THURSTON
■ Coach: K.C. Gillespie
■ Outlook: The Colts placed sixth at state last year in the girls competition led by Brooklyn Anderson, who won the state title in the 100 hurdles in 14.93 seconds. She already topped that time as a senior by running 14.44 to tie for 16th in state history. Anderson placed third last year in the long jump and also qualified for state in the 100. Kelsie Raven placed third last year in the triple jump and fourth in the high jump. The junior also finished eighth in the 100 hurdles in 16.14. Senior Addison Nelson finished sixth at state in the long jump and triple jump while also qualifying in the high jump. Kylee Skinner qualified in the high jump and sophomore Emmie Nerdrum reached state in the 200. Junior Jenni Newell qualified for state in the 400 and teamed with Anderson and Nerdrum to qualify for state in the 4×100. On the boys side, Carson Buergey placed sixth in the 800 in 1:56.13 and was ninth in the 1,500. Justin Fisher and Quinn Piquette both qualified for state in the 100 and teamed up with Caleb Jones to make state in the 4×100.
SPRINGFIELD
■ Coach: James March
■ Outlook: The Millers return junior Sailor Hall, who placed fifth at state last year in the shot put. Junior Leila Kammerzelt-Murphy was 10th in the discus and Violet Moran was 14th in the javelin as a sophomore. For the boys, senior Noah Solo finished seventh in the shot put at state and sophomore Amar’e Viquelia was 11th in the long jump.
COTTAGE GROVE
■ Coach: Ricky Knutson
■ Outlook: The Lions return two state scorers on the girls side. Senior Ella Cardwell, who has committed to run at Western Oregon next year, placed fifth at the Class 4A meet in the 3,000-meters and finished 10th in the 1,500. Senior Makya Alsup placed seventh in the javelin last season. Carly Knutson leads the distance crew after earning all-state honors in cross country. Emmerson Bickford will compete in the 300 hurdles and long jump. A strong freshman class includes Carrissalynn Height, who is already one of the top throwers in 4A, and Rowyn Early in the distance events. The boys are led by Micah Hanke, who qualified for state last year in the 800, and Lucas O’Hara, who qualified in the high jump. The distance group graduated state champion Carter Bengtson, but returns David Culbert, Remington Sharkey, and Jennings Albrecht – who all earned all-league honors in cross country – along with Peyton Ellison. Justin Calvert will compete in the throws. The Lions will look to regain the district title they won each year from 2022-24.
PLEASANT HILL
■ Coach: Kevin Smead
■ Outlook: The Billies return a total of 43 athletes including senior Ryan Thomas, a senior who won the state title in the girls 100 as a sophomore before missing all of last season due to injury. Senior Soleis Jones, who has committed to run at Eastern Oregon University, placed seventh at state last year in the 400 and helped the Lions finish seventh in the 4×100 and ninth in the 4×400. On the boys side, senior Cody Jones was the district champion last year in the javelin who went on to place sixth at state. Junior Gabe Roper will run the 800 and 1,500.
CRESWELL
■ Coach: Rachael Bailey
■ Outlook: Creswell’s girls won the Class 3A state title last year led by Kylie Leonard, who won the 300 hurdles and placed fourth in the 400 as a junior. Junior Jordan Lee was fifth in the 400 and ran on the 4×400 relay team that won the state title. Junior Mila Nguyen finished eighth in the 100 hurdles. On the boys side, basketball standout Mason Schartz finished sixth in the high jump at state.
