Sweet Home’s boys track team finished third and the girls fifth amidst some 40 teams Saturday at the Mazama Invitational held in Klamath Falls.
With the district meet 2½ weeks away, the Huskies showed what they had against competition from southern and eastern Oregon, northern California and Nevada. Thirty Sweet Home athletes scored 17 personal bests and two season records.
The Huskies had a winner in Noah Dinsfriend in the 110 high hurdles, in a PR of 16.55, and the boys 4×400 team of Jake Swanson, Lance Hanson, Noah Taraski and Casey Tow – who was pressed into service at the last minute after competing in the 800 and the long jump just previously, also won.
The 4×100 relay team of Bethany Gingerich, Jessy Hart, Zoe James and Madison Merrill were the only winners for the girls.
“There were a lot of big schools there,” Coach Dakotah Keys said. “Obviously, we still have some work to do, but that really comes with tapering. We’re going to see some more PR’s because we’re still working hard right now. A lot of kids are succeeding where we thought they’d be. “‘
He said the Huskies’ confidence is growing as they focus on the “small things,” which has been an emphasis this year.
Keys said that was evident in some of the performances at Klamath Falls. With 4×400 Relay anchor Jake Swanson still competing in another event, sophomore Casey Tow got the call to step in on what turned out to be a winning effort.
“He had a two-second PR in his 400 (leg), which helped the team to victory. The kids are stepping up.”
Another example, in the same race, was junior Lance Hanson, who has been working on his technique, “getting him to use his arms.”
“He PR’d by almost two seconds in that split. It was awesome to see.”
Bethany Gingerich was third in the 100 Hurdles and second in the 300 after really just getting a foothold in those events this year, he said. Going into this week, Gingerich is ranked first in the 4A Division in the 300 and fourth in the 100.
Behind her was Madelyn Neuschwander, “probably one of the toughest kids I’ve ever seen,” who PR’d in the 100 Hurdles after not training “for about two weeks” and won her heat.
“It’s about how finding out how to be confident in yourself,” Keys said. “You can’t identify and get your confidence from track, how you’re competing. It has to be the small things, the things you do day-to-day – academics, taking care of your family, helping to clean the house. A lot of kids are buying into it and they’re coming out of their shells.”
He said he’s “excited” about the next couple of weeks, which include a second trip to Sisters this Saturday.
The Huskies competed at Sisters in windy and snowy weather conditions April 12. The district meet will be held there May 10 and 12.
On Thursday, April 19, the Huskies hosted Sisters and Elmira in their final home meet.
Winners for the Sweet Home boys were Tow in the Javelin (150-2) and the Triple Jump (38-5¾), the boys 4×100 Relay team of Noah Dinsfriend, Austin Stevens, Hayden Nichol and Lance Hanson (46.11).
Girls winners were Bethany Gingerich in the 200 (26.54), Megan Hager in the shot, in a PR of 32-9, and Zoe James, who tied with Elmira’s Emillia Carpenter in the high jump (4-10).
Earlier in the week, the Huskies’ freshmen and sophomores competed in the 10-team Dan Petersen Invite at Cascade, on April 17.
Tow won the boys 1500 in a PR of 4:39.20 and the boys 4×400 Relay team of Jaren Adams, Tristan Calkins, Tristan Saultz and Gavin Walberg took first in 3:58.96.
Megan Hager won the discus for the girls (104-8½) and Zoe James won the high jump with a leap of 4-8.
Mazama Invitational
Sweet Home Boys Results
* Personal Best
Team Scores – (1) North Valleys, Nev. 79; (2) Mazama 75; (3) Sweet Home 63; (4) Henley 52; (5) Cascade Christian 46.5; (6) North Clackamas Christian 46; (7) Eagle Point 37.5; (8) Monroe 34; (9) Lakeview 30.5; (10) New Horizon Christian 24; (11-tie) Phoenix, Hamilton City, Calif. 19; (13-tie) Glide, Durham, Calif. 18; (15) Mt. Shasta, Calif. 16.5; (16-tie) Lost River, Big Valley, Calif. and Hosanna Christian 15; (19) Douglas 12; (20) Burney, Calif. 9; (21) Triad Christian 6; (22) Bonanza, Paisley, Fall River, Calif. and East Nicolaus, Calif. 3; (26) Modoc, Calif. 1.
Sweet Home Finishers
100 – (8) Austin Stevens 11.73*; (22) Hayden Nichol 12.33.
200 – (15) Hayden Nichol 24.53; (29) Gavin Walberg 25.92.
400 – (16) Jake Swanson 55.46*; (24) Tristan Calkins 57.40.
