Teamwork, Depth Carry Titans to Track & Field Conference Sweep

By Dan Shryock, The West Side Newspaper

The outcomes were known even before the final runners crossed the finish line at the Central Valley Conference Track & Field Championships. West Salem High School, with large leads in team points, would be taking home two trophies.

The two teams, girls and boys, dominated both the running and field events, sending 18 athletes a week later to the Oregon State Championships at Eugene’s historic Hayward Field.

Key to the overall conference success were four athletes who ran, threw, or jumped best in two varsity events. Seven others placed first in single events. Others contributed to the team results by scoring points with top five finishes. 

In the end, the West Salem girls totaled 126 points with McNary High School finishing second with 84. On the boys’ side, the Titans scored 123 points to McNary’s 98, according to results posted by Athletic.net.

Team points are scored based on performance. A first-place finish gains eight points, and a fifth-place spot adds one.

West Salem maintained its legacy as a strong distance running school when five runners placed in top-three positions. Anders Hagen, the conference’s top cross country runner last fall, was at his best this time as well. Hagen won both the 800- and 1500-meter events. Meanwhile, Avery Meier and Mia Rasca, who finished two-three in the cross country meet, were one-two in both the 1500- and 3000-meter runs.

David Goodwin and Dylan McGuirk also shined at the meet, also placing one-two in the boys 3000 run.

“Our culture and training have a major impact on how the conference meet went,” Hagen said. “The coaches at West Salem High really believed in us and pursued our growth. I can especially attest to Dalton Lindsey, the head distance coach, who put so much time and effort into helping us achieve our goals.

“Mia’s and Avery's drive and determination stand out to me,” he said. “We believed in ourselves and supported each other throughout the season. Along with the expert training, it all fell into place.”

Success wasn’t limited to the distance running. The team claimed 15 first-place finishes overall during individual events and one relay race. Two other athletes also won two events. Samantha Griffin claimed the girls triple and long jumps while Madelyn Miller was best at tossing the discus and shot put.

Listed are West Salem track and field athletes who placed in the top three positions in their conference meet events. All results reported by Athletic.net. Distances are in meters.

- Christian Apling - Boys Triple Jump, first place, 13.37 meters - Chloe Barber - Girls 400, third place, 01:00.84 minutes- Malakya Clayborne - Girls 300 hurdles, third place, 48.50 seconds- Kyleigh Comstock - Girls Pole Vault, second place, 2.72 meters- Cory Dillon - Boys Pole Vault, first place, 3.78 meters; Boys High Jump, second place, 1.89 meters- Quinten Ehrmantraut - Boys Pole Vault, second place, 3.63 meters- Brendan Goodwin - Boys Shot Put, third place,15.49 meters- David Goodwin - Boys 3000, first place, 09:14.25 minutes - Lily Griffin - Girls High Jump, first place, 1.56 meters- Samantha Griffin - Girls Long Jump, first place, 5.26 meters; Girls Triple Jump, first place, 11.28 meters; Girls 100 hurdles, second place, 15.93 seconds- Anders Hagen, - Boys 800, first place, 1:56.01 minutes; Boys 1500, first place, 04:07.08 minutes- Wislinder Hobbs - Boys 400, third place, 50.66 seconds- Elijah James - Boys 100, second place, 10.71 seconds- Ella Johnson - Girls 100 hurdles, first place, 15.26 seconds- Annika Laro- Girls Javelin Throw, third place, 31.57 meters- Dylan McGuirk - Boys 1500, third place, 04:15.85 minutes; Boys 3000, second place, 09:16.58 minutes- Avery Meier - Girls 1500, first place, 04:49.16 minutes; Girls 3000, first place,10:36.25 minutes- Madelyn Miller - Girls Discus, first place, 35.59 meters; Girls Shot Put, first place,10.85 meters- Jerett Peil - Boys 400, second place, 49.66 seconds; Boys 300 hurdles, third place, 41.26 seconds- Mia Rasca- Girls 1500, second place, 04:50.68 minutes; Girls 3000, second place, 10:46.50 minutes- Ethan Tatum - Boys Shot Put, first place, 16.58 meters.- Jace Vandiver - Boys Long Jump, third place, 6.10 meters- West Salem Boys 4 x 100 Relay, first place, 42.12 seconds (Runners: A. Lovely, C. Newton, J. Peil, E. James)- West Salem Girls 4 x 100 Relay, second place, 50.90 seconds (Runners: K. Comstock, M. Clayborne, C. Barber, R. Drake)- West Salem Boys 4 x 400, second place, 03:17.07 minutes (Runners: W. Hobbs, E. James, J. Peil, A. Hagen)- West Salem Girls 4 x 400, third place, 04:14.13 minutes (Runners: T. Lovely, M. Rasca, C. Barber, A. Meier)