Staff report
Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER — A second successive talented group of freshmen athletes, along with some experienced upperclassmen, bolster Hood River Valley’s (HRV’s) track and field fortunes for the 2026 season — the school’s last in the Northwest Oregon Conference (NWOC).
The Eagles will compete in a different Class 5A league starting next fall, but until then, Coach Kyle Turner’s squad will be working to improve on last season’s middle of the pack finishes at the district meet.
“All the kids have great attitudes and are working hard in practice every day,” Turner said. “We hosted our own intersquad meet this week and it was super fun to see the kids really compete and also support their teammates. It’s going to be another great year for Eagle track and field.
“We have another great freshman class for the second year in a row.”
On the boys side, senior Jack Miller is HRV’s leading returning thrower, with a personal best in the shot put at the intersquad meet of 44 feet, 3 inches. Miller placed fourth at district in the shot put in 2025 after winning the javelin. He improved his PR in the javelin throw to 164-9 this past summer, competing with the SuperThrower Track Club.
Senior Francisco Solberg won the district title in the pole vault in 2025 and has a personal best of 13-6.
High jumper/hurdler Wyeth Droege, a junior, enters the season fit after a winter of indoor workouts and competing briefly with the Resolute Track Club. Droege was sixth in the NWOC high jump. On the track, Droege raced to a 15.31 personal best at the intersquad meet in the 110 hurdles.
“We have a solid group of upperclassmen returning,” Turner said. “Jack Miller will be one of the league’s [best] in the javelin and shot. Wyeth Droege put in a ton of hurdle work this winter and had a huge PR in the 110s in our meet, going under 16 [seconds] for the first time.”
The HRV girls team will be led by returning state distance runners, senior Syl Perrin and sophomore Savina Davis. Perrin was runner-up in the district 3,000 meters and third in the 1,500. David was second in the district 800 and 1,500. They finished 1-2 in the NWOC district cross country meet last fall.
The Eagles also return three of four legs on the state 4x100 and 4x400 relays in Keira Brennan, Camila Luna, and Georgiana Williams in the short event, and Davis, Williams, and Sadie Baumann in the longer race.
Williams looked in midseason form at the HRV intersquad meet with times of 12.62 in the 100 meters and 26.67 in the 200. She placed at district in both events in 2025.
Turner said freshman Diyora Khudoidodova should be in the mix for state qualifying spots in the high jump (5-1 PR) and javelin.
HRV opens its competitive season April 1 at a three-way NWOC meet in Hillsboro along with Milwaukie.
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