800 – (4) Casey Tow 2:05.11*; (13) Austin Sills 2:15.21; (16) Tristan Saultz 2:16.36*.
1500 – (13) Tristan Saultz 4:44.41*; (15) Austin Sills 4:46.32*.
3000 – (17) Cameron Taber 11:12.00.
110 Hurdles – (1) Noah Dinsfriend 16.55*.
300 Hurdles – (2) Noah Dinsfriend 41.43*; (8) Lance Hanson 45.16.
4×100 Relay – (1) Mazama 44.72; (2) Douglas 45.08; (3) North Valley 45.14; (4) Phoenix 45.17; (5) Noah Dinsfriend, Austin Stevens, Hayden Nichol, Lance Hanson) 46.21; (6) Henley 46.21.
4×400 Relay – (1) Sweet Home (Jake Swanson, Lance Hanson, Noah Taraski, Casey Tow) 3:34.94; (2) North Valley 3:35.63; (3) Mazama 3:36.00; (4) Eagle Point 3:39.55; (5) Monroe 3:40.55.
Shot Put – (19) Noah Moore 38-0; (34) Austin Griffin 33-10.
Discus – (16) Jake Swanson 103-2; (32) Austin Griffin 90-1.
Javelin – (1) Jake Swanson 163-0; (4) Casey Tow 152-7*; (5) Noah Moore 150-4½.
High Jump – (10) Connor Russell 5-3.
Pole Vault – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Long Jump – (4) Austin Stevens 20-6½; (10) Casey Tow 19-7*; (17) Connor Russell 18-7½.
Triple Jump – (10) Lance Hanson 37-10.
Girls Results
Team Scores – (1) Monroe 92; (2) Durham 70.5; (3) Lakeview 65; (4) Cascade Christian 57; (5) Sweet Home 47.5; (6) Mazama 46; (7-tie) Henley, Hamilton City 43; (9) Glide 37.5; (10) Hosanna Christian 21; (11-tie) Phoenix, St. Bernard Academy 20; (13-tie) Mt. Shasta, Calif. and North Valleys, Nev. 15; (15) Douglas 11.5; (16) Lost River 11; (17) Gilchrist 9; (18-tie) Triad Christian, Chiloquin, Etna 8; (21) Paisley 7; (22) New Horizon Christian 4; (23) Modoc, Calif. 2; (24-tie) Days Creek, Bonanza 1.
Sweet Home Finishers
100 – (25) Madison Merrill 14.33; (28) Jessi Thomas 14.52.
200 – (17) Madison Merrill 29.16*; (29) Hailey Green 30.44.
400 – (6) Jessy Hart 1:03.95*; (12) Zoe James 1:06.44.
800 – (4) Jessy Hart 2:42.87*; (16) Brenna Boyd 2:51.00.
1500 – (4) Brenna Boyd 5:34.76; (28) Sicily Neuschwander 6:48.26.
100 Hurdles – (3) Bethany Gingerich 16.40*; (14) Madelyn Neuschwander 19.73*.
300 Hurdles – (2) Bethany Gingerich 46.45*; (14) Madelyn Neuschwander 58.43.
4×100 Relay – (1) Sweet Home (Bethany Gingerich, Jessy Hart, Zoe James, Madison Merrill) 51.94; (2) Mazama 52.00; (3) Phoenix 52.06; (4) Durham (Calif.) 52.60; (5) Lakeview 52.79.
4×400 Relay – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Shot Put – (9) Megan Hager 31-2; (14) Shelbey Nichol 29-0; (18) Kirsten Watkins 28-4¼.
Discus – (4) Megan Hager 104-10; (27) Kirsten Watlkins 65-9.
Javelin – (9) Natalie Rodgers 97-1; (11) Katen Edwards 88-8; (16) Hannah Powell 80-5.
High Jump – (5) Zoe James 4-8.
Pole Vault – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Long Jump – (28) Shelbey Nichol 13-4½; (35) Hannah Powell 12-11½; (43) Jessi Thomas 11-10.
Triple Jump – (11) Shelbey Nichol 28-1; (28) Hannah Powell 25-2¾.
Elmira, Sisters at Sweet Home
Boys Results
Team Scores – (1) Elmira 241.5; (2) Sisters 170; (3) Sweet Home 155.5.
Top 3 and Sweet Home Finishers
100 – (1) Brady Nagel (E) 11.58; (2) Christopher Luz (S) 11.95; (3) Casey Tow (SH) 12.08*; (4) Rawlins Lupoli (*SH) 12.08*; (6) Chase Blanco (SH) 12.27; (9) Noah Moore (SH) 12.57; (10) Rowland Lupli (SH) 12.75; (11) Austin Sills (SH) 12.81*; (14) Stewart Curtis (SH) 13.20; (18) Trace Marler (SH) 14.05.
