Lake Oswego senior Josie Donelson dominated the 6A girls track and field championships yet again this week, breaking her own state record in the 400 meters while also taking first in the 300-meter hurdles on Saturday, May 18, at Hayward Field.
Donelson ran a blistering 52.83 seconds to one-up herself in the 400, setting a new all-time state-best mark while earning her third-straight 6A title in the event.
Then, later the same day, Donelson ran 43.51 in the 300 hurdles to bring home her second individual championship of the day, while her teammate and fellow senior Cenaiya Billups took second with a personal-best of 44.38 seconds.
It was Donelson’s second straight 6A 300 hurdle title.
“With this being my last state meet, it is definitely just such a special meet,” Donelson said after her win in the 400. “Going in, I just really wanted to make every second count, and a part of that for me definitely meant defending my title, so I’m really happy to say that I did.”
Donelson also contributed pivotal legs in the Lakers’ two victories in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, as the foursome of Billups, Donelson, Riley Ha and Marina Turpen ran 47.92 seconds to take first in the 4x100 and 3:54.80 to take first in the 4x400.
Saturday marked the end of a three-year reign of dominance for Donelson, who likely left more than a few spectators at Hayward Field with a lasting memory of her record-breaking performance.
The senior was pushed by McDaniel’s Aayden Gallagher, conjuring a late burst to pull away and electrify the crowd in Tracktown, U.S.A.
“Hearing the scream of the crowd really helped me propel myself, and it helped to have them egging me on even further,” Donelson said.
Behind the performance of Donelson and the dominant relay teams, the Lakers brought home their third-straight championship in the team competition, finishing with 61 total points to top Lincoln for the crown.
Alongside the standout performances of Donelson, Billups, Ha and Turpen, senior Ana Peters finished eighth and seventh in the 800 and 1500 meters, respectively.
Meanwhile, Lakeridge junior Chloe Huyler took home the title in the 3000 meters on Friday morning, May 17, running 9:33.15 to best the field by more than five seconds.
“I knew I wasn’t happy with my last three races, and I’ve been sick too,” Huyler said. “So it’s just been kind of a rough season, but it definitely feels amazing.”
Huyler had hit a bit of a lull in the weeks leading up to the state meet, but she ran her second fastest time of the season to take the crown on Friday, topping West Salem’s Avery Meier, who ran 9:38.33 to take second.
With the victory, the junior contributed 10 points in the team competition, where the Pacers finished 11th.
Huyler also took third in the 1500 with a time of 4:29.14, contributing six more points, while sophomore Grace Peng finished sixth in the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet, 6 inches, contributing three points.
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