Seven Races At McKenzie High In The Cascade Foothills Bring Together Star-Studded Fields

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor (Photos by Tim Healy)

FINN ROCK, Oregon – Tucked quietly between the rushing water of the McKenzie River and high stands of Douglas fir, a community track became the epicenter of global athletics for one night and almost nobody knew about it. 

One week before the start of what was supposed to be the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, this is where the sport is during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Adhering to strict protocols designed to avoid mass gatherings and guarantee the safety of athletes, Portland Track hosted The Big Friendly 2 – seven races comprised of athletes from Pete Julian's Nike group, the Nike OTC Elite, the Brooks Beasts, Oiselle's Bend-based Little Wing and a few other high-profile unattached athletes. 

The time and location were a secret. There was a pass list at the entrance to the parking lot at the McKenzie High School track. Temperature checks, wristbands and masks were required to enter the track. 

The athletes themselves, in order to compete maskless with one another, had to pass two COVID-19 tests in the week prior, in accordance with USATF guidelines. 

On the grounds along the homestretch, each group staked out a separate area to congregate. A makeshift rail, made from PVC pipe, girded the curves at each end of the track. 

All of the effort for this – real racing. 

"It seems like these types of things are the only thing happening in the world right now for distance runners. It was an awesome venue. It was beautiful, next to a river, and not a bad track," Craig Engels said after winning a 3,000-meter race and participating in a mixed gender relay. 

RESULTS | MEET VIDEO

The ridge above cast a long shadow over the track as the scheduled 7:30 p.m. start time approached. 

First up was the men's 600 meters. 

Nijel Amos of the OTC Elite was challenged at 300 meters by Drew Windle of the Brooks Beasts, with Western Oregon student Derek Holdsworth still in the mix as well. 

But Amos, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 800 meters, glided away from them and powered his way to the finish line in 1:15.86. Holdsworth fought to the line in second with 1:17.08 and Windle was third (1:17.59). Washington freshman Daniel Maton completed the field and was fourth in 1:19.63.

Next, in the women's 600 meters, Nia Akins of Brooks made her professional debut one to remember with a victory over resurgent OTC Elite star Chanelle Price. 

In the most competitive race of the evening, Akins bore down over the final 50 meters to gain a bit of separation and collect the win in 1:27.20, making her the No. 4 all-time American outdoor performer. The former Penn star, now transplanted to Seattle, has endured a big adjustment since the pandemic shut down the NCAA track season in March. 

"A lot of protocols and a lot of work to get here with everything going on, but definitely worth it," Akins said. "Once the gun went off, I felt like my head was on straight and it felt more like a race."

Oiselle's Sadi Henderson, a former All-American at San Francisco and Boise State, charged hard over the final 100 to squeeze past Price for second, in 1:27.43, elevating her to No. 5 in U.S. outdoor history. Price was third in 1:27.49, good for the No. 7 American all-time outdoors. 

In the men's 1,000 meters, Josh Kerr of Brooks outdueled Sam Prakel of adidas after the two broke away from the pack before the bell. Kerr, a former NCAA 1,500 and mile champion at New Mexico, had more speed over the final 200 and crossed the finish line in 2:17.60. Prakel was second in 2:18.15. Vincent Ciattei (2:18.49), Jake Heyward (2:18.55) and Dustin Nading (2:22.25) rounded out the field. 

German star Konstanze Klosterhalfen participated in three of the final four events. In the women's 1,000, she withstood a challenge from Oiselle's Rebecca Mehra to win in 2:37.05. Mehra was second in 2:38.02 and former NCAA indoor mile champion Karisa Nelson was third in 2:40.92. 

"It's such an odd time in the world and the fact that we as athletes still have a safe opportunity to compete, it means so much to us," Mehra said. 

Engels, after running a solo 1:48 in the first Friendly meet, stepped up to the 3,000 meters and had a taste of real race for about six laps before pulling away to take the win in 7:53.28. 

Teammate Suguru Osako was second in 7:59.65 and Henry Wynne clocked 8:00.07. 

Shannon Rowbury made her outdoor debut in the women's 3,000 meters and ran behind pacers Klosterhalfen and Oiselle's Marie Lawrence for a 4:43 1,600 meters. Klosterhalfen stayed in it until 500 meters to go and then Rowbury pushed to the finish in 8:40.26. 

Eleanor Fulton (9:13.94), Katie Rainsberger (9:18.18), Ali Cash (9:26.21) and Ashley Maton (9:48.56) all finished. 

The meet concluded with an appearance by world champion Donavan Brazier in a mixed gender 2x2x400 relay. 

Brazier, teamed with Raevyn Rogers, took a chasing role. Amos and Engels, paired with Price and Klosterhalfen, respectively, went to the starting line first. 

Brazier, though, was the story here. He split 49.6 to overcome a nine-second deficit on his first leg, and then came back with a 51.3 that caught Price and Klosterhalfen by the 200-meter mark as he rolled past. Brazier and Rogers put together 3:42.80. Amos and Price clocked 3:46.15 and Engels and Klosterhalfen timed 3:49.13. 

After, there were elbow bumps. Cool downs. Hands swatting away bugs in the half-light of the canyon. 

Brazier and Rowbury kept working out, long after most others had left. Intervals and then cool-down laps. 

Stars under the stars.