EUGENE — The buzz that athletes feel while competing in the state championships at a world-class track and field venue like Hayward Field oftentimes is electric — an adrenaline-charged mix of nerves, excitement and awe that fuels every stride, throw and jump.
The same buzz can also be overwhelming as the weight of expectations and the magnitude of the moment threaten to shake a competitor’s focus and composure.
Gallery: PHS track and field at 4A State Championships — Day 2 (May 31, 2025)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s appearance at the Class 4A state track and field championships on Saturday.
PHS girls are state track and field champions — again
EUGENE — The Philomath High School girls track and field program made history Saturday at Hayward Field. The Warriors won their fourth straight state title — a feat that had never been seen until this year in Class 4A girls track and field. Although several athletes have come and gone through each of those championship…
Philomath High junior Josiah Peters found the charged atmosphere to be in his favor as he competed for top honors in the javelin on the second day of the 4A meet Saturday. In fact, on his first attempt, Peters unleashed a throw of 179 feet.
“It definitely helps, it’s really fun,” Peters said about the burst of excitement that ultimately carried him to a second-place medal. “The opening throw, the 179, it felt pretty good.”
The attempt turned out to be his top throw of the day. Crook County senior Gabe Love repeated as state champion at a distance of 188-8 but Peters was happy with his runner-up finish. He did beat a Molalla thrower that he had finished behind at last year’s state meet.
“My other throws weren’t that bad — they were all up there too,” Peters said, attempts that ranged from 163-1 to 175-0. “It was nice to have consistency.”
Peters, who has been throwing the javelin since age 7 or 8 and then made significant progress with his involvement in Junior Olympics, had recorded a personal-best 181-2 at last weekend’s district meet in Philomath. He placed third at state during his sophomore season with a throw of 162-8.
On the track, Philomarth senior Warwick Bushnell wrapped up a notable career in the spring sport with a fifth-place medal in the 400-meter dash. Bushnell, who has been battling anemia this season, sprinted the oval in 51.07.
“It’s been an exceptional year in 4A for sprints and distance events,” PHS coach Joe Fulton said. “Even though we’ve got some kids that in previous years would have placed very well with the times they’re running, this year is just ridiculously fast. So many guys are running quick times and a lot of them are coming from schools that were 5A a couple of years ago.”
Warriors freshman Dreyton Nuño continued his climb in the high jump with sixth place in Eugene. Nuño cleared 6-1.5, which bettered his previous best of 6-0.75, set just last week at districts. Nuño had a close call at 6-1.5 but made it over on his third attempt.
“Josiah came on strong at the end of the season,” Fulton said, “and Dreyton was a pleasant surprise in the high jump.”
Freshman Sam Hernandez, who had cleared 6 feet on three occasions earlier this season, ended up ninth at a height of 5-10.5.
Junior CD Nuño ran a 22.74 in the 200 and placed seventh. Nuño has been a picture of consistency in the event with seven straight performances with times between 22 and 23 seconds. He missed his PR in the event by one-tenth of a second.
Philomath’s 4-by-100 relay with CD Nuno, sophomore Kaden Howard, Dreyton Nuño and Bushnell won its heat and placed eighth overall with a time of 43.66. The 4-by-400 relay with Howard, Dreyton Nuño, CD Nuño and Bushnell also won their heat and placed eighth overall in 3:30.51.
In other results, juniors Leo Pausch and Lukas Hernandez finished ninth and 13th, respectively, in the 1,500. Pausch ran in seventh most of the race but slipped out of medal contention on the final lap and came in with a 4:12.25. Hernandez started fast and was in sixth on the first split. He finished with a time of 4:21.92.
Pausch and Hernandez both scored in the 3,000 on Friday with seventh and eighth, respectively.
Meanwhile, Howard struggled in the triple jump and fouled on two of his three attempts. His one measurable jump of 37-3.25 placed him 14th.
“With the boys, there was a little bit of disappointment. Things didn’t work out the way we had hoped but they’re so young and Warwick’s been sick,” Fulton said. “Our boys should be better next year — we lose Warwick but everybody else is back. And who knows what can happen because every other school’s going to lose kids, too.”
Class 4A State Championships
Friday-Saturday, May 30-31, at Hayward Field, Eugene
DAY 2
Boys
Team scoring: 1, Crook County 78; 2, Henley 74; 3, Marist Catholic 46; 4, Scappoose 42; 4, The Dalles 42; 6, Madras 37; 7, Marshfield 35; 8, La Grande 31; 9, Junction City 26; 10, Baker 25; 11, Cottage Grove 24; 12, Philomath 22; 12, Pendleton 22; 14, Astoria 19; 14, Phoenix 19; 16, Seaside 16; 16, Tillamook 16; 18, North Bend 15; 18, Cascade 15; 20, Newport 14; 21, Hidden Valley 8; 21, Sweet Home 8; 21, St. Helens 8; 24, Molalla 7; 25, Estacada 5; 26, Klamath Union 4; 27, Ontario 2; 28, Gladstone 1; 28, Mazama 1.
PHS results: 200 — 7, CD Nuño, 22.74. 400 — 5, Warwick Bushnell, 51.25. 1500 — 9, Leo Pausch, 4:12.25; 13, Lukas Hernandez, 4:21.92. 4-by-100 relay — 8, Philomath (CD Nuño, Howard, D. Nuño, Bushnell), 43.66. 4-by-400 relay— 8, Philomath (Howard, D. Nuño, CD Nuño, Bushnell), 3:30.51. Javelin — 2, Josiah Peters, 179-0. High jump — 6, Dreyton Nuño, 6-1.5; T-9, Samuel Hernandez, 5-10.5. Triple jump — 14, Kaden Howard, 37-3.25.
For Complete Results, CLICK HERE
For Day 1 Story, Gallery and Results, CLICK HERE
