The stars appear to be aligned for Lake Oswego's girls heading into the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A track championships Friday and Saturday at Hayward Field.
The Lakers – led by sophomore sprinter Mia Brahe-Pedersen, who will chase after state records that have stood for more than half a century – believe they have the pieces to pursue their first state championship.
“I think we definitely have a shot,” coach Vince Kinney said. “I see it, but we've got to stay healthy and focused.”
Lake Oswego has much of the team that finished second to Oregon City in the season-ending 6A meet last year. And the Lakers have added two elite distance runners in the Peters sisters, junior Kate and freshman Ana.
Kate Peters, No. 2 all-time in the state in the 3,000 meters, is the reigning 6A cross country champion. This season, she is No. 1 in the state in the 3,000 and No. 3 in the 1,500. Ana Peters is ranked in the top eight in both events.
“It gives us a lot more firepower on the track,” Kinney said. “Kate has the possibility of winning both events, and Ana has a good shot of being right behind her. If Ana has a good day, she can be as high as second.”
But much will revolve around the performance of Brahe-Pedersen. Last year, she set state freshman records in the 100 and 200 and won both events in the 6A meet. This year, she has improved her times to 11.34 and 23.23, the best in the state and No. 2 all-time behind Churchill's Margaret Johnson-Bailes, who clocked 11.30 and 22.95 in 1968.
The 100 record, in particular, seems within her grasp.
“I think it's definitely doable,” Kinney said. “The biggest thing for her is getting out of the blocks. She's been getting better all year. If she gets out well, she's going to have a chance at it.”
Brahe-Pedersen set her personal bests in the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field on April 23.
“I know she likes that track,” Kinney said.
Brahe-Pedersen will be challenged by Roosevelt senior Lily Jones, who is No. 3 on the state's all-time list at 11.44. She edged Jones in the 100 and 200 at the Oregon Relays and in the 100 at the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays on April 29.
“Those two have been able to push each other so hard,” Kinney said. “They feed off each other. Lily has been getting closer and closer to Mia throughout the year. Mia's still got to have a good race. It's not in the bag for her.”
Brahe-Pedersen also runs on relays that have the state's best times and could threaten the state records of 46.53 in the 4x100 and 3:49.97 in the 4x400, both set by Benson in 2003.
Senior Quinn Greene, sophomore Josie Donelson, senior Dakota Webb-Hawkins and Pedersen have run 46.58 in the 4x100, No. 2 all-time. Greene, sophomore Riley Ha, Brahe-Pedersen and Donelson have run 3:51.82 in the 4x400, No. 5 all-time.
“Having all those girls on our team, it's special,” Kinney said. “They're wanting it as much as anybody.”
Donelson has the state's best time in the 400 (56.44) and is No. 4 in the 200 (24.88). The Lakers also are hoping to pick up points from junior Casey Moran in the discus and Webb-Hawkins in the triple jump.
“I don't think our top girls are going to be the ones that help us win the state championship,” Kinney said. “Yeah, they're going to be the ones that score the most points, but it's everybody else on our team that's going to make the difference.”
Lake Oswego flexed its muscles with a decisive win in the Three Rivers League district meet, scoring 306.5 points to beat West Linn (224), Tualatin (216) and Oregon City (194).
Oregon City, with two state record-holders in senior Harley Daniel (300 hurdles) and junior Sophia Beckmon (long jump), also looks to contend for a state title.
Daniel has the state's best times in both hurdles races, Beckmon is No. 1 in the long jump and No. 3 in the 200, and they both run on relay teams that are ranked second behind Lake Oswego.
The meet, which returns to Hayward Field for the first time since 2018, is loaded with girls and boys ranked among the state's all-time best. It promises to provide plenty of thrills.
“It's exciting to see some of the talent that's come out of Oregon,” Kinney said.
The 3A, 2A and 1A meets are Thursday and Friday and the 6A, 5A and 4A meets are Friday and Saturday.
