Sophomore Cassidy Smart won the 4A girls 3,000 meters title Friday to highlight Philomath High’s opening day at the state track and field championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Smart won in a personal-best 10:17.53, holding off Cottage Grove’s Ella Cardwell, who finished second in 10:22.19.
Editor’s note: A gallery of photos from both Friday and Saturday will be published after Day 2 of the 4A track and field championships.
Smart’s victory was the result of a carefully executed race plan.
“Cassidy’s first 400 was a pedestrian 90 — her last 400 was 69,” PHS coach Joe Fulton said. “I was so pleased that she followed the strategy and didn’t bolt out to a lead which all the other runners expected. Her patience paid off.”
The runner-up, Cardwell, is coached by former Philomath distance runner Ricky Knutson.
Elsewhere for the girls, sophomore Kya Bolton finished eighth in the triple jump at 33-4.25, a personal best.
In the prelims on the track, freshman Sienna Bushnell won her heat of the 800 in 2:21.94, advancing to Friday’s final. Sophomore Reagan Nuño also advanced out of the 400 prelims with a personal-best 59.88 seconds.
On the boys side, junior Jamin Peters set a school record with a second-place finish in the shot put, heaving the 12-pound shot 53 feet, 5 inches. Peters added an eighth-place finish in the discus at 144-2.
Senior Leo Pausch finished fifth in the 3,000 in a personal-best 8:50.19 — a time that moves him to third on the school’s all-time list. Senior Blake Hauck cleared 12-2.5 for eighth in the pole vault. Junior Bryce Hruska advanced to the 110 hurdles final with a fourth-place prelim time of 15.58.
After Day 1, the Philomath girls stood sixth in the team standings with 11 points and the boys were fifth with 14 points.
Day 2 action resumes Saturday with field events at 9:30 a.m. and track events at 12:30 p.m.
Class 4A State Championships
Friday, May 29, at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, Eugene
DAY 1
BOYS
Team scoring: 1, La Grande 30; 2, Henley 25; 3, Junction City 18; 4, Marist Catholic 15; 5, Philomath 14; 6, Newport 13; 7, Estacada 12; 7, Molalla 12; 9, Astoria 10; 9, Scappoose 10; 11, Madras 8; 12, Marshfield 6; 12, Pendleton 6; 14, Baker 5; 14, Klamath Union 5; 16, Tillamook 2; 16, Phoenix 2; 16, Stayton 2.
PHS results : 3000 — 5, Leo Pausch, 8:50.19. 110 hurdles (Prelims) — 4, Bryce Hruska, 15.58. 300 hurdles. Shot put — 2, Jamin Peters, 53-5 (16.28m). Discus — 8, Jamin Peters, 144-2 (43.94m). Pole vault — 8, Blake Hauck, 12-2.5 (3.72m). Triple jump — 11, Kaden Howard, 41-2.5 (12.56m).
GIRLS
Team scoring: 1, Cottage Grove 22; 2, La Grande 21; 3, Stayton 16; 4, The Dalles 13.5; 5, Astoria 12.5; 6, Philomath 11; 7, Henley 10; 8, Junction City 9.5; 9, Klamath Union 9; 10, North Bend 6; 11, Marist 4.5; 12, Estacada 4; 12, Mazama 4; 14, Seaside 3; 14, Tillamook 3; 14, Newport 3; 14, Sweet Home 3; 18, Pendleton 1.
PHS results: 100 (Prelims) — 13, Kya Bolton, 13.13. 400 (Prelims) — 6, Reagan Nuño, 59.88. 800 (Prelims) — 3, Sienna Bushnell, 2:21.94. 3000 — 1, Cassidy Smart, 10:17.53. High jump — (Reagan Nuño, NH.) Triple jump — 8, Kya Bolton, 33-4.5 (10.17m).
For complete meet results, click here.