Chloe Huyler is quickly making a name for herself in Oregon high school track.
The Lakeridge junior, who won Nevada 1A titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters the last two years, has set three school records and ascended the Oregon all-time lists in the first few weeks of the season.
At the prestigious Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational last weekend, she ran the mile in 4:44.22, clocking 4:23.48 in the 1,500 en route. That 1,500 time ranks No. 5 in Oregon history, behind Springfield's Maria Mutola (4:12.71 in 1991), Grant's Ella Donaghu (4:14.11 in 2016), Lake Oswego's Kate Peters (4:17.80 in 2022) and Jesuit's Chloe Foerster (4:20.42 in 2021).
She also has set school records in the 3,000 and 800. Her time of 9:33.50 in the 3,000 ranks No. 7 all-time in the state. She finished her first-ever 800 in 2:14.31.
For the season, she holds the state's best time in the 1,500 and is ranked second in the 800 and 3,000.
“She can run any distance,” said Lakeridge coach Scott Spear, who also coaches her in cross country. “Over the years, we've had some really good athletes – Division I athletes – that have gone on and done well. She's at the top of that group, that's for sure.
“She sees herself as a miler. That's her passion race. It's kind of the sweet spot between the foot speed that she has and her ability to grind.”
Huyler held her own in the mile against an elite field at the Arcadia Invitational, taking sixth place. She was within 10 seconds of the winner, junior Sadie Engelhardt (4:34.31) of Ventura (Calif.)
Huyler competed in the meet without teammates and coaches.
“It's great maturity on her part, handling all that stuff,” Spear said. “It's a lot coming at you all at once. It's a huge testament to her being able to put everything in order and still function in those higher-pressure moments.”
Huyler responded well to being challenged.
“Most of the races, she's kind of been by herself,” Spear said. “So to have bodies around her, it's a different feel for her.”
During the cross country season, Huyler ran the 5,000 in 17:00.3, the No. 2 time in the state behind junior Emily Wisniewski (16:27.2) of 5A Crescent Valley. Huyler led the 6A championships about two-thirds of the way through the race before dropping out due to illness.
“She couldn't get the air in. Her body just shut down,” Spear said.
Huyler came back a week later at the NXR Nike Regional Championships and placed fifth, the No. 2 Oregon finisher behind Wisniewski. She placed 32nd at NXN Nike Cross Nationals on Dec. 2.
It was the first cross country season for Huyler, who did not run in Nevada because she played soccer in the fall. She also played soccer at Lakeridge last fall but was able to balance the sports.
Huyler's twin sister, Hannah, also ran cross country last season, finishing 20th at the state meet. Hannah won the 800 in the Nevada 1A track meet last year.
“It was kind of eye-opening for them when they came into cross country practice because our cross country team is almost the size of the school that they went to,” Spear said.
Chloe Huyler trained through the winter, finishing second in the mile at Nike Indoor Nationals on March 10. Her time of 4:44.61 was on pace with her time at Arcadia.
“We kind of had a feel that's where she would be,” Spear said.
Chloe Huyler showed great promise in her first 800, but Spear said it is unclear when she will run it again. He said she could run an 800 as a tuneup for the Oregon Relays on April 19-20, when she will compete in the mile and two-mile races. She also is scheduled to run the mile in the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays on April 26.
Lakers shine
Lake Oswego seniors Josie Donelson and James Bauman came through with outstanding performances at the Arcadia Invitational.
Donelson reset her state record in the 400, finishing first in 53.17. She broke the state record a week earlier at the Florida Relays by running 53.53.
Bauman won the 100 in 10.46 and took second in the 200 with a wind-aided 21.34. The 100 performance is No. 3 all-time in Oregon behind Benson's Micah Williams (10.21 in 2019) and Aloha's Thomas Tyner (10.35 in 2011).
Sprint duel
West Salem senior Mihaly Akpamgbo got payback against North Salem senior Demari Thompson in the Titan Track Classic on Friday at West Salem.
Akpamgbo ran a personal-best 10.50 in the 100 to beat Thompson (10.82). In last year's state meet, Thompson edged Akpamgbo by .03 seconds for the 100 title.
Akpamgbo's time in the 100 moves him up to No. 7 all-time in Oregon. Thompson is No. 15 at 10.59.
Also Friday, Akpamgbo also won the 200 in 21.66, dominating Thompson (22.47). Akpamgbo is the reigning 6A champion in the 200.
Mauro soars
Catlin Gabel junior Caroline Mauro, the two-time 3A champion in the high jump, is leading all classifications by four inches this season.
Mauro cleared 5-9 in a season-opening Special District 1 meet April 2, improving on state-winning jump of 5-7 ¼ from last year. The effort moves her into an eight-way tie for No. 12 on the state's all-time list.
jerryu@osaa.org
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