Under The Lights At Hayward Field, Powell Delivers A Legendary Moment For His Team At Oregon Relays

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Becky Holbrook photos

RESULTS/VIDEOS | INTERVIEWS

EUGENE -- Owen Powell took the baton in his hand, looked up ahead at eight teams in front of him and wondered like everyone else at Hayward Field whether he could close an 11-second gap in the distance medley relay on Saturday at the Oregon Relays. 

Powell, who became the national record holder in the indoor mile last month, proved that he is the ultimate closer on the high school track scene. 

"You never really know," Powell said. "I was focused on one guy at a time. I was hoping I wasn't goint to run out of room there. But I was confident and feeling good."

He patiently picked off one runner after another and closed the gap in just three laps. On the fourth, he withstood a challenge from behind by Franklin's Brennan McEwen before ripping down the home straightaway with fans lining the track and the light array in Hayward in full disco mode. 

With a 3:58 1,600-meter leg, Mercer Island WA won the event in 10:04.01. Franklin OR was next in 10:07.53. 

Powell pumped his fists in elation but soon credited his teammates for the work they'd done to keep him in the race. The pre-race discussion was that if Matthew Lawrence, Alexander Dusseau and Matthew Greer could stay within 10 seconds at the final hand off that it might be enough for the sub-four miler to run everybody down. 

"I'm so proud of these guys. They did an excellent job and because of that we were able to come out with the win today."

Saturday's second day at the Oregon Relays was held in unusually summery weather for Eugene in early April. 

Simon Rosselli of Mead WA got the day started with bang when he threw an all-time Washington best of 211-7 to win the discus, breaking the meet record by nine feet. STORY

Wyland Obando, one of the cogs of the Long Beach (Wilson) CA machine, won the 800 meters title in 1:52.34. Long Beach had mismatches in the sprint relays for two days straight and piled up 160 points to win the team title for the third straight year. 

Keith Rodgers Jr from Todd Beamer WA ran a sensational time of US#10 36.96 in the 300-meter hurdles from lane 9. That's the second-fastest time in meet history. 

Crater OR's sub-four miling duo, Josiah Tostenson and Tayvon Kitchen, opted for the 4x800 relay and won that in a time of 7:49.63, good for US#12. Together with Ivar Hokanson and Maxwell Miracle, Crater dealt Wilson (Long Beach) CA one of its only relay losses of the weekend. Wilson still managed to get second with 7:56.01.

Rasean Jones of Baker OR won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.34 seconds. 

High jumper Calvin Stewart from South Salem OR pulled off a bit of an upset when he cleared two personal best heights on the way to a victory with 6-9.75. 

Sheldon OR's Eli Forsha jumped 48-11.50 to win the triple jump with the second-best mark in meet history. 

Camas WA's Chase McGee needed a third attempt to make 5.00m (16-4.75) on his way to victory in the pole vault. 

Liberty of Nevada, which finished second in the team standings with 70 points, won the 4x100 relay in 41.39 seconds and the 4x200 relay in a meet record 1:27.76.