The Philomath High girls track and field team gave two much larger schools a good run for top honors in Friday’s Vic Downs McMinnville Invitational.
In a close competition between the top three schools, Class 6A McMinnville won with 118 points. Camas (Washington), which is the equivalent of a 6A school, was second with 109. And Philomath, one of the smaller schools in 4A, was a close third with 107 points.
Actually, the Warriors would’ve won the meet if the hammer throw hadn’t been one of its events. Camas and McMinnville occupied the top five spots in the event to rack up points.
Philomath dominated the sprints with freshman Kya Bolton, senior Janice Hellesto and senior Natalie Dunn all breaking the tape first in their events. Bolton took first in the 100-meter dash in 12.86 seconds, Hellesto was the winner in the 200 in 26.25 and Dunn impressed in the 400 with a win of more than a second in 1:00.50.
The 4-by-100 relay also notched a victory with Bolton, Dunn, senior Petra Hernandez and Hellesto teaming up for a time of 49.97, a little more than a half-second ahead of a foursome from Silverton.
Senior Hanna McDaniel contributed team points in two field events by clearing 8 feet for second place in the pole vault and going 5 feet even for third place in the high jump. Senior teammate Anneka Steen went 5-2 in the high jump for second place. Hellesto went 16-11.5 to place second in the long jump.
Elsewhere, freshman Cassidy Smart placed third in the 1,500 with a time of 4:54.80 — edged at the finish line for second by a Camas runner. Another freshman, Reagan Nuño, finished fourth in the 400 in 1:02.52.
Other PHS competitors that turned in top-six performances included Hernandez in the 300 hurdles (fifth, 51.65), sophomore Jordyn Hood in the discus (fifth, 101-3), Bolton in the 200 (fifth, 27.53) and senior Adele Beckstead in both the 800 (sixth, 2:30.21) and the 1,500 (4:59.93).
Philomath’s boys finished eighth in the team standings. Oregon City edged McMinnville for first by just a half of a point.
Individually for the Warriors, junior Josiah Peters took third in the javelin with a throw of 174-10 and also placed sixth in the discus with a 125-8. Sophomore Kaden Howard finished third in a very competitive long jump at a distance of 20-1.25.
Senior Warwick Bushnell placed fourth in the 400 with a time of 51.15. Junior Leo Pausch also had a fourth-place performance with his 4:15.05 in the 1,500. Junior CD Nuño took fifth in the 200 (23.14) and sixth in the 100 (11.39).
In the relays, the 4-by-100 foursome of CD Nuño, freshman Dreyton Nuño, Howard and Bushnell placed fourth in 44.34.
The meet also featured a mixed 4-by-400 relay and the Warriors won by more than 2 seconds. CD Nuno, Hellesto, Bushnell and Dun covered the distance in 3:50.61.
Philomath’s next meet is scheduled for April 18 at the John Oliver Invitational in Independence.
