Staff report
Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER — Hood River Valley’s track and field team embraced a sunny day April 9 for a midweek four-way meet at Henderson Stadium.
The field included the Eagles, Class 5A Northwest Oregon Conference foes Wilsonville and Putnam, and Class 1A Horizon Christian School. Each school also had a weekend meet a few days on the horizon, necessitating some athletes to train through the midweek foray.
On the other hand, sophomore sprinter Georgiana Williams served notice to her league opponents that she’ll have a say in the NWOC’s shorter races come championship-season-time in late May. Williams anchored HRV’s first-place 4x100 meter relay, won the 100 in a personal best 12.66 seconds, and the 200 in a PR 26.27. Both of Williams’ individual times are top 10 in school history. The relay also included Jackie Angel, Uma Carosella, and Camila Luna, which ran the one-lap race in 51.98.
Eagle Coach Kyle Turner has watched Williams rise through the state sprint ranks — in part because of her hard work. “Georgiana is a phenomenal athlete. It was obvious that she was special even as a freshman last year,” Turner said. “Actually, some of us watched her compete in athletics in middle school as well, so it was no surprise what she did as a freshman. But then she kept working after season last spring and put in a ton of work over the winter, training and racing during indoor season this winter.
“What we see now is just all her hard work paying off. Much of being a good sprinter is just God-given ability, but then it’s up to that gifted athlete to put in the work and dedication it takes to become a great athlete.”
Turner said the sky is the limit for the Eagle sophomore. “Georgi continues to work every day to get better. Now it’s just up to us as coaches and parents to do our best to keep her healthy and find that delicate balance between hard work and rest. I think we’ve only just seen a glimpse of what Georgiana Williams is capable.”
Senior Syl Perrin did a little speed work (for her) by running a season best 1,500 (4:58.27), two days before she won the 3,000 at HRV’s weekend meet (see related story online).
On the boys side, HRV sprinter Matt Trickey won the 100 meters in a personal best 11.12 and the 200 in 22.96. Trickey opened the meet with a leg on the Eagles’ 4x100 relay, which finished second in a photo finish to Wilsonville – both teams were timed in 43.87. Joining Trickey were Colin Gerald, Solomon Parson, and Jack Schule. Trickey closed the meet with a 52.5 hand-timed 400-meter leg on HRV’s 4x400 relay.
Turner said: “I’m excited to see what those guys are going to accomplish this year. We always spend the first few weeks trying to figure out what athletes are going to fill those top spots on the relay and obviously you see some shifts and adjustments throughout the season, but I think these four will be pretty consistent and as we start really dialing in those hand-offs and getting their zone work smooth, we’ll see their time continue to drop throughout the rest of the season.”
Hood River’s lone win in field events came from sophomore pole vaulter Cohen Wagner, who cleared 10-0.
Top marks from Horizon Christian included junior Milo Bielen’s school record (in season) in the boys shot put of 44-6 (first place); junior Sophia Tomka’s PR of 19.87 in the girls 100 hurdles; senior Ethan Smallfoot’s 8-6 boys pole vault; senior Landon Whitaker’s 18-7.75 boys long jump and 55.07 400; sophomore Charlie Haynie’s 23.98 PR in the boys 200 and
15.49 (near PR) in the 110 hurdles; and Josh Carley’s 4:34.36 boys 1,500 - where he was able to compete against HRV’s Andres Moretti (4:31.51), Victor Coffman (4:32.85), and Brayden Strong (4:55.91), three of his cross country teammates this past fall.
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