Slagowski eyes a fast mile at Jesuit Twilight Relays

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

How low can he go?

Rocky Mountain ID senior Michael Slagowski leads a top field of Northwest distance runners on Friday in the invitational mile at the Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays. 

Slagowski is the defending champion in the event and has run an Idaho state record 4:05.71 in the mile this season. LIVE WEBCAST INFORMATION | ENTRIES

He'll be aiming to run faster than that at Jesuit High School in Portland. Going to the starting line with him is a group of runners that could all be pressing for something in the 4:10-15 range. Jack Yearian from Bellarmine Prep WA, Ahmed Muhumed from West Salem OR, Justin Janke from North Central WA, Nathan Beamer from Arlington WA, Fabian Cardenas from Umatilla OR, Roman Ollar from West Linn OR, Tibs Proctor from Northwest WA and Andy Monroe from Crater OR should all be in a pack of challengers. 

Slagowski has run the second-fastest mile in the country outdoors, trailing only Austin Tamagno of Brea Olinda CA. Andrew Hunter of Loudoun Valley VA, of course, has broken four minutes twice indoors and run 3:42 for 1,500 meters outdoors.

In addition, the meet will feature an invitational mile for girls and invitational 100-meter dashes. 

The boys 100 meters has a match up with Emmanuel Wells of Rainier Beach WA (10.66) against Anthony Albright of Beaverton OR (10.64).

Julian Body of Jesuit will also have a chance to shine. The Arcadia 300-meter hurdles champion will compete in the 110 high hurdles and also has a lane in the invitational 100. 

Angela Cardon of Pasco WA has the fastest seed time in the girls 100 at 12.00 seconds.

Some of the meet's top athletes will be in the field events. Mitchell Jacobson of Walla Walla WA is the favorite in the high jump with a best this season of 6-10. Caleigh Loftsead of Camas WA is entered in the pole vault after going 13-3 last week in McMinnville. 

Harrison Schrage of Grant is entered in the long jump hoping to exceed his best jump of the year (24-11.50). Kasin Pendergrass Anderson of Jesuit is the top athlete in the triple jump. 

In the throws, Hood River Valley's Sebastian Barajas comes in as the dominant thrower in Oregon with bests of 62-3.50 (shot) and 189-10 (discus).

Maddie Rabing of Lakeridge has thrown 48-10 in the shot put and 141-10 in the discus this year. She will face state leader Shelby Moran of Sherwood in the discus (152-10). 

The top javelin throwers in Oregon, Hap Frketich of Newberg (199-11) and Payge Cuthbertson of Sherwood (155-1) are also in the meet.