Staff report
Columbia Gorge News
THE GORGE — Horizon Christian had just one individual champion, but the Hawks scored team points in 14 of the 17 contested events to win the 2026 District 3-1A boys track and field championship May 22 under sunny skies at the Deschutes River Athletic Complex in Maupin.
Horizon scored 96 points compared to the 61 by runner-up Lyle/Wishram, 59 by the host school, South Wasco County, and 57 from Dufur. The top eight finishers in each event scored team points. The top two placers and those who met qualifying standards (based on their district meet performances) qualified for the May 28-29 OSAA Class 1A state meet at historic Hayward Field in Eugene.
Horizon, which also won the team title in 2025, was led by senior pole vault champion Ethan Smallfoot, and two-event state meet qualifier Josh Carley. Smallfoot won the vault on fewer misses, and he also scored points in the hurdle races. Carley had personal bests in the 3000 meters on May 21 (9 minutes, 32.33 seconds) and a day later in the 1500 (4:22.41). The sophomore was second in both races.
Horizon also had two state qualifying relays — which included John Tu, Charlie Haynie, Landon Whitaker and Judah Garrett in the 4x100 and Carley in place of Haynie in the 4x400. Junior Milo Bielen was state qualifying third in the shot put with a lifetime best of 47-4.25 — on his sixth and final throw of the competition.
Lyle/Wisham was led by seniors Ezekiel Marble, Jack Thiemann and Carson Ramsay. Marble won the 110-meter hurdles in a personal best 15.42 seconds and the 300 hurdles in a PR 40.32. Thiemann was second in the long jump and triple jump. Ramsay was third in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump. They teamed with senior Keoni Berna to place third in both relays.
South Wasco County had one district champion in freshman Ryker Thompson in the triple jump. Thompson, who was seeded third in the event, bounded a lifetime best 40 feet, 5 inches — a 21-inch PR. Two-event state qualifier, senior Jason Hull, ran personal bests in the 110 hurdles (15.95) and 300s (41.93).
Dufur was led by junior distance runner Zeb Stelzer, who won the 3000 (9:31.43 PR) on the meet’s first day and then doubled back to finish third (state qualifying) in a competitive 1500 on day No. 2. The top seven finishers in the latter race ran lifetime bests, including Stelzer (4:23.27) and Glenwood junior Anthony Avila (4:23.99).
The Rangers’ 4x400 relay of Noah Coleman, Stelzer, Ian Pechanec, and Chase Richards won the meet’s final event in 3:40.76. Pechanec was second in the open 400 earlier in the day. Coleman also earned a wild card spot at state in the 110 hurdles.
Sherman County placed seventh and was led by junior Tyler Geary, senior Renan Christiansen, and senior Eli Pickard. Geary won the javelin on May 21 with a personal best throw of 146-4. Christiansen was second in the shot put in a PR 49-6.5. Pickard, taking a break from his state baseball playoff preparations, ran a state-qualifying third in the 200.
 Trout Lake senior Jayden Kusky swept the shot put and discus (PR 156-10) for the Mustangs and will be among the favorites in those events at this week’s 1A state meet. Also earning a spot at state were Glenwood senior Ciaran McCabe (second 800, 2:08.15 PR), and juniors Wyatt Patterson (second javelin) and Talon Cabral (second high jump).
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