East Linn’s boys and girls both finished second in the Division 2 track championships, both behind Delphian.
The boys scored 83 points, behind Delphian’s 164 and ahead of Regis (78) and Central Linn (74). The girls scored 131.5, behind Delphian (141) and ahead of Crosshill Christian (111) and Central Linn (75).
“Districts went really good,” Coach Kellen Peters said. “We hoped to pull out a district title on the girls side, but we were 10 points short.”
The girls qualified athletes for this week’s state championship meet in nine events, and the boys in eight.
Lexy Kauffman was the lone district champion for the ELCA girls, winning both the 100 (12.83) and the 200 (26.57) and was second in the 400 (1:00.51).
Peters noted that the senior is the first athlete in East Linn school history to qualify for 16 events at state, four every year. Ryder Howard, Josh Rehart and June Cowan also qualified in four events each.
Ryder Howard, a sophomore, was a triple winner for the boys, in the high jump (6-1¼), the long jump in a PR of 22-5, and the triple jump in a PR of 44-3½, and sophomore Cole Pennington won the pole vault in 11-3¾.
“Ryder broke the district meet record in the long jump and the triple jump,” Peters said, noting that Ellliot Nofziger was only East Linn athlete to win all three jumps as Howard did, and, the coach noted, “he’s still only 15 years old.”
In addition to the district titlists, state qualifiers for the boys were Hank Davidson, second in the discus (119-6, a personal best), Josh Rehart, second in the 400 (51.88) and third in the 200 (23.17, a PR), the 4×100 relay team of Bekham Kramer, Gabe Talleur, Davidson and Rehart, who were second in 45.79; and Talleur, Jonah Magness, Rehart and Howard, were third in the 4×400 (3:34.98).
For the girls, June Cowan was second in the 100 hurdles in a PR of 15.42, which broke the meet record except that Delphian’s Lily Olivares ran fast (15.36). Cowans was third in the 300 hurdles (49.56), and placed second in the long jump 16-2½, both also qualifying her for state.
Maci Modderman was second in the shot 32-9¾ and the discus 104-9, both qualifications.
The girls were second in the 4×100 relay, Kaylyn Kauffman, Avery Runyon, Cowan and Lexy Kauffman running 4:48.06, to qualify.
Other scorers for the boys were Magness, eighth in the 400 (55.32); Pennington, seventh in the 300 hurdles (46.45), Karter Nofziger; eighth in the javelin (137-3, a PR), Kramer, fifth in the pole vault 9-10; and Talleur, eighth in the triple jump in a personal best of 36-3½ .
Other scorers for the girls were Kaylyann Kauffman, sixth in the 100 (13.76) and eighth in the 200 (29.10); Erin Davey, eighth in the 400 (1:06..47, a personal best); Morgan Lalonde, third in the 3000 in a personal best 12.13.82 and fifth in the 1500 in a personal-best 5:29.08;
Hadassah Albert, fifth in the 3000 (12:13.82, a PR) and Bella Albert seventh in the 3000 (13.50.65).
Ella Stutzman was sixth in the 100 hurdles (17.47), seventh in the 300 ( 54.78), and seventh in the triple jump in a personal best of 30-11. Madison Kauffman was seventh in 100 hurdles (18:18). Avery Runyon was eighth in the long jump 13-10¼ .
Hadassah Albert, Davey, Bella Albert and Kaylyn Kauffman combined for sixth in the 4×400 really (4:48.06)
Allie Presley was fifth in the javelin in a personal best of 97-1, with Svetlana Manner was seventh in 95-1.
Tessa Salvage was fourth in the high jump, in a personal best of 4-9.
Svetlana Manner third in the pole vault (8-1½), Tatiana Manner was fifth (7-10¾) and Anna Henry sixth with a personal best of 7-8.
Lexy Kauffman tied for Athlete of the Meet on the girls side and was named Track Athlete of the Meet, while Howard was Field Athlete of the Year and Pennington was named Track/Field Athlete of the Meet. Cowan was named Track/Field Athlete of the Year.
Peters said he thinks his boys and girls both have a chance of bringing home a team trophy from the state 2A Championships, which begin Thursday, with finals on Friday afternoon at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
“I think we’ve got a good shot at getting a trophy if we do what we did at districts,” he said. “Individually, I think Lexy can get top two or three in all three of her sprints. The girls 100 hurdles race is going to be crazy – there are so many good girls in that. I’m hoping that June can finish on top.
“On the boys side, Ryder can take the lead in all three jumps and hopefully, he can prove himself. Josh has a shot at getting top three in the 400.”
Cole Harnar photos