Donaghu, Schrage look to make a final imprint

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE -- Ella Donaghu has done impressive things on the OSAA state championship stage over the years. 

She has won seven individual championships -- including three in cross country. But nothing ever quite held the thrill of winning a team championship with her Grant High teammates. And that has only happened once, a freshman in cross country. 

Donaghu is Oregon's all-time state record holder in the 1,500 meters and the 3,000 meters and this weekend's OSAA Championships at Hayward Field offer a chance for her to be appreciated for her contributions to high school running in a state where the distance lore is dominated by names like Prefontaine, McChesney and Rupp. 

Donaghu wants to bookend her career with a team championship, which is why she has opted to entered the 800 meters, the 1,500 meters and the 4x400 relay. 

There would be few at Hayward Field this weekend who wouldn't concede that Donaghu could win the 6A 3,000 meters by 30 seconds. 

But she's not in that event. In Oregon, the 800/1,500/3,000 triple is forbidden, although it is permitted in many other states. 

Instead, she's in the 4x400 relay. Her hope is that the meet comes down to a final race with a chance to win the team title. 

That is the moment she is hoping for. It may be a long shot, however, with Jesuit and Sunset poised to go into the meet with more scoring potential.

At the state track meet -- the crown jewel of Oregon's school-year for athletics -- it is the magic moment that top athletes will be gunning for across the state's six classifications. 

It's impossible not to notice that Hayward Field is a facility that's being primed to become the center of the track and field universe for the next six weeks. The Prefontaine Classic, the NCAA Championships and the U.S. Olympic Trials are all coming. 

And yet, the crowd this weekend will be just as big. And in some cases, it will be just as loud. 

Harrison Schrage, also from Grant, is looking for a moment. He can become the first boy at the state's largest classification to win the same event four years in a row if he can win the long jump. He is also hunting Jordan Kent's all-time state record of 25-1.25. 

Schrage, who is signed with Arkansas, is also entered in the triple jump, the 100 meters and the 200 meters. 

Jesuit's Julian Body, perhaps Oregon's best hurdle talent in a generation, is aiming for historically good times. He'd like to break 14 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles and and build on his nationally ranked season's best in the 300 hurdles (36.68).

The boys 6A 3,000 meters on Friday morning features a veteran lineup that includes defending champion Jackson Mestler of Sheldon taking on familiar foes Roman and Grayson Ollar from West Linn and Ahmed Muhumed from West Salem. VIDEO - Mestler on 6A Final

Justin Petz of Class 4A La Pine is nationally ranked in the pole vault and has a best this spring of 17-2. If the weather cooperates and Petz can go higher, he has a chance to become the best vaulter in Oregon since Tommy Skipper. 

There are big throws clashes at the 5A level, where Lebanon's Zack Short will take on Sebastian Barajas of Hood River Valley in the shot put and discus. (And Short is favored to win the javelin as well.) 

Tyren Wolfe of North Medford, the top dash talent in the state, wants to try to capture the 100, 200 and 400 and put his stamp on the meet. 

In Class 5A, Jacoby McNamara from Redmond may be looking to post the fastest times across all classes. McNamara ran 21.29 to win the 200 meters last weekend at his district meet. 

Madie Rabing of Lakeridge, one of the state's most decorated throwers, will take aim at the elusive 50-foot barrier in the shot put. She is looking for her third consecutive Class 6A shot put title. 

Tieara Norman of Milwaukie is looking to leave a lasting mark on the state meet in the 6A girls long jump and 300 hurdles. 

In Class 5A, the Summit Storm girls track team is hugely favored to run away with its 10th consecutive team championship.