Time for Central Catholic to clear a spot in the trophy case for the boys track and field program — Rams take top honors at Oregon 6A meet
By René Ferrán | Photo by Taylor Balkom
The Central Catholic trophy case has a lot of OSAA hardware from many sports.
Finally, the boys track team has something to add to the collection.
The Rams won their first Class 6A state title Saturday at the OSAA track and field championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, closing their victory by winning the 1,600-meter relay in a season-best 3 minutes, 21.44 seconds.
“Man, this means a lot,” said senior Xavier Simpson, who ran legs on both title-winning relays and placed second in the 100 and fourth in the 200. “The drive we had, the determination, ultimately that made the difference. I’m just happy we were able to pull through and win.”
Simpson embodied that determination while coming back from a hamstring injury suffered last month at the Oregon Relays that sidelined him until last week’s Mt. Hood district meet.
“I wasn’t used to the workload then,” said Simpson, who recently signed with Montana State. “I’m healthy now and happy I was able to do what I did and put points up for the team.”
The Rams amassed 55 points to beat out Tigard (40), 2019 champion Tualatin (35) and Canby (34).
Tigers senior Pat Vialva, a transfer from Long Beach (Calif.) Poly, won the javelin to go with Elijah Jackman’s victories in Friday’s shot put and discus, giving Tigard the first sweep of the throws since Gresham’s Sam Crouser single-handedly did so in 2010.
Tualatin senior Caleb Lakeman doubled back after winning the 3,000 on Friday to earn the 1,500 on Saturday. He was named athlete of the meet.
Canby senior Tommy O’Neill won the 800, and junior Treyson Wakefield won the triple jump in the Cougars’ final season in 6A before dropping to 5A.
South Medford junior Andrew Walker also walked away from Hayward Field a double winner, sweeping the 100 and 200 titles.
“All I wanted to do was win today, so it means a lot,” Walker said.
North Medford senior Nathan Rider made it a Southern Oregon sprint sweep by winning the 400.
Barlow junior Micah Perry followed the unofficial state title he won in the 110 hurdles during the COVID-shortened season with an OSAA title Saturday, and Ida B. Wells senior Nolan Malcomson repeated in the 300 hurdles.
Summit sophomore Collin Moore won the day’s first title, beating Montana State-bound senior Adam Maxwell of West Linn in a jumpoff to win the high jump.
Team scores
Top 10
Central Catholic 55, Tigard 40, Tualatin 35, Canby 34, South Medford 33, Summit 30, Lincoln 30, Sherwood 28.5, Ida B. Wells28, Westview25
State champions
4x100 Meters
Central Catholic, 42.21 seconds
4x400
Central Catholic, 3:21.44
100
Andrew Walker, South Medford, 10.61
110 Hurdles
Micah Perry, Barlow, 14.34
200
Andrew Walker, South Medford, 21.33
300 Hurdles
Nolan Malcomson, Ida B. Wells, 37.48
400
Nathan Rider, North Medford, 48.96
800
Tommy O'Neil, Canby, 1:52.71
1500
Caleb Lakeman, Tualatin, 3:50.78
3000
Caleb Lakeman, Tualatin, 8:13.31
Discus
Elijah Jackman, Tigard, 175 feet, 7 inches
High Jump
Collin Moore, Summit, 6-6
Javelin
Pat Vialva, Tigard, 203-7
Long Jump
Austin Stampflee, Glencoe, 22-5 3/4
Pole Vault
Gavin Fleck, Summit, 15-0
Shot Put
Elijah Jackman, Tigard, 59-3 1/2
Triple Jump
Treyson Wakefield, Canby, 44-9 1/2
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