Advertisement

19 boys to watch at Nike Outdoor Nationals, U20 Championships at Hayward Field

edith noriega, eugene register-guard
·4 min read
Lake Oswego’s James Bauman wins the boys 100 meters during the Oregon Relays April 19 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Lake Oswego’s James Bauman wins the boys 100 meters during the Oregon Relays April 19 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

The Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field will start Wednesday with the opening round of the boys 100-meter prelims.

The U20 Championships will take place Wednesday and Thursday at Hayward with the opening round of the boys 5,000 meters.

Here is a closer look at athletes from across the state competing in both meets.

17 boys to watch at Nike Outdoor Nationals

James Bauman, Lake Oswego — Bauman is the state leader in the 100 meters at 10.46 and 200 meters at 21.34 — and state leader in Lake Oswego's 4x100 relay team (41.48). He is also a two-time OSAA state champion in the 100 and state champion in the 4x100 relay. At last year's meet, Bauman placed 26th in the 100 and third in the 4x100.

West Salem’s Mihaly Akpamgbo competes in the 6A 100 meters during day three of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships May 18 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
West Salem’s Mihaly Akpamgbo competes in the 6A 100 meters during day three of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships May 18 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Mihaly Akpamgbo, Salem — Akpamgbo is a two-time OSAA state champion in the 200 meters. He is second in the state in the 100 at 10.49 seconds and 200 at 21.37.

Andrew Waletich, Sherwood — The junior has the third-fastest time in the state in the 400 meters at 48.46 and is state leader in Sherwood's 4x400 relay team at 3:20.46 and has the 10th-fastest time in 4x100 relay at 42.31. Sherwood will also compete in the mixed 4x400 relay.

Sheldon’s Adam Reeder wins the boys 800 meters on day two of the Oregon Relays April 20 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sheldon’s Adam Reeder wins the boys 800 meters on day two of the Oregon Relays April 20 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Adam Reeder, Eugene — Reeder is the state leader in the 800 meters at 1:53.12. He placed second at this year's OSAA state championships.

Asher Danielson, Portland — Danielson has the third-fastest time in the state in the 1 mile at 3:46.77. He won the state title in that event at this year's OSAA state championships.

Ty Cirino, Independence — As a freshman, Cirino placed third at last year's 1-mile freshman run. He has the 10-fastest time in the 1 mile at 3:54.87 and is expected to run in the 5,000 meters. At this year's 5A OSAA state championships, Cirino placed second in the 1,500 and was third in the 5,000.

Sheldon’s Malachi Schoenherr wins the 6A 3,000 meters during day two of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships May 17 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sheldon’s Malachi Schoenherr wins the 6A 3,000 meters during day two of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships May 17 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Malachi Schoenherr, Eugene — The sophomore is the state leader in the 2 mile at 8:14.18. He won the state title in that event at this year's OSAA state championships.

Tayvon Kitchen, Central Point — The junior has the second-fastest time in the state in the 5,000 meters at 14:27.87. At last year's meet, Kitchen placed 21st in the event.

West Salem’s Jack Meier competes in the boys 2 mile during the Oregon Relays April 19 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
West Salem’s Jack Meier competes in the boys 2 mile during the Oregon Relays April 19 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Jack Meier, Salem — Meier has the fourth-fastest time in the state in the 5,000 meters at 14:37.75. At last year's meet, he placed sixth in the event.

Jayden Jessee, Portland — Jessee has the second-fastest time in the state in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.01 seconds. He ran a personal record time of 14.01 to win the OSAA state meet this year. He will also compete in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter club only relays.

Calvin Atkinson, Corvallis — Atkinson is the state leader in the 2000-meter steeplechase at 6:16.42. He ran a personal record time of 6:16.42 and placed second at the Portland Track Festival High Performance meet on June 9.

Garrett Fenske, Salem — The junior has the second-fastest time in the state in the 2000-meter steeplechase at 6:25.91. At last year's meet, Fenske placed 34th.

Sheldon’s Eli Forsha jumps in the 6A triple jump during day two of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships May 17 at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Sheldon’s Eli Forsha jumps in the 6A triple jump during day two of the OSAA State Track and Field Championships May 17 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Eli Forsha, Eugene — The junior is the state leader in triple jump at 47 feet, ½ inches. He also jumped a 45-6 ¼ to win first-place at this year's OSAA state championships.

Noah Goodrich, Bend — Goodrich is a two-time OSAA state champion in triple jump. He also has the second-longest mark in the state at 46-11 ¾. He placed 15th at last year's meet.

Lander Marak, Sandy — Marak is the state leader in hammer throw at 202 feet, 1 inch. At last year's meet, he placed seventh.

Churchill’s Javin Petry competes in the boys discus on his way to first with a throw of 144' 10 during a meet at Thurston High School April 3 in Springfield.
Churchill’s Javin Petry competes in the boys discus on his way to first with a throw of 144' 10 during a meet at Thurston High School April 3 in Springfield.

Javin Petry, Eugene — A first-timer to Nike Outdoor Nationals, Petry has the third-farthest hammer throw in the state at 158-11.

Owen Phillips, Eugene — Phillips has the eighth-farthest jump in the state in long jump at 22-5 ¾. He also has the 12th-fastest time in the state in the 200 meters at 21.85 and will also compete in the 100 meters emerging elite.

Rodrick Pleasant, of Urban Youth Track Club, celebrates after winning the boys’ 100-meter dash during Nike Outdoor Nationals in June 2023 at Hayward Field in Eugene. Pleasant won with a time of 10.21 seconds.
Rodrick Pleasant, of Urban Youth Track Club, celebrates after winning the boys’ 100-meter dash during Nike Outdoor Nationals in June 2023 at Hayward Field in Eugene. Pleasant won with a time of 10.21 seconds.

2 Oregon men to watch at U20 Championships

Rodrick Pleasant — The freshman from California won the 100 meters with a time of 10.21 at last year's Nike Outdoor Nationals. In his first meet at Oregon, he ran a personal record 10.38 in the 100 to qualify for the U20 Championships.

Osawese Agbonkonkon — The freshman from Texas placed fourth in the high jump with a mark of 6-7 at last year's Nike Outdoor Nationals. He threw a personal record 7 ¼ in the first round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.

Edith Noriega is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at ENoriega@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Noriega_Edith.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Nike Outdoor Nationals, U20 Championships: 19 boys to watch