Distance Races Stand Out As Oregon, Washington Meets Unfold

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

On back to back days in the Northwest, distance races lifted by state meet competition produced stirring results and added shape to the national lists.

Thursday in Tacoma, Camas senior Daniel Maton edged out Mt. Si’s Joe Waskom to win the Washington 4A 1,600 meters title, 4:06.07 to 4:06.64. Those are the top two times in the nation this spring.

It was also Maton's third consecutive state title in the 1,600.

Then Friday in Oregon, running in a temperate rain shower, Ashland junior Evan Holland and Crater’s Jantz Tostenson fought around the final turn of a fast 3,000 meters for control of the 5A final at the Oregon state meet.

Holland and Tostenson came off the curve with the clock not yet to 8 minutes.

Holland accelerated to a slight lead and Tostenson chased him to the finish line in front of the crowd at Mt. Hood Community College.

Holland ran 8:13.10 for the fastest 3,000 at the Oregon state meet since Eric Logsdon’s legendary run in 2000 (8:10.66 to beat favored Ian Dobson). Tostenson, a Georgetown-bound senior, ran 8:14.01.

The only 3,000s that have been run faster this spring were the en route times of Nico Young and Cole Sprout the night they ran 8:40s in the 3,200 at Arcadia.

In Oregon, Holland and Tostenson have risen to fourth and fifth in state history, behind Galen Rupp, Steve Prefontaine and Logsdon.

Tostenson successfully outkicked Holland a week earlier at the district meet on his home track in Central Point, Ore.

But that race was more than 20 seconds slower.

“He’s a great competitor and a great friend, too,” Holland said. “He did the exact same thing at districts and got me there. He came up on me with 250 to go and turned on the jets. I wasn’t really ready for it. Today, I wasn’t going to let it happen.”

Chasing after his Southern Oregon rival, Tostenson PR’d by more than 14 seconds.

“When (Holland) made a move with three laps to go, I went around everyone (else) and thought OK, I’ve got to latch on and see where it goes,” Tostenson said. “I got around him, but a great runner, E.J., he responded well, and I give him props for that.”

Holland and Tostenson will race in the 1,500 meters on Saturday. 

In Washington, the 3,200 meters finals are Saturday afternoon.