Motte said of her new PR. “So it feels really good to PR and beat my school record. Having Breanna Raven out here to keep pushing me is amazing. She's an amazing jumper. I didn't think that I would be up here, but I feel so blessed.”
Summit senior Barrett Justema knocked off the reigning champion in the 1,500, Crescent Valley sophomore Emily Wisniewski. Justema finished in 4:30.69, a personal best by four seconds, to hold off Wisniewski (4:31.82), the two-time 3,000 champion.
“I didn't want to make my move too early because I knew if I went before then, she would just come with me,” said Justema, who was runner-up to Wisniewski in the 5A cross country meet. “At a certain point, I felt like there was only 250 meters left, so I might as well just go with everything I have left.”
South Albany freshman Pharalynn Dickson won the 100, 200 and 400. Bend junior Sara Rivas picked up titles in the 100 hurdles and 200 hurdles.
Summit, which won 12 consecutive 5A titles from 2007 to 2018 before moving to 6A, finished first in its return to 5A. The Storm scored 99 points to beat Wilsonville (55.5) and Thurston (55).
4A
La Grande freshman Brooke Perry followed Friday's win in the 3,000 with a title in the 1,500.
“Yesterday's race was a little weird,” Perry said. “I started off too fast, and I kind of ran out of gas. I think the race today was pretty well run. I think I was more mentally prepared for this race.”
Scappoose junior Alice Davidson won the 100 and 200 and was the anchor on both first-place relay teams. Senior Gabrielle Hanke and junior Peyton Lennox also ran on both winning relays.
Mazama freshman Sydney Baker took home titles in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Marshfield junior Daphne Scriven won the discus for the second year in a row.
Philomath repeated as the team champion, scoring 90 points to finish ahead of La Grande (63) and Scappoose (47). The Warriors got titles from sophomores Natalie Dunn (400) and Janice Hellesto (long jump).
Boys
6A
North Salem junior DeMari Thompson, last year's 5A champion in the 100 and 200, made a statement by winning the 100. Thompson ran a personal best of 10.65 to edge West Salem junior Mihaly Akpamgbo (10.68).
“When we went from 5A to 6A, everyone immediately assumed, 'Can North Salem handle it? Can DeMari handle it?'” he said. “We sort of just gave you the answer after that race. Rising to the occasion is something that me and (assistant coach Don Berger) always talk about. It's the big moment, the big one.”
South Medford senior Andrew Walker, last year's champion in the 100 and 200, was a medical scratch after competing in Friday's prelims. His absence foiled a much-anticipated duel with Thompson.
“I have nothing but respect for Andrew,” Thompson said. “I love that man. We've never gotten to step on the track together.”
Thompson's win came one day after he failed to qualify for the finals in the 200.
“I look at not making the finals as a motivation for next year,” he said. “I want to be in that finals heat, racing againt the top talent in the state. … I am motivated every day by not making that finals.”
Thompson said he drew inspiration Saturday from watching Brahe-Pedersen's performance in the girls 100.
“That keeps me on my heels,” said Thompson, who also anchored the Vikings to second place in the 4x100. “All the eyes are on the girls, and we're still fast over here in the boys. It's absolutely amazing to be running at a time when Oregon is just at its peak. Mia herself is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete.”
Lincoln claimed its first team title since 2007 by winning the 4x400, the final event, behind sophomore Ryan Hendrickson, freshman Nicholas Ranalli, senior Alexander Rhodes and junior Nathan Davidson. Their 10 points proved to be the difference for the Cardinals, who finished with 55 points to beat Sheldon (51) and West Salem (49).
Rhodes was the surprise winner of the 400 after Westview senior Fuad Omer, who had the top prelims time by one second, fell in the last 30 meters and finished last.
“It's just unfortunate,” Rhodes said. “He's a great competitor. He went down. It would've been a dogfight if he stayed up.”
The win capped a stunning debut track season for Rhodes, who fought through an Achilles injury that sidelined him for a month early in the season. A soccer goalkeeper, he has committed to play in college at Puget Sound.
Rhodes gained confidence in his finishing ability.
“I know that back stretch. No one else has got it other than me,” he said.
Barlow senior Micah Perry won his third title in the 110 hurdles and took the 300 hurdles. Roosevelt senior William Heslam won the 800 and 1,500.
5A
Wilsonville senior Carter Cutting defeated Crater senior Tyrone Gorze, the reigning champion, in a blazing fast 1,500. Cutting (3:47.18) and Gorze (3:48.67) both set personal bests, moving up to fifth and ninth on the state's all-time list, respectively.
It was a breakthrough win for Cutting, who ran his sophomore and junior years in Utah before returning to Wilsonville, where he grew up.
“This is kind of the icing on the cake,” Cutting said. “It really feels good. To be at the state meet and running my best times is really special. … The fact that the 5A state meet is some of the best times in the nation is pretty special.”
Gorze, who won the last two 5A cross country meets and repeated as the 3,000 champion Friday, finished runner-up in the 1,500 for the second year in a row.
“It's tough to get second, but I still came away with a PR, and I can't complain too much,” Gorze said.
Cutting pushed to the front with about 500 meters left and turned back Gorze.
“Every time Tyrone got on me, I'd surge a bit,” Cutting said. “I knew Tyrone was going to want to kick from 400 out, because he's that type of runner. He's really strong. I just knew if I could hold him off until that final bend that I could out-push him.”
Cutting saw himself as an underdog.
“I kind of thought most of the eyes were on Tyrone because he's one of the best in the nation,” Cutting said. “It almost is better for me, take a little pressure off. It's kind of nice to have someone to key off instead of just being the person to key on.”
Cutting came back two hours later and added a title in the 800.
Central won both relays. The Panthers took the 4x100 behind seniors Kohler Hernandez, Myles Crandall and Jack Burgett and junior Jordan Vega Ramos and the 4x400 with seniors Javier Landeros, Teo Le, Crandall and Burgett.
Summit, which won four 5A titles between 2011 and 2017, claimed another championship in its return from 6A. The Storm scored 99 points to pull away from Wilsonville (55.5) and Thurston (55).
4A
Estacada senior Cody White, who won the discus on his final throw Friday, did the same to take the javelin Saturday.
White's throw of 192-2 enabled him to sail past North Bend senior Keegan Young (177-4) and into first place. White did it with the javelin of 6A champion Austin Milton of Sherwood, the same spear he borrowed to hit a 24-foot PR of 196-6 in the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays.
Since that throw one month ago, White has been on a roll.
“I've been consistently above 180s, but I never thought I'd reach 190s,” said White, who also placed third in the shot, giving him 26 points for the meet. “This is kind of a dream come true.”
Marshfield senior Alexander Garcia-Silver added a 1,500 title to the 3,000 title he claimed Friday. He won by more than four seconds after blowing away the field by 21 seconds Friday.
“I'm totally cool with racing against myself,” the Brigham Young-bound Garcia-Silver said. “I see it as a challenge.”
Garcia-Silver won the last two state cross country titles but had not won a track title until this weekend.
“It's more special to win the 3K and the 1,500,” he said. “It shows that you have a little bit of strength and a little bit of speed, and you can work through it with both and do something spectacular.”
North Bend junior Jason Padgett won the 100 and 200 and was the anchor for the first-place 4x100 relay. Baker freshman Rasean Jones took the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
Marshfield scored 70.5 points to hold off Pendleton (64) and Cottage Grove (59) and win the team title for the second consecutive year. The Pirates have won five team titles, all since 2008.
jerryu@osaa.org
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