200 – (1) Brady Nagel (E) 23.90; (2) Rawlins Lupoli (SH) 24.52*; (3) Denum Hanson (E) 24.66; (6) Tristan Calkins (SH) 25.12; (7) Chase Blanco (SH) 25.23; (10) Parker Lemmer (SH) 25.53*; (12) Rowland Lupli (SH) 25.99*; (14) Tristan Saultz (SH) 26.74*.
400 – (1) Jordan Pollard (S) 51.17; (2) Lance Hanson (SH) 54.88; (3) Ian Connors (E) 56.45; (4) Noah Taraski (SH) 56.57; (9) Soma Watanabe (SH) 1:05.51; (10) Shawn Reed (SH) 1:11.05.*
800 – (1) Jordan Pollard (S) 2:12/98; (2) Sam May (S) 2:22.75; (3) Ricky Yunke (SH) 2:27.56; (6) Evan Davis (SH) 2:33.66*; (9) Shawn Reed (SH) 2:50.53.
1500 – (1) John Peckham, (S) 4:40.65; (2) Justen Sagen (E) 4:55.95; (3) Ricky Yunke (SH) 4:57.75; (6) Mason Hook (SH) 5:34.87*; (8) Soma Watanabe (SH) 5:52.66.
110 Hurdles – No Sweet Home Entrants.
300 Hurdles – (1) Alex Head (E) 47.17; (2) Brady Scroggins (E) 48.84; (3) Orry Abbenhuis (S) 49.22; (5) Cameron Taber (SH) 56.10*.
4×100 Relay – (1) Sweet Home (Noah Dinsfriend, Austin Stevens, Hayden Nichol, Lance Hanson) 46.11; (2) Sisters 46.31; (3) Elmira 46.91.
4×400 Relay – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Shot Put – (1) Eli Jones 40-5½; (2) Nick Payton (E) 39-10; (3) David Perez (S) 38-1½; (4) Austin Griffin (SH) 37-7; (6) Hayden McDonald (SH) 36-5½*; (7) Sevin Carson (SH) 34-11*; (8) Hayden Nichol (SH) 34-5; (11) Stewart Curtis (SH) 33-2*; (15) Logan Raborn (SH) 30-5½; (17) Marc Kannvesser (SH) 28-6; (18) Levi Baird (SH) 28-4*’; (20) David McMullen (SH) 27-1; (23) Adam Oberg (SH) 24-1*; (24) Jake Fanning (SH) 23-5½; (25) Jesse Burford (SH) 22-8*; (26) Hunter Calderwood (SH) 21-0½.
Discus – (1) David Perez (S) 117-4; (2) Cobyn Herbert (E) 116-1; (3) Davis Kilmer (E) 108-8; (6) Jake Swanson (SH) 103-0; (8) Austin Griffin (SHJ) 88-11; (12) Sevin Carson (SH) 77-9; (13) David McMullen (SH) 76-1; (18) Levi Baird (SH) 70-11*; (20) Marc Kanngvesser (SH) 65-3*; (23) Jake Fanning (SH) 65-1*; (24) Jesse Burford (SH) 63-3; (26) Adam Oberg (SH) 59-1; (27) Hunter Calderwoood (SH) 48-2.
Javelin – (1) Casey Tow (SH) 150-2*; (2) Davis Kilmer (E) 148-6; (3) Ricky Yunke (SH) 142-7*; (5) Tristan Calkins (SH) 134-0*; (6) Robbie Yunke (SH) 132-5; (11) Parker Lemmer (SH) 116-6; (11) Levi Baird (SH) 96-0; (16) Jesse Burford (SH) 78-0*; (20) Hunter Calderwood (SH) 55-7.
High Jump – (1) Skyler Larson (S) 5-10; (2) Kellen Smith (E) 5-6; (3) Connor Russell (SH) 5-4.
Pole Vault – (1) Garrett Kersavage (S) 10-6; (2-tie) Orry Abbenhuis (S), Hayden Sharp (S) 10-0; (5) Rawlins Lupoli (SH) 9-0; (9) Rowland Lupoli (SH) 8-0.
Long Jump – (1) Kellen Smith (E) 19-2½; (2) Connor Russell (SH) 18-11*; (3) Noah Dinsfriend (SH) 18-4¼*; (4) Tristan Calkins (SH) 18-2*; (5) Noah Taraski (SH) 17-6½; (7) Hayden McDonald (SH) 17-4½*; (9) Parker Lemmer (SH) 17-3½; (12) Stewart Curtis (SH) 15-2¾.
