Prairie’s Kara Mattson earned a first-place and a runner-up finish at the District 4 4A and 3A track and field meet at McKenzie Stadium on Wednesday with a familiar smile on her face after each.
Mattson got her win in the 100-meter hurdles in a season-best time of 15.26 seconds, beating out rival and good friend Grace Twiss of Evergreen, who was second in 15.86.
“I love Grace to death,” Mattson said. “I’ve raced against her since we were in sixth grade. I’ll even race her in college. She is my best friend in track. So, yeah, just knowing she is right there coming for my butt, I know I have to finish faster.”
Mattson also posted a season-best in the triple jump (35 feet, 6 inches), but that was good for second to Kelso’s Josie Settle (35-10).
“I did one jump, and she did better,” Mattson said of Settle. “She is a fierce competitor. She’s so sweet to your face, and then she’s like ‘Nope. I’m coming for your butt.’ So yes, she finished first. I’m very proud of her, but I will be coming for her butt at regionals.”
Settle also posted a victory in the high jump, clearing five feet to beat Heritage’s Ilia Field (4-10).
Mattson has been battling a lingering foot issue, which could limit her to just the long jump on Thursday’s second day of the meet.
Camas sprinter Madison Hubbard also knows what it’s like to battle injury. And she also knows what it’s like to win a district title, which she did Wednesday in the 100 meters in 12.11 seconds, just off her season-best time of 12.09 which is tops this season among 4A runners.
“It felt pretty good,” Hubbard said. “This season I’ve had a lot of different times. … I had bit of back injury during the Oregon Relays (on April 23) that kind of messed me up. But I feel like I’m back and super excited for the rest of the season.”
Union’s Tobias Merriweather posted a season-best time of 11.07 seconds to win the 4A boys 100. Union also got wins from Benjamin Haywood in the 110 hurdles (15.46) and Porter Hill in the triple jump (41-3). Camas had five winners among the boys — Aiden Montigny in the 400 (50.56), James Puffer in the 1,600 (4:28.99), Hunter Greene in the shot put (50-7.5), Jared Williams in the javelin (167-11) and Chase McGee in the pole vault (12-9).
In the 4A girls meet, Skyview Emem Ntekpere was a dual winner, taking the 100 hurdles (15.95 seconds) and high jump (5-2). Other winners included Camas’ Eliisa Marshall in the 400 (1:00.79) and Grace Combs in the javelin (97-2), Union’s Jaylyn Lehner in the 1,600 (5:14.43) and Skyview’s Cecilia Fox-Middleton in the triple jump (35-7).
In the 3A boys meet, Mountain View’s Juan Pasillas-Stanton won the shot put with a season-best mark of 51-7.5. Other winners included Mountain View’s Xavier Wubbena in the pole vault (13-6) and Kyle Chen in the 110 hurdles (15.86), Evergreen’s Charles Dayton in the 100 (11.46) and LaDaimien McCord in the 400 (52.24), and Kelso’s Kamren Mattison in the 1,600 (4:30.41), Colby Cooper in the javelin (161-11) and Judah Calixte in the triple jump (42-3).
Besides Settle, Kelso had two other winners in the 3A girls meet – Maya Swanson in the 400 (1:03.25) and Erin Tack in the javelin (137-5). Prairie’s Brianna Morrell won the 100 (13.33) and Evergreen’s Beatrice LeGore won the 1,600 (5:24.03).
