The Philomath High School girls track and field team is sitting in first place Friday after the first day of the Oregon West Conference Championships at Stayton. Individually, junior Sage Kramer earned the “field athlete of the meet” honor for qualifying for state in three events.
In all, the Warriors qualified five athletes for state in eight events — Kramer, senior Mia Rust and senior Amey McDaniel for the girls, and sophomores Micah Matthews and Mateo Candanoza for the boys.
The first day of the meet featured all field events plus the 3,000-meter run. On Saturday, the rest of the running events will take place.
Kramer, who started her high school track and field career only two weeks ago at the Philomath Invite, took first place in the discus with a personal-record throw of 103 feet, 4 inches. It was the first time she had broken the 100-foot mark. In addition, she took second in the triple jump with a PR distance of 31-3.5 and in the javelin with a throw of 111 feet even, just 4 inches shy of her best mark.
Rust took first place in the shot put with a mark of 35-10 to beat out Sweet Home senior Shelby Nichol by 7 inches. McDaniel was the winner in the pole vault by clearing 9-4. Sisters senior Shelby Larson was second at the same height.
Other top-six performances by the PHS girls were turned in by Rust in the discus (third, 91-8), junior Emery Boutilier in the pole vault (8-6), freshman Madison Juhl in the discus (fourth, 86-3), freshman Ellie Morton in the high jump (sixth, 4-6), junior Kaeleigh Houchin in the 3,000 (12:30.27) and junior Jazz Choi in the triple jump (28-4).
For the boys, Matthews qualified for state in two events with a victory in the pole vault and second place in the high jump. Matthews cleared 10-6 in the vault to beat out the nearest competition by 6 inches. And in the high jump, he reached 5-10 and beat out two others at the same height with fewer attempts.
Candanova finished third in a very fast 3,000 with a time of 9:09.41. Beating him out were Sisters’ dynamic duo of senior Ethan Hosang (9:05.23) and senior Will Thorsett (9:05.98). Coach Joe Fulton said Candanoza’s time will certain earn him a wildcard berth to state.
In the long jump, junior Caleb Jensen didn’t qualify but had a notable performance by going 19-8 for fifth, a PR distance for him. It was an exceptionally tough event with the top three athletes ranking 1-2-3 in all of 4A.
Other top-six showings for the boys included sophomore Ben Hernandez in the 3,000 (9:53.26) and freshman Aaron Schaffer in the pole vault (8-6).
Saturday’s Day 2 of the meet is scheduled to begin with the 4-by-100 relay at 1 p.m.
Oregon West Championships (Day 1) Friday, May 14, at Stayton HS BOYS Winners & PHS Results