GIRLS
6A
Teams to watch: Lake Oswego, Oregon City, Jesuit, Central Catholic
2021 culminating meet: Oregon City 69, Lake Oswego 64, Summit 62, West Linn 47
Returning champions: Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Lake Oswego, soph. (100, 200); Chloe Foerster, Jesuit, sr. (800); Harley Daniel, Oregon City, sr. (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Kyra Bakke, Tualatin, soph. (high jump); Nicole Prall, Lincoln, jr. (pole vault); Sophia Beckmon, Oregon City, jr. (long jump); Anika Sukumar, West Linn, jr. (triple jump).
6A season bests in multiple events: Brahe-Pedersen (100, 200); Foerster (800, 1,500); Daniel (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Kyeese Hollands, Central Catholic, jr. (discus, javelin); Lake Oswego (4x100, 4x400).
5A
Teams to watch: Crescent Valley, North Salem
2021 culminating meet: North Salem 104, Crescent Valley 52, La Salle Prep 51, Corvallis 50
Returning champions: Kensey Gault, Ridgeview, soph. (100 hurdles); Ofeina Pulotu, Parkrose, jr. (shot).
5A season bests in multiple events: Ava McKee, Crescent Valley, sr. (400, 800); Jordan Koskondy, North Salem, jr. (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles); Breanna Raven, Thurston, jr. (long jump, triple jump).
4A
Teams to watch: North Valley, Philomath, Marist Catholic, Cascade
2021 culminating meet: Hidden Valley 92, Siuslaw 50, La Grande 47, Cascade 43
Returning champions: Karlee Touey, North Valley, sr. (300 hurdles); Emma Gates, Cascade, sr. (high jump).
4A season bests in multiple events: Gates (100, 400, high jump); Jennifer Tsai, Marist Catholic, sr. (800, 1,500); Touey (200, 300 hurdles, long jump).
3A
Teams to watch: Nyssa, Sutherlin, Cascade Christian, Catlin Gabel, St. Mary's
2021 culminating meet: Sutherlin 113, St. Mary's 103, Cascade Christian 49, Santiam Christian 45
Returning champions: Mallory Turner, Sutherlin, sr. (100 hurdles, high jump); Olivia Farrior, Amity, jr. (300 hurdles); Erica McDonald, Sutherlin, sr. (shot); Hallee Hughes, Willamina, jr. (discus); Mackenzie Walker, St. Mary's, sr. (pole vault).
3A season bests in multiple events: Mia Rhodes, De La Salle North Catholic, soph. (100, 200); Megan Cover, Catlin Gabel, sr. (1,500, 3,000); Hughes (discus, javelin); Turner (100 hurdles, high jump).
2A
Teams to watch: Coquille, Regis, Bandon, Weston-McEwen, Delphian
2021 culminating meet: Regis 60, Faith Bible 47, Gervais 43, Lakeview 41
Returning champions: Emma Miller, Neah-Kah-Nie, sr. (100); Holly Hutton, Bandon, sr. (800); Makena Houston, Columbia Christian, sr. (1,500, 3,000); Kieran Ruda, Lost River, sr. (300 hurdles); Laura Young, Monroe, sr. (shot, discus); Whitley Stepp, Regis, sr. (high jump).
2A season bests in multiple events: Houston (1,500, 3,000); Young (shot, discus); Trinidy Blanton, Coquille, jr. (200, long jump, javelin).
1A
Teams to watch: Damascus Christian, Adrian, Crane
2021 culminating meet: Crane 75, North Lake 48, Elgin 47, St. Paul 45
Returning champions: Breanna Steele, North Clackamas Christian, sr. (800); Olyvia Oeverman, St. Stephen's Academy, sr. (1,500).
1A season bests in multiple events: Addy Martin, Adrian, fr. (100, 200); Kallyn Wilkins, Condon, sr. (800, 3,000); Kortney Doman, Crane, soph. (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump); Adrian (4x100, 4x400).
Boys
6A
Teams to watch: Central Catholic, Lincoln, Tualatin
2021 culminating meet: Sherwood 73, Wells 60, Central Catholic 52, Newberg 43
Returning champions: Micah Perry, Barlow, jr. (110 hurdles); Nolan Malcomson, Wells, sr. (300 hurdles); Adam Maxwell, West Linn, sr., (high jump); Blake Smith, Newberg, sr. (triple jump).
