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Anna Hall Gives Stirring Performance To Close Oregon RelaysPublished by
Anna Hall powers through four events in 90 minutes to lead Valor Christian By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor EUGENE -- Anna Hall said she's working to get faster and stronger at this stage of her career. She feels "noodly" sometimes because she's tall but not as powerful as some other heptathletes. Saturday's performance at Hayward Field revealed a level of toughness that captivated the crowd at the Oregon Relays. RESULTS In the span of 80 minutes, the Valor Christian CO junior ran two hurdles races and anchored her winning 4x400 relay team -- all the while competing, and winning, the high jump. "I am so tired," Hall said. "I just want to eat some pizza and get a massage." Valor Christian, thanks to Hall and breakout sophomore distance runner Cole Sprout, put 119 points on the scoreboard and became the first team from outside the Northwest to win the Oregon Relays team title. "Truly selfless out of her," coach Brian Kula said. "We ask her to do a lot. We knew it was going to be a tight schedule for her today. Unfortunate that she didn't get to jump at that 5-11 bar with fresh legs but she's willing to do those things for the team. We love that about Anna." Hall went to the starting line of 100-meter hurdles at 6:07 p.m. and she ran 14.29, finishing right behind Katarina Vlahovic of Fraser Heights BC (14.19). The high jump competition was already underway, but Hall hadn't opened yet. Hall came in at 5-5 and made that and two higher bars before changing her shoes and running to the clerks station to check in for the 300 hurdles at 6:37 p.m. Hall was pressed all the way to the finish line in the 300 hurdles by Emerald Valley WA's Karlee Stueckle. The two were neck and neck over the final hurdle. Hall crashed over the finish line to win in 43.31 to Stueckle's 43.32. Hall's knees hit the track surface and she lost a patch of skin about a inch long from below her left knee. She went back to the high jump, where Emma Nelson from Chugiak had broken the all-time Alaska record by clearing 5-8.75 -- matching Hall. Hall and Nelson both missed attempts at 5-10.75 and Hall pulled out the win thanks to fewer misses at lower heights. By 7:30 p.m., Hall was preparing to run the anchor of the 4x400 with her school holding a nine-point lead over Mountain View ID in the overall team standings (boys and girls events are combined for team scoring at Oregon Relays). Hall capped the relay -- with teammates Bianca Lopez, Lizzy Walters and Camille Peisner -- and the squad ran a meet record 3:52.41. "I've split faster, but that's the hardest I've ever had to run on (the relay)," Hall said. When the dust settled, Valor Christian had the team victory. Mountain View ID, last year's champion, was second. "We had a big day (Friday) and then (Sprout's) performance was just lights-out good," Kula said. Sprout returned Saturday and ran 3:55.48 in the 1,500 for US#2 and another meet record. He and his team were still buzzing about his sophomore national record in the 3,000 meters -- 8:13.85. "We were all celebrating that and we'll continue to celebrate it," Hall said. "It's a big deal." The meet stayed dry, which helped performances. Thirteen new meet records were set. One of the best moments of the day happened when Catlin Gabel OR senior Juma Sei cranked through the 400 meters in 47.34 seconds. The small-school Class 3A state champion, who is headed to Yale in the fall, took nearly a second off his personal best with a stunningly fast time that moves him to No. 4 in Oregon history -- behind Nate Anderson, Gus Envela and Jordan Kent. Trey Knight, a sophomore from Ridgefield WA, broke a meet record in the hammer (US#1 216-5) and tied a meet record in the discus with 176-11. He also won the shot put (63-4.75) with the No. 2 mark in meet history. Simon Park of South Eugene broke the meet record in the pole vault with a clearance at 15-11 and then had a strong attempt at 16-4. Tzuriel Pedigo of Parkview Baptist LA broke the meet record in the javelin with 229 feet. Peter Smith of Gig Harbor WA ran 1:52.53 to win the 800 meters -- good for No. 2 in meet history. Vlahovic's 100 hurdles and Hall's 300 hurdles times were both meet records. South Eugene broke the all-time Oregon record in the sprint medley with 4:08.76 with a lineup that included Sasha Eustis, Julia Daniels, Elise Unruh-Thomas and Madison Elmore. Sydnee Larkin of Cherokee Trail CO won the triple jump with 40-2.75w. Her best wind-legal mark, 38-10, was a bit shy of the record. Hannah Carroll of Gig Harbor WA won the 400 in 55.21 seconds and Taylor Chiotti of Southridge OR won the 800 in 2:11.38. Both of those are No. 2 in meet history. Final Co-ed Team Scores: More news |
