Eagles kick off Northwest Conference season in Hillsboro

HOOD RIVER — Hood River Valley’s (HRV’s) track and field team kicked off its final season in the Northwest Oregon Conference (NWOC) on April 1 with a three-way league meet at Hillsboro’s Hare Field.

Alongside host Hillsboro and Milwaukie, the Eagles were able to post some good early season times and marks despite having to dodge frequent heavy rain — among other weather elements.

Hood River Valley senior sprinter Matt Trickey won the 100 meters in a personal best 11.29 seconds and later the 200 in a PR 23.32. Trickey, who also ran a leg on HRV’s 4x100 relay, is off to a fast start this season.

Coach Kyle Turner said Trickey’s work ethic has allowed him to overcome an injury suffered during his freshman season; three years later, he ranks among the best in the NWOC.

“Right out of the gate, he’s running his personal bests,” Turner said. “Matt is a hard worker — has a great attitude. He’s a perfect example of how just showing up every day is the most important thing.

“He’s not a big hype guy. He doesn’t ask a lot of questions, but he always gives 100 percent effort in every workout and knows how to show up on race day.”

Fellow senior Jack Miller also had a PR-day, with a 114-foot, 8-inch, fifth-place throw in the discus. Miller won the javelin at 145-7 and was second in the shot put at 41-7.

Also for the HRV boys, junior Wyeth Droege won the 300 hurdles in a personal best 43.11 and was second in the 110 hurdles in 15.93. Distance runners Andres Moretti and Victor Coffman went 1-2 in the 1,500.

The Eagle girls were led by its young sprinters, including Georgiana Williams, who won the 400 in 1:03.26 and the 200 in a personal best 26.87. Fellow sophomore Camila Luna won the 100 and joined Giselle Romeo, Amelia Gabriel, and Roslyn Ross to win the 4x100 relay (53.89).

Freshman Karina Little won the pole vault and the long jump for HRV, and freshman Diyora Khudoidodova won the javelin and high jump. The Eagle distance duo of senior Syl Perrin and Savina Davis each won a race; Perrin won the 800 in 2:29.32 and Davis the 1500 in 5:13.14.