After an undesirable performance at districts, C.S. Lewis Academy senior Dylan Brown likely wasn't among the favorites to finish on the podium in the high jump and long jump at the OSAA 1A track and field state championships at Hayward Field in Eugene this week.
He snuck into the state championships via a wildcard bid, finishing fifth in both disciplines at districts. The outing was a bit disheartening, especially in the long jump, as Brown had been steadily improving in the pit, recording five personal bests across the season.
But, when it mattered most, Brown executed the performance of a lifetime, as he recorded a pair of personal bests to finish fifth in the high jump and sixth in the long jump.
“I was not really satisfied with my performance at districts,” Brown said. “I was telling some of the guys at high jump if I can get past this first bar, I'll be happy because I wasn't expected to be here, and last year (I didn’t even clear the bar).”
Brown opened the day by clearing 5 foot, 10 inches in the high jump before returning to the podium for the long jump after leaping 20-1.75. It was certainly a day to remember for the senior, who just a week prior felt the sting of potentially never returning to Hayward Field.
“That was the main thing coming off of districts — I was sad that I wasn't going to get to be here,” Brown said. “This is just an amazing field and we're so blessed in Oregon to be able to compete here as our (state championships).”
In the girls discus, top-seeded Faith Larsen threw just over six feet under her personal best, with the junior's mark of 103-8 ultimately securing her a fourth-place finish.
“Definitely the pressure,” Larsen said about her struggles. “It's just so many people here in such a huge stadium and it just felt like a lot of eyes are on me.”
However, as the nerves wear off, Larsen looks to bounce back in the shot put on Friday, where she currently holds the eighth-best entry mark.
“Considering I didn't get what I wanted in discus, I think I'm going to use that (as) motivation in shotput,” Larsen said.
Meanwhile, in the girls high jump, junior Julia Heimuller failed to register a mark after she was unable to clear the opening height of 4-8.75.
St. Paul
The Buckaroos had two athletes make the podium and another two advance to finals on Thursday, May 16.
Sophomore Branson Cook finished fourth in the high jump, clearing 5-11.25. Although he was well below his personal best of 6-4, Cook's finish is three spots ahead of last season, where he took seventh at the state championships.
“It felt really, really good to walk up that podium and be on the higher part of it,” Cook said. "It just felt more warm."
Cook also finished 12th in the long jump at 19-0.75, falling over a foot and a half short of his personal best. With the triple jump awaiting him on Friday, it doesn't seem as though Cook will allow his shortcomings in the pit to continue.
“I'm an inch away from the school record,” Cook said. “That's my main goal. If I can get on that podium, that'd be awesome.”
James Davidson added to the Buckaroos' podium appearances, as the senior threw a personal best of 44-9.50 to finish seventh in the shot put and redeem a disappointing showing from last season's state championships, in which Davidson threw just under 20 feet below his personal best in the discus, the only event he qualified for.
“Definitely a memory standing on that podium I will take with me for a while,” Davidson said. “It's nice to not choke at state, too; that's pretty fun.”
“I've had to live with that kind of self-doubt that I can't compete in the clutch moments for so long,” Davidson continued. “It's finally just nice to eradicate that.”
Senior Gracie Koch failed to advance to the 100-meter hurdle finals, crossing in 19.61 in the prelims. Meanwhile, Meredith Coleman and Ralph Pohlschneider guaranteed they would leave Hayward Field with some hardware after advancing out of the prelims in their respective events. Coleman recorded a personal best of 13.19 in the 100 meters and will enter the finals with the sixth-fastest time from the prelims.
Pohlschneider inked himself a personal best as well, clocking in at 23.20 in the 200 meters after he ran 52.13 in the 400 meters. A third medal could be in the cards for Pohlschneider, as he will look to defend St. Paul's title in the 4x400 relay. As the lone returner from last season's championship-winning relay, Pohlschneider will be joined by Cook, twin George Pohlschneider and Diego Medina.
“Even though we don't have the best time in the state right now, we all know we're going to push,” Cook said. “I'm mainly doing this for George because it's his senior year. Ralph came here in the 400 and 200 — this is George's event. I'm doing it for him. I'm going to push myself to get it for him.”
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