6A season bests in multiple events: Caleb Lakeman, Tualatin, sr. (1,500, 3,000); Malcomson (300 hurdles, tie in 110 hurdles); Elijah Jackman, Tigard, sr. (shot, discus); Central Catholic (4x100, 4x400).
5A
Teams to watch: Wilsonville, Crater, Silverton, Pendleton
2021 culminating meet: Churchill 92, Wilsonville 51.5, Ridgeview 50, Crescent Valley 48.5
Returning champions: Jeremiah Schwartz, Ridgeview, jr. (400); Tyrone Gorze, Crater, jr. (1,500), Sam Jennings, Pendleton, sr. (javelin); Taylor Morehouse, The Dalles, sr. (pole vault); Nathan Fields, Churchill, sr. (triple jump).
5A season bests in multiple events: Gorze (1,500, 3,000); Fields (triple jump, 110 hurdles).
4A
Teams to watch: Mazama, Marshfield, Henley, Cottage Grove, Junction City, Siuslaw
2021 culminating meet: Hidden Valley 77, Newport 52, Henley 47, Philomath 46.5
Returning champions: Brody Bushnell, Philomath, jr. (800, 1,500); Colton McMaster, Astoria, sr. (shot, discus); Trent Summers, Marshfield, jr. (pole vault); Eli Hayes, Henley, jr. (triple jump).
4A season bests in multiple events: Brandon Gailey, Mazama, sr. (100, 200); Henry Tierney, Valley Catholic, sr. (800, 1,500); McMaster (shot, discus); Hayes (long jump, triple jump).
3A
Teams to watch: Catlin Gabel, Santiam Christian, Nyssa, Warrenton
2021 culminating meet: Catlin Gabel 90, St. Mary's 58, Cascade Christian 53, Riverdale 52
Returning champions: Sam Veverka, Riverdale, sr. (100, long jump); Malcolm Grant, Catlin Gabel, jr. (200); Benjamin Bourne, Santiam Christian, jr. (1,500, 3,000); Stephen Machin, La Pine, sr. (shot).
3A season bests in multiple events: Gavin Cougle, St. Mary's, sr. (100, 200); Evan Williams, Catlin Gabel, sr. (1,500, 3,000); Machin (shot, discus); Veverka (long jump, triple jump); Catlin Gabel (4x100, 4x400).
2A
Teams to watch: Bandon, Weston-McEwen, Enterprise, Coquille, Grant Union
2021 culminating meet: East Linn Christian 67, Grant Union 53, Enterprise 49, Lost River 36
Returning champions: Zac Knapp, Enterprise, sr. (1,500, 3,000); Miguel Pimienta, Nestucca, sr. (300 hurdles); Jaysson Swirtz, Nestucca, sr. (javelin); Hunter Angove, Bandon, sr. (pole vault); Trevor Angove, Bandon, sr. (triple jump); Zak Holsey, Waldport, sr. (long jump).
2A season bests in multiple events: Gunner Yates, Coquille, sr. (100, 200); Knapp (1,500, 3,000); Trevor Angone (high jump, triple jump); Holsey (300 hurdles, long jump).
1A
Teams to watch: Adrian, Powder Valley, Joseph, St. Stephen's Academy, Pine Eagle
2021 culminating meet: Powder Valley 64.5, Damascus Christian 56, Joseph 52, Adrian 51
Returning champions: Conley Martin, Adrian, sr. (100); Colin Friend, St. Stephen's Academy, sr. (1,500, 3,000); Greg Reedy, Days Creek, sr. (shot); Kale Ferguson, Joseph, jr. (discus); Elijah Wytcherley, Glendale, sr. (high jump).
1A season bests in multiple events: Jace Martin, Adrian, jr. (100, 200); Friend (1,500, 3,000); Kaiden Krieger, Powder Valley, sr. (400, 300 hurdles); Wytcherley (high jump, long jump); Ryan Talbot, Harper, sr. (110 hurdles, pole vault); Adrian (4x100, 4x400).
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
