Brooks Beasts A-List Lineup Establishes New World Best In Mixed 4x800 Relay; Matthew Centrowitz Leads Off Ex-Ducks Squad On Way To 10th Fastest 4xMile

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS | LIVE RESLTS/VIDEOS

A combination of elite-level performances and a mesmerizing light show achieved the desired affect of leaving a Hayward Field crowd a bit dizzy Friday. 

An unrelenting mist and light rain marked a Day One at the Oregon Relays presented by AthleticNET that saw Gatlin Bair from Burley ID smash the meet record in the 200 meters with an all-time Idaho best of 20.93 seconds. He came back later to win the 100 in 10.45 seconds. 

Lake Oswego OR junior Mia Brahe-Pedersen added a little something extra to her growing legend when she sped by timing cameras at 100 yards in 10.48 seconds on the way to a victory in the 100 meters in 11.35 seconds. 

The high school record in the 100 yards, somewhat forgotten for the past 44 years, was 10.60 seconds by Benita Fitzgerald, who became an Olympic champion in the 1984 Olympic 100-meter hurdles. 

"I wasn't super impressed with my 100 (meters) time but the 100-yard dash was kind of fun," said Brahe-Pedersen, who had eight hours of wait time after her 200-meter win (23.01) in the morning.

"I had fun with my team, supporting them, being supported by them, and hanging out."

The Friday evening portion of the Oregon Relays designed to create sharable moments and record-breaking opportunities.

Tyrone Gorze of Crater OR took aim at a hallowed Oregon record in the boys 2-mile, held since 1969 by Steve Prefontaine, and was greeted on the track by a throngs of eager fans on the backstretch, many of them wearing straight-from-the-box T-shirts announcing "Stop Gorze."

Gorze boldly went for it, knocking out 63-and 64-second laps. He went through the mile in 4:20.5 and came through the finish line in 8:46.50 -- five seconds shy of Pre's 8:41.5 at the Corvallis Invitational 54 years ago. 

WATCH THE OREGON RELAYS PRESENTED BY ATHLETICNET LIVE WEBCAST

An A-list quartet from the Brooks Beasts -- Devin Dixon, Laurie Barton, Isaiah Harris and Nia Akins -- ran the fastest Mixed 4x800 relay of all-time with 7:47.94. 

"It's so fun," Akins said. "As you get older, you don't get to run in these relays anymore. Just to hold a baton, be with a team, break a record, it's awesome."

Dixon split 1:48.88, Barton went 2:05.6, Harris ran 1:49.1 and Akins closed it in 2:04.4. 

Bethany Michalak anchored the Air Academy CO girls to victory in the girls distance medley relay in US#4 11:52.57. Jesuit OR followed in US#6 11:56.74 for second place. 

Bishop Blanchet WA's William Schneider won a compelling duel with Jesuit's Jacob Nenow on the anchor leg of the boys distance medley relay, getting to the line first in US#8 10:10.11. Jesuit was second in US#11 10:11.01. 

JaiCieonna Gero-Holt of Emerald Ridge WA won the girls high jump with US#2 5-11.50 (1.82m) and took three attempts at her next challenge: 6-1.50 (1.87m). She had to bypass the javelin, which was running at the same time, but is entered in Saturday's 100-meter hurdles. 

National leader Sydnie Vanek of Clovis CA jumped within a quarter-inch off her wind-legal best effort in the girls long jump, winning with her first attempt 20-7.25 (6.28m).

Wilson of Long Beach won the boys 1,600-meter sprint medley relay in 3:33.50. Centennial of Las Vegas won the girls 1,600 sprint medley in 4:11.22.

Ruby Broadbent of Parkland (Victoria, B.C.), an Oregon State signee, won the girls 2-mile in 10:19.11.