Triple Jump – (1) Casey Tow (SH) 38-5¾; (2) Garrett Kersavage (S) 37-7½; (3) Kellen Smith (E) 36-10½.
Girls Results
Team Scores – (1) Sisters 263; (2) Sweet Home 125; (3) Elmira 113.
Top 3 and Sweet Home Finishers
100 – (1) Mandi Calavan (S) 13.11; (2) Jessi Thomas (SH) 14.52; (3) Hailey Green (SH) 14.57.
200 – (1) Bethany Gingerich (SH) 26.54; (2) Mandi Calavan (S) 26.94; (3) Erynn Ricker (S) 27.46; (4) Kate Hawken (SH) 28.12; (5) Jessy Hart (SH) 29.33*; (8) Hailey Green (SH) 30.18*.
400 – No Sweet Home Entrants.
800 – (1) Kate Bowen (S) 2:28.50; (2) Anna Bartlett (S) 2:30.51; (3) Tate Ricker (S) 2:41.25; (4) Ella Cole (S) 2:44.29; (5) Brenna Boyd (SH) 2:44.35.
1500 – No Sweet Home Entrants.
100 Hurdles – No Sweet Home Entrants.
300 Hurdles– No Sweet Home Entrants.
4×100 Relay – (1) Sisters 51.95; (2) Sweet Home (Bethany Gingerich, Jessy Hart, Zoe James, Kate Hawken) 52.45;
4×400 Relay – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Shot Put – (1) Megan Hager (SH) 32-9*; (2) Kirsten Watkins (SH) 30-2*; (3) Shelbey Nichol (SH) 2-11½; (6) Katen Edwards (SH) 25-9½; (8) Shelby Goodwin (SH) 24-0*; (9) Makayla Griffin (SH) 23-7*; (11) Jillian Lynn (SH) 22-2*; (13) O’Rian Offutt (SH) 21-3*.
Discus – (1) Maeaghan Greaney (S) 82-5; (2) Megan Hager (SH) 82-6; (3) Mallory Bailey (E) 78-10; (6) Shelby Goodwin (SH) 74-7*; (7) Kirsten Watkins (SH) 71-5; (9) Katen Edwards (SH) 60-7; (11) Sicily Neuschwander (SH) 56-5*; (12) Makayla Griffin (SH) 48-4.
Javelin – (1) Emillia Carpenter (E) 117-0; (2) Mallory Bailey (E) 95-5; (3) Katen Edwards (SH) 93-1*; (4) Hannah Powell (SH) 91-6; (6) Jillian Lynn (SH) 76-5; (7) Kailey James (SH) 69-8; (9) Shelbey Nichol (SH) 52-4; (10) O’Rian Offutt (SH) 56-3*.
High Jump – (1-tie) Zoe James (SH), Emillia Carpenter (E) 4-10; (3) Lexie Geiger (E) 4-6.
Pole Vault – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Long Jump – (1) Samantha Silva (S) 15-2; (2) Emillia Carpenter (E) 14-9½; (3) Ella Cole (S) 14-6; (4) Jessy Hart (SH) 13-11; (10) Jessi Thomas (SH) 12-5; (14) Kailey James (SH) 11-8*; (16) Jillian Lynn (SH) 10-9*; (17) O’Rian Offutt (SH) 9-10.
Triple Jump – (1) Samantha Silva (S) 29-9; (2) Shelbey Nichol (SH) 29-5½*; (3) Kennady Laing (E) 29-5.
Dan Petersen Frosh/Soph Invite
Boys Results
* Personal Best
Team Scores – (1) Philomath 196; (2) Newport 64; (3) Sweet Home 63; (4) Stayton 58; (5) Yamhill-Carlton 44; (6) Cascade 42; (7) Jefferson 39; (8) Scio 35; (9) Regis 30; (10) Salem Academy 23.
Winners and Sweet Home Finishers
100 – (1) Bryce Beeton (Philomath) 12.56; (26) Logan Raborn (SH) 13.84.
200 – (1) Logan Hannigan-Downs (Philomath) 24.76; (4) Tristan Calkins (SH) 24.89*; (9) Gavin Walberg (SH) 25.60*; (24) Vince Drake (SH) 28.67*; (33) Trace Marler (SH) 30.92*.
400 – (1) Logan Hannigan-Downs (Philomath) 53.06; (2) Tristan Calkins (SH) 55.70; (9) Jaren Adams (SH) 1:03.85.
