The makings of state-champion boys relay teams were evident last season for West Linn, but partially due to injuries and youth, it didn't come to fruition.
The season, not only are the Lions leading the entire state in the 4x100-meter and 4x400 relays, but they are in position to challenge state records in both events.
The Lions already have broken their school records with times of 41.30 and 3:18.20. Those times rank third and eighth in state history, respectively, within range of the records of 41.00 (Oregon City, 2025) and 3:16.82 (Benson, 1990). With the Three Rivers League district meet looming this week, the table is set for a big finish for the Lions.
“We'll probably do just enough at districts to make it to state, but I think once those guys are at state, going against some of those other teams, it's going to be pretty awesome to watch them,” West Linn coach Dan Wright said. “They have some pretty lofty goals.”
The 4x100 team of juniors Ashden Marquis and Cooper Roms and seniors Bellu Dior Vixamar and MJ Kennybrew, and the 4x400 lineup of Kennybrew, Roms, senior Aidan Sauer and junior Isaac Compaore, clocked their best times in the Rose City Invite on May 2.
Wright said that between the two relays, the 4x400 has the best chance for significant improvement. It's the same group that ran 3:18.48 to finish third in the 6A meet last year, except Roms has replaced the graduated Peter Daniels.
Compaore is a force as the anchor. He leads the state in the 400 this season with a time of 47.94, which ranks No. 22 in state history.
“I've had that relay circled since last year, just watching those guys mature,” Wright said. “If they're healthy, I really have no doubt they can get the state record. They haven't run a complete race yet. … We've mixed up the order a bit. I'm super confident of what we've landed on.”
Roms, the team's top sprinter, has broken out this year after his sophomore season was cut short by a pulled hamstring in late April. This season, he has set the school record in the 100 at 10.52 and ran the 200 in 21.47, threatening the school mark of 21.46 (Evan Kelty, 1998). His 100 and 200 times rank No. 12 and No. 25 on the state's all-time list, respectively.
Roms has limited experience in the 400, so running a leg on the long relay has been an adjustment.
“He's still figuring it out as we move through the season,” Wright said. “He's got such amazing top-end speed, but he's still kind of figuring out how to pace the first 200. I think it's finally clicked for him. He's a soccer player, and has some decent endurance. He can accidentally run a 48.”
Roms is tied for the No. 3 times in the state this season in both the 100 and 200. He is behind two Three Rivers rivals in Tigard senior Marcus Burton and Oregon City junior Colin Smith.
Last year, the 4x100 relay was making progress but failed to qualify for the state meet after injuries to Roms, Kenneth Ritchie and Silas Reynolds. This year, a healthy Roms has rejoined Marquis, the other holdover, and blended nicely with Vixamar and Kennybrew.
“Last year we got bit by the injury bug,” Wright said. “This season, we've taken our time with them on load management to make sure they're healthy right now.”
Unfortunately, Marquis suffered a pulled hamstring at a football practice early this month and has been replaced by junior Will Hawkins. With Hawkins running the first leg, the group ran 41.41 in the Dean Nice Invitational on May 8.
“Will's got a quicker time in the open 100 than Ashden, but Ashden was so reliable for us in terms of handoffs and good starts,” Wright said. “We're still waiting for that perfect race in terms of handoffs.”
Vixamar has been a solid addition to the relay after being slowed by injury last year. The much-improved Kennybrew has seized control of the anchor leg.
“He couldn't even come out of the blocks last year, and this year he's running sub-11s in the 100 and anchoring the relay for us,” Wright said.
jerryu@osaa.org
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