Deep Boys And Girls Miles The Featured Attraction Friday At Jesuit

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

One week after the Oregon Relays, some of the best storylines in the Northwest will continue at the 22nd Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays .

When they left Hayward Field last week, junior Owen Powell of Mercer Island WA was riding high with a new national record in the seldom run 1,000 meters with 2:23.22. 

Another junior, Josiah Tostenson of Crater OR was given an opportunity to run with the pros in the men's mile, but the race never locked into the sub-four pace he was hoping for. Tostenson was a bit frustrated to see the chance to do something special slip away and finish in 4:07.63 (US#7).

On Friday at Jesuit, Powell and Tostenson will go head to head in the elite boys mile. And they might not even be the favorites. 

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Bozeman MT senior Nathan Neil is also coming to Portland and he ran 8:35.32 for 3,200 meters at the Arcadia Invitational -- beating both Tostensson and Powell there. 

Add Tostenson's teammate Tayvon Kitchen, Bishop Blanchet's Vincent Recupero, Ida B. Wells OR's Asher Danielson, Rocky Mountain ID's Landon Heemeyer and Seattle Prep WA's Jack Henzke and the race could be the best of the night. Certainly, there are a handful who could run under 4:10. 

The elite girls mile field also features athletes who have recently been on the starting line together. 

Lakeridge's Chloe Huyler is US#6 with the 4:44.22 that she ran at Arcadia. Last weekend, the junior finished third behind Skyline WA's Anna Callahan and Frances Keley BC's Lexi Dow. 

Emma Bennett of Jesuit and Ellery Lincoln of Lincoln, who were in the 800 last weekend, are also in the field along with Mercer Island WA's Sophia Rodriguez, La Costa Canyon CA's Gioana Lopizzo, Logan Hofstee of East Valley WA and Kenzie Bigej of Canby OR. 

The elite 100s have been recent must-see events and Jesuit, but with Mia Brahe-Pedersen of Lake Oswego sidelined with an injury, and Sophia Beckmon of Oregon City graduated and competing for the University of Illinois, the focus has turned to: Who's next?

Roosevelt sophomore Aster Jones has stepped in to become the leading contender to win the Class 6A sprint titles and she doubled at Oregon Relays last weekend. 

Jones will be matched again with Journey Cole of Kent Meridian WA after the pair went 1-2 last weekend at Hayward Field. Jones ran 11.89 and Cole was timed in 12.00. 

Westview's Love Uzoekwe was fourth last weekend in 12.22 and is also in the field. 

Peyton Wood of Grant OR, Cohen Hall of Canby OR and Mateo Ganje of Glacier Peak WA are the top entries in the boys elite 100. 

Chase McGee of Camas WA (15-11) and Phillip Wald of Hanford (15-10) bring strong credentials into the boys pole vault competition. 

Saskia Dorf of Westview and Maleigha Canaday-Elliott of McDaniel, both 39-footers, are going head to head in the triple jump for the second time in three weeks.