Throwing events offer marquee matchups in Eugene

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The throwing events are shaping up to be among the biggest attractions at the Oregon Relays, Friday and Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene. 

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The girls discus competition features a showdown between Shelby Moran of Sherwood OR and Karlee Freeman of Raymond WA. Both have career best throws between 159 and 160 feet. 

In Moran's case, the 159-4 that she threw on March 22 put her within three feet of Oregon's all-time state best (162-1). Freeman threw 159-8 to win the Washington 2B title last year.

The boys hammer features freshman Trey Knight of Ridgefield WA, who broke the freshman class record in the weight throw over the winter and has designs on breaking the class record in the hammer this spring. Knight, 14, is just getting started with the high school outdoor implements but is one of the country's top emerging talents.

Knight has thrown the hammer near 200 feet in training and the freshman class record is 203-11 by Conor McCullough in 2006. 

In the girls hammer, Camryn Rogers from McMath BC will be going for her third consecutive Oregon Relays win. She has a PR of 200 feet and if she lived in the U.S. she'd be one of the top five throwers in prep history. 

In the girls javelin, there is another big contest brewing between Kaelyn Shipley of Kalama WA and Keira McCarrell of West Salem OR. Both have careers bests over 150 feet feet and Shipley is currently ranked US#3.

Two entries from California -- Long Beach Wilson and Sheldon -- add punch to the sprints and relays. 

Kierra King of Wilson and Tai McDonald of Sheldon (CA) both ran at the Arcadia Invitational last weekend and are the top seeds this weekend in the 100-meter dash at Hayward Field. They are likely to be the determining factors in the 4x100 relay and are also key players in the 200.

Union WA twins Jai'lyn and Dai'lyn Meriweather, state champions in Washington, will have competiton in the 400 meters from Oregon 6A champion Lauren Paven of Tigard.

Mountain View ID freshman Lexy Halladay will have a chance to run the 1,500 meters. She doubled 10:42.49/4:54.25 in the 3,200 and 1,600 at the Boise Relays on April 8. 

Ember Stratton of Sunset OR, a sophomore who finished second at Nike Cross Nationals, is entered in the 3,000 meters. 

Makayla Linebarger of Reed NV, the Nevada state record holder in the pole vault, is US#4 with a season-best clearance of 13-6.

Washington 4A state long jump champion Jelani Heath is also entered. She jumped a wind-aided mark of 19-11.50 at the state meet last year.  

On the boys side, Oregon's top sprinters, Josiah Carpenter of Southridge and Braden Lenzy of Tigard are going head to head in the 200 meters. Lenzy also has competition in the 400 meters with Quinn Litherland of St. George's BC. Litherland was the British Columbia high school champion last spring with 47.57.

Devan Kirk of Shorewood WA, who was second at the Brooks PR Invitational in the 800 meters, is the top entrant in that event. He owns a career best of 1:51.98 from 2016.

The boys 1,500 meters features a matchup of emerging sophomore stars Zane Fodge of McMinnville OR and Daniel Maton of Camas WA. 

Anthony Ocegueda of Reed NV, the Nevada 4A cross country champion, is giving the 3,000-meter steeplechase a try. A good early season time could set him up to be one of the national leaders in the event. 

Samuel Jackson of Churchill OR is the Oregon 5A triple jump champion and is a threat to sweep the long and triple jumps. 

Long Beach Wilson CA adds a dose of sprint power to the meet and could be in position to win as many as four relays (4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and Sprint Medley). 

As always, there is a team component to the Oregon Relays and Summit of Bend OR is out to defend its title. The Storm scored 95 points last year with the girls carrying the bulk of the load with 92 points.