800 – (1) Levi Knutson (Philomath) 2:16.30; (3) Tristan Saultz (SH) 2:17.20; (4) Gavin Walberg (SH) 2:19.30.
1500 – (1) Casey Tow (SH) 4:39.20; (2) Luke Jones (Scio) 4:39.50; (17) Jaren Adams (SH) 5:42.30.
4×400 Relay – (1) Sweet Home (Jaren Adams, Tristan Calkins, Tristan Saultz, Gavin Walberg) 3:58.96; (2) Philomath 3:49.24.
Shot Put – (1) Jaden Williams (Philomath) 40-1; (4) Sevin Carson (SH) 32-6; (8) Logan Raborn (SH) 30-2; (14) David McMullen (SH) 27-4; (15) Marc Kanngvesser (SH) 27-2; (28) Jake Fanning (SH) 23-1; (30) Hunter Calderwood (SH) 20-1.
Discus – (1) Christian Vazquez-Martin (Stayton) 107-11; (15) Sevin Carson (SH) 68-0; (16) Jesse Burford (SH) 67-9; (19) Jake Fanning (SH) 64-0*; (20) David McMullen (SH) 63-10; (24) Marc Kannvesser (SH) 60-11; (34) Hunter Calderwood (SH) 49-9*.
Javelin – (1) Benito Risch (Y-C) 150-6; (3) Casey Tow (SH) 133-9; (6) Tristan Calkins (SH) 120-1; (31) Jesse Burford (SH) 71-10; (39) Hunter Calderwood (SH) 57-3½.
Long Jump – (1) Logan Hannigan-Downs (Philomath) 19-6½; (5) Casey Tow (SH) 17-5.
Triple Jump – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Girls Results
Team Scores – (1) Philomath 186; (2) Cascade 111; (3) Sweet Home 79; (4) Newport 74.5; (5) Yamhill-Carlton 46.5; (6) Stayton 31.5; (7) Regis 24.5; (8) Jefferson 22; (9) Scio 18; (10) Salem Academy 12.
Winners and Sweet Home Finishers
100 – (1) Maggie Ross (Philomath) 12.92; (8) Zoe James (SH) 14.57*; (12) Madison Merrill (SH) 14.68; (18) Hailey Green (SH) 15.38; (24) Shelbey Nichol (SH) 15.65*; (28) Kailey James (SH) 16.52*; (34) Annie Kennedy (SH) 20.59.
200 – (1) Melia Morton (Philomath) 27.56; (8) Madison Merrill (SH) 29.52*; (10) Hailey Green (SH) 30.72.
400 – No Sweet Home Entrants.
800 – (1) Hannah Hernandez (Philomath) 2:27.89; (4) Brenna Boyd (SH) 2:55.60*; (5) Zoe James (SH) 2:58.90*; (11) Kirsten Watkins (SH) 3:31.30*.
1500 – (1) Rivers Nuno (Philomath) 5:33.40; (2) Brenna Boyd (SH) 5:33.90.
Shot Put – (1) Felicia Robbins (Y-C) 31-1½; (2) Megan Hager (SH) 30-1½; (3) Shelbey Nichol (SH) 28-4½; (10) Kirsten Watkins (SH) 24-11; (14) Katen Edward 23-1½; (17) Makayla Griffin (SH) 22-11*; (23) Kailey James (SH) 21-1; (25) Shelby Goodwin (SH) 20-6½.
Discus – (1) Megan Hager (SH) 104-8½; (2) Mia Cantero-Mullen (Cascade) 92-9; (8) Shelby Goodwin (SH) 69-0*; (11) Kirsten Watkins (SH) 62-10; (11) Kirsten Watkins (SH) 62-10; (14) Katen Edwards (SH) 59-04½; (29) Makayla Griffin (SH) 50-0½; (30) Sicily Neuschwander (SH) 49-9½*.
Javelin – (1) Sierra Reeves (Jefferson) 92-0; (4) Katen Edwards (SH) 86-9; (5) Hannah Powell (SH) 86-5; (13) Kailey James (SH) 71-2*.
High Jump – (1) Zoe James (SH) 4-8; (2) Grace Hargett (Newport) 4-6.
Pole Vault – No Sweet Home Entrants.
Long Jump – (1) Maggie Ross (Philomath) 13-9½; (7) Shelbey Nichol (SH) 12-7; (11) Hannah Powell (SH) 11-11½; (19) Kailey James (SH) 10-0¾.
Triple Jump – (1) Alivia Pittman (Philomath) 30-0; (2) Shelbey Nichol (SH) 28-1; (3) Hannah Powell (SH) 25-8½.