Sprinter emerges from Down Under at 4A district track

Jilven Refil snuck up on Clark County’s best high school sprinters on Friday.

After winning the 100 and 200 meters two days after clocking state-best times in the preliminaries, Refil is the one looking back over his shoulder.

Few people knew about the Union senior before the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League District track and field championships at McKenzie Stadium.

Two years ago, Refil lived in Melbourne, Australia, where he competed in age-group national meets as a 16 year old.

But after moving to Clark County at the end of his sophomore year, he drifted away from the sport as he adjusted to life in a new country.

Scott Eschels and the rest of the Union coaching staff convinced Refil to come out for track this season. Due to eligibility issues, he had only competed in three meets prior to Wednesday’s preliminary heats.

Wednesday, he clocked 10.69 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.88 seconds in the 200, both fastest among 4A athletes statewide this season. Friday, he won the 100 in 10.84 seconds, the 200 in 21.89 seconds and ran a blistering anchor leg on the victorious 400 meter relay team.

“Just pushing myself academically and physically,” Refil said when asked about finding his stride.

Refil, along with the top three finishers in each event, is headed to the bi-district meet next week in Kent. The top seven there advance to the state meet May 26-28 in Tacoma.

“To see him on top now is really cool,” Eschels said. “We get to spend a few more weeks with him and see what he can produce. He’s definitely turning heads.”

Refil helped the Union boys win the district title in a close team race. The Titans had 148.5 points, Skyview had 146 and Camas had 144.5.

Camas won the girls team title behind despite having just two individual winners Friday. The Papermakers’ 199 points was 26 ahead of Union.

Mountain View senior Hailey Hartney won the high jump, becoming the first girl in Class 4A to clear 5 feet, 5 inches this season.

Hartney, who is headed to George Fox on a basketball scholarship, outjumped another basketball player in Skyview’s Madison Lord, who cleared 5-3.

Hartney said she’s doesn’t pay too much attention to state rankings.

“I look at it sometimes, but not too much,” she said. “I try to stay humble.”

Lord, a senior, won both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles Friday. After not qualifying for the district meet last year, being a double winner came as a surprise even to her.

“Now I really want to make it to state after this,” Lord said. “It’s pretty surprising to me. I didn’t think I could make it this far.”

The toughest double winner Friday was Adam Ryan of Camas. Just 30 minutes after winning the 400, he won a fast 800 meter race by barely edging Skyview’s Mason Scheidel.

Ryan won in 1 minute, 53.23 seconds, the third-fastest time in 4A this season. Four runners broke the automatic bi-district qualifying standard of 1:56.

“I knew it was going to be a tough race,” Ryan said. “We’re all coming in really competitively with close times. I knew anything could happen. But gosh, that last one was hard.”

Union twins Dai’lyn and Jai’lyn Merriweather dominated the 200 and 400 meter races. Dai’lyn, the defending state 200 champ, won that race .07 seconds ahead of her sister.

Jai’lyn, the defending state 400 champion, won in 55.44 seconds, just .01 off her season best. Dai’lyn was second in that event and also won the 100 meters.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

4A District Meet

At McKenzie Stadium

Friday’s finals

Top three qualify for bi-districts

100 – 1, Jilven Refil (U) 10.84; 2, Michael Ugarov (U) 11.19; 3, Isaiah Kahut (S) 11.31.

200 – 1, Jilven Refil (U) 21.89; 2, David Yandell (BG) 22.42; 3, Michael Ugarov (U) 22.43.

400 – 1, Adam Ryan (C) 49.87; 2, Orin Johnson (E) 50.54; 3, Jack Thomas (S) 50.98.

800 – 1, Adam Ryan (C) 1:53.23; 2, Mason Scheidel (S) 1:53.31; 3, Cade Greseth (C) 1:54.20; 4-x, Dustin Zimmerly (C) 1:55.97 (x-met bi-district qualifying mark).

3200 – 1, Yacine Guermali (C) 9:44.53; 2, Daniel Maton (C) 9:47.08; 3, Sean Flynn (S) 9:48.97.

110 hurdles – 1, Carter Clay (U) 14.95; 2, Alex Kuhn (MV) 15.53; 3, Aaron Yewman (S) 15.80.

300 hurdles – 1, Jeremy Harju (E) 40.17; 2, William Sun (C) 40.82; 3, Tavis Chunphakvenn-Pinkney (S) 41.24.

400 relay – 1, Union 43.21; 2, Battle Ground 43.55; 3, Skyview 43.95.

1600 relay – 1, Battle Ground 3:23.19; 2, Skyview 3:23.73; 3, Camas 3:25.62.

Discus – 1, Bailey King (U) 169-11; 2, Connor Jensen (S) 156-8; 3, Ethan Tonder (MV) 141-10.

Long jump – 1, Pierce Stevens (E) 21-5.75; 2, Ryan Grimm (U) 20-10.5; 3, Cody Laxson (U) 20-0.25.

Pole vault – 1, Trevor Bushman (U) 14-7; 2, Jed Shaver (E) 14-7; 3, Aaron Yewman (S) 14-1.

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

4A District Meet

At McKenzie Stadium

Friday’s finals

Top three qualify for bi-districts

100 – 1, Dai’lyn Merriweather (U) 12.47; 2, Karsyn Quade (C) 12.77; 3, Lydia Dillon (S) 13.14.

200 -1, Dai’lyn Merriweather (U) 26.17; 2, Jai’lyn Merriweather (U) 57.86; 3, Karsyn Quade (S) 26.39.

400 – 1, Jai’lyn Merriweather (U) 55.44; 2, Dai’lyn Merriweather (U) 57.86; 3, Ellie Postma (C) 59.73.

800 – 1, Krystal Kaufman (S) 2:15.55; 2, Savanna Craig (MV) 2:15.79; 3, Molly Beaman (S) 2:17.14.

3200 – 1, Rachel Blair (C) 11:17.02; 2, Ellen Burbank (S) 11:19.29; 3, Emma Jenkins (C) 11:23.88.

100 hurdles – 1, Madison Lord (S) 15.91; 2, Cambryn Gulzow (C) 15.95; 3, Katherine Kadrmas (MV) 16.16.

300 hurdles – 1, Madison Lord (S) 48.37; 2, Katherine Madrmas (MV) 48.41; 3, Cambryn Gulzow (C) 48.80.

400 relay – 1, Union 49.55; 2, Skyview 50.69; 3, Camas 50.72.

1600 relay – 1, Union 3:59.59; 2, Skyview 4:03.53; 3, Camas 4:08.05.

Discus – 1, Nkem Aduka (C) 115-05; 2, Hailey Haggard (U) 112-3; 3, Maggie Wells (C) 110-3.

High jump – 1, Hailey Hartney (MV) 5-5; 2, Madison Lord (S) 5-3; Madison Peffers (C) 5-2.

Long jump – 1, Emily Wilson (U) 17-5.25; 2, Reymi Shelton (E) 16-4.25; Kimberly Lesley (BG) 16-1.

Triple jump (corrected from Day One) – 1, Emily Wilson (U) 36-9; 2, Hannah Lord (H) 34-3.5; Alexa Dietz (C) 34-3.25.