Small schools compete in Umatilla, Oregon City, Cove

THE GORGE — Area small schools went east to Cove and Umatilla, and west to Oregon City to compete in invitational track and field meets this past week.

Sherman County joined four other District 3-1A teams April 18 at a 17-team meet in Cove, where Eli Pickard swept the sprints, Renan Christiansen won the boys shot put, and Chloe Simpson recorded personal bests in the girls high jump and long jump.

Simpson was second in the high jump at 5 feet, 1 inch, and went 15-9.25 in the long jump to pace the Husky girls team. Teammate T’Sharra Lanthorn had a busy day, running a season best 2 minutes, 41.4 seconds in the 800, and throwing the shot put and discus.

Christiansen won the boys shot at 46-11, while Pickard swept the sprints — winning the 100 meters at 11.91 and the 200 at 24.92.

Glenwood and Lyle-Wishram competed April 17 at the River’s Edge meet in Umatilla. Senior Giana Jackson raced to a season best for the Glenwood girls in the 100 (13.85), while junior Anthony Avila ran a personal best 4:39.27 in the boys 1500.

Ekekiel Marble ran a personal best 16.17 in the 110 hurdles to place second and 42.75 (season best) in the 300 hurdles. Teammate Jack Thiemann bounded 40-1 to place third in the triple jump.

Lyle-Wishram also joined Dufur at an April 15 mid-week meet in The Dalles. Thiemann won the triple jump and long jump, and Marble won the 110 hurdles. They also teamed up with Bryce Macleod and Carson Ramsey to win the 4x100 relay.

Top marks at that meet from Dufur included Ian Pechanec’s 127-9 javelin throw and Chase Richards’ 5-6 high jump.

The Rangers competed at the Willamette Falls Invitational April 18 in Oregon City, where the Ranger girls solidified themselves as one of the top three girls team in District 3-1A — along with Trout Lake and Echo — with some season-best times and marks.

The Dufur distance crew of Ruby Wilson and Alessandra Meza had two personal bests between them: Wilson in the 800 meters (2:41.61) and 1500 (5:40.53), and Meza in the 1500 (5:38.15) and 3000 (12:11.94). Ellie Brock ran a season best 1:03.33 in the 400 and she also ran legs on Dufur’s relays. Jacey Calloway, Lily Egeland, and Hailee Pechanec joined Brock on the 4x100 (52.96). Brock, Calloway, Egeland, and Wilson ran the 4x400 in 4:31.02.

On the boys side, distance runner Zeb Stelzer raced to a personal best 4:30.8 in the 1500 and a season best 10:17.36 in the 3000. Sophomore Noah Coleman ran a season best 17.92 in the 110 hurdles.