by Scott Sacry
Track & Field is the ultimate meritocracy. The winners run faster, throw farther, and jump higher than the next person – there’s no style points, there’s no gray area, there’s no room for confusion. On top of all that, it’s an exhilarating sport to watch, so make sure to get out there and catch the action and support these student athletes.
The six Bitterroot Valley track teams are rounding into form as the high school track season heads down the backstretch – the district, divisional, and state meets will be held in the upcoming weeks.
There are too many track athletes in the valley excelling at a high level to name them all, but the following Bitterroot Valley athletes are going above and beyond this year.
The Class A State boys shot put champion is likely to come from the Bitterroot Valley. Corvallis’ Wyatt Miles (59’7”) and Hamilton’s Andrew Burrows (56’11”) have the top two throws in the state; they have been trading 1st and 2nd place finishes in meets all year.
Burrows also has the top Class A discus throw of 175’2”. Burrows was the State Champion in the discus in 2022 and the State Champion in the shot put last year.
Hamilton’s Tyson Bauder has the best javelin throw in the state this year at 199’4”. Close behind him are Corvallis’ Hunter Loesch (189’4”) and Levi Reynoso (173’ 9”).
Corvallis’ Derek Criddle leads Class A in the high jump (6”2’) and has the 2nd best Class A time in the 400m (49.72) and 3rd best 200m (22.31).
Hamilton’s Evan Bennett has the top Class A 800m time (1:55.31) and the 4th best 400m time (50.61).
Corvallis’ Olivia Lewis is the defending Class A State Champion in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and the 400m. She currently has the state’s best time in the 300m hurdles (43.05), a Class A best in the 100m hurdles (14.71), the 2nd best 400m time (57.98), the 3rd best 200m time (25.77), and last week she cleared 5 feet in the high jump to give her the 5th best jump in Class A.
Hamilton’s Mya Winkler has Class A’s best discus throw (131’ 2”), the 2nd best Class A mark in shot put (38’ 11”), and the 3rd best Class A javelin throw (120’ 1”).
Corvallis’ Laurie Davidson has the Class A best 1600m time (5:11.07) and the 4th best 3200m time (11:36.45).
Hamilton’s Aubrey Korst has the Class A’s best girls pole vault at 11’ 6”.
Hamilton’s Annalise Lewis has Class A’s best 800m time (2:17.53), the 2nd best 1600m time (5:13.29) and the 7th best 400m (59.87).
Corvallis’ 4×400 girls relay team has the state’s fastest time at 4:00.47.
Florence’s Bailey Kroeker has top 10 marks for Class B in the 100m (12.92), 200m (26.64), 400m (61.16), and the long jump (17’2”).
Florence’s Isaac Bates is in Class B’s top 10 in the 100m (11.38), 200m (23.05), and 400m (51.24).
Darby’s Lily Adair is in Class B’s top 10 in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m.
Victor’s Eli Jones is in Class C’s top 10 in the long jump and triple jump.