A change in perspective has translated into a promising start to the season for Summit senior javelin thrower Anna Millikan.
Millikan broke out as a sophomore, finishing as 5A runner-up and hitting 152 feet, 2 inches the following summer. She managed only 133-8 as a junior, though, as she struggled with her timing.
“I think it was probably pressure,” Summit coach Dave Turnbull said. “She was spending too much time on the javelin. When you only have one event, and you put all your eggs in that basket, the pressure builds.”
With improved timing, Millikan is pushing forward this season. She threw 155-2 in a team time trial March 13, then Saturday in the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field, she won with a mark of 160-8. The throw not only moves her up to No. 10 on the state's all-time list, but it gives her the national lead.
She has a more mature mindset than last season, which became an emotional trial.
“I now think of last season as a gift to me,” Millikan said. “I came into last season very much having my identity wrapped around how far I can throw a stick. To be able to go through what I saw as failure, and not progressing, was very important to getting to where I am now, where I have an identity beyond javelin.”
Turnbull said that Millikan playing volleyball for Summit in the fall, after skipping her junior season, was beneficial to her. Millikan put her javelin training on hold during the volleyball season.
“She got away from the javelin a little bit and really developed her athleticism more,” Turnbull said. “She realizes she's an athlete right now. I think the difference is now she's not putting that pressure on herself. She's just out there throwing.”
The 5-foot-8 Millikan said her technique is catching up to her improved speed. Following her sophomore season, she focused on getting faster on the runway and it threw a wrench into her timing.
“When you build up speed, you're not going to throw the same distance,” Millikan said. “It's all about getting those small details back in. I'm so much faster down the runway, and now I have my timing back.
“We had to take a step back so I can take multiple steps forward. Even though I'm at 160, there's still a lot I need to work on.”
At the Oregon Relays, Millikan's series went 154-7, 148-6, 160-8 and 130-8. She won by more than 20 feet over junior Mercedes Gilroy (139-11) of Mead (Wash.).
Millikan knows that a big throw at Hayward Field is sure to get more attention than if she did it at another venue.
“Hitting it at Hayward is nice practically because you can trust the mark, but there's that aspect that it's a bigger stage,” she said. “I noticed that it's actually harder for me to be successful at that bigger stage because of the down sides that come with it. … More people see it an interact with it than anywhere else.”
Millikan doesn't want to get caught up in heightened expectations. The last time a Summit thrower surpassed 160 feet. Kohana Nakato won a national title in 2021. Nakato holds the school record at 169-1 and stands at No. 4 in state history.
“It's not something I'm not going for, but I don't think I'm going to get there by focusing on the mark,” Millikan said. “I'll get there by focusing on the technique.”
Turnbull believes Millikan is primed for a big senior season before continuing her throwing career at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif.
“I think it's possible she could throw 175,” he said. “She's earned it. She started doing every workout with the jumpers and sprinters. She's not just training like a thrower now.”
Add Oregon Relays
Caldera freshman Rikaiya Griffin continued the terrific start to her high school career with a personal-best performance in the long jump at the Oregon Relays.
Griffin soared 19-6 ¼ to beat her previous best of 19-2, which she set in her first meet this season. The new mark elevates her to No. 5 on the state's all-time list.
Griffin also finished fourth in the 100 meters in 12.06 seconds, a time that ranks her No. 38 in state history.
Another freshman, Sherwood's Breeanna Hollis, moved to No. 28 all-time in the triple jump with a mark of 38-6 ¼. She finished second to Spanaway Lake (Wash.) senior Kayla Williams, whose jump of 41-0 ½ would be good enough to rank second in Oregon state history.
West Linn senior Tayanah Balensifer climbed to No. 5 on the state career list in the pole vault by clearing 12-11 ½. She beat her outdoor PR of 12-1 and indoor best of 12-4 ¾.
Roosevelt senior Aster Jones, the reigning 6A champion in the 100 and 200, won both events. She finished in 11.61 and 23.38, off her bests of 11.51 and 23.17.
South Albany sophomore Charis Rettman took second in the 200 in 23.96. She finished ahead of senior teammate Pharalynn Dickson (fourth-24.15), the three-time reigning 5A champion in the event.
In the boys meet, Tigard senior Marcus Burton won the 100 in a personal-best 10.62, tying him for No. 19 in state history. His previous best was 10.65.
Sheldon senior Malachi Schoenherr, the 6A cross country runner-up, won the two-mile run in 8:53.74.
jerryu@osaa.org
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