Staff report
Columbia Gorge News
THE GORGE – Trout Lake held off Dufur and 2025 champion Echo to win the 2026 girls District 3-1A track and field team championship May 22 in Maupin.
The Mustangs won three individual titles, both relays and scored 127.5 points at the two-day meet at South Wasco High School.
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. Trout Lake, runner-up Dufur (116 district points) and third place Echo (104.5) are sending strong girls big-meet teams to state, where they will be vying for one of four trophies.
Trout Lake Coach Sharla Rubesh’s individual champions included junior Cora Sharp in the 100 meters (12.98 seconds, after a 12.92 personal and school record in the prelims); junior Melody Stock, who won the 800 meters (2:22.85) and 1500 meters (5:01.74) – and added a 4x400 relay leg; and senior Jade Mclean, whose personal comeback included winning the pole vault (9 feet, 6.25 inches) on the same pit where her season ended in 2025 with a leg injury suffered during warm ups at district.
Mclean also ran legs on the first-place Mustang relays along with Sharp and Lisa and Lupe Medina (school record 4x100, 51.45), and pole vault runner-up Riley Rickman (4x400). Lupe Medina earned a wild card berth to state in the 300 hurdles, as did Ellie Rubesh in the triple jump and school recordholder Aurora Zoller in the discus. The Mustang 4x400 winning time of 4:10.53 was another school record.
“The high caliber competitive spirit of this Mustangs’ girls team has been thrilling to watch this year,” Coach Rubesh said. “Additional great showings from Eden Anderson, Quinlan Kelly, Payton Leis and Emma Patterson helped the Mustangs score high enough to earn
the first-place title of district champions.”
The Dufur girls had four individual championships and were led by sophomore Jacey Calloway, who successfully completed a tough double by winning the back-to-back 200 meters (26.53) and 300 hurdles (49.28). She also ran legs on the Ranger third-place 4x100 relay and runner-up 4x400 relay.
Sophomore Ellie Brock successfully defended her district title in the 400 meters and finished second to Stock in the 800. She also ran 4x100 and 4x400 relay legs for the Rangers at district. Sophomore Ruby Wilson used a strong kick to win the 3000 meters over teammate Alessandra Meza (12:05.99 to 12:09.49). Dufur’s distance crew was especially strong for Coach Mandi Williams’ team, scoring 49 points in three events.
Junior Hailee Pechanec scored 20 team points for Dufur, with her three-PR day in the shot put (third), discus (second), and javelin (third). She will compete at state in the discus, as well, after securing a wild card berth.
Sherman County tied with Griswold for fourth place at district and was led by Chloe Simpson, who scored 26 points via wins in the high jump and triple jump (personal best 35-8.5) and from her third place in long jump (PR 15-11). Also of note for the Huskies was the district double from junior T’Sharra Lanthorn, who was third in two state-qualifying efforts - in the 800 (PR 2:30.76) and 3000. Junior Arwen Dorzab earned a wild card berth in the high jump for the Huskies.
The South Wasco County girls were fifth behind senior Bailey Udey (29 points). She was second in the triple jump (34-2), long jump (PR 16-9.75) and high jump, and fourth in the 400.
Horizon Christian junior Karis Caldwell raced to second place in the 200 (PR 27.33), and teammate Sophia Tomka had a two-PR day by placing in the hurdle races.
Glenwood was led by senior Giana Jackson, who placed at district in three events – including the 200 (PR 27.63). She earned a state qualifying spot at the state meet in that race and long jump.
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