Olivia Boyd looks to expand her championship career at Gervais
When Olivia Boyd started her high school career at Gervais, she didn’t know what to expect.
So far, the junior has helped deliver some hardware for the Cougars.
Boyd is the defending OSAA Class 2A state champion in the high jump in track and field, and in March she helped Gervais win the OSAA Class 2A girls basketball state championship.
“I think it feels a lot longer than it actually has been,” Boyd said about her time at Gervais. “It just feels like I’ve been doing this a long time.”
With the district championships this week, and the state championships coming up, Boyd as of Friday has the state’s top marks in both the high jump and 100-meter hurdles for 2A.
She has a season-best high jump mark of 5-5, which she did April 29 at the Portland Christian Invitational.
Boyd’s top 100-meter hurdles time of 16.49 also came April 29 at the Portland Christian Invitational.
Boyd also has top-5 marks in the javelin (112-7) and pole vault (7-0).
“Obviously, she wants to defend her high jump title and win in the hurdles,” Gervais assistant coach Mitchell Kruse said. “But I think she can make some noise in the javelin, and we might sneak her in for pole vault too. Getting to state in four events would be really cool.”
Last year as a sophomore was her first in track and field for Gervais, and she split her time in the spring with softball.
Going into the state championships, Boyd didn’t expect to win the title.
“Whitley Stepp (from Regis) had a better mark and more experience coming in, so I wasn’t expecting it at all,” said Boyd, who won the title at 5-2, just ahead of Stepp at 5-1. “I did a lot better under the pressure than I thought I would.”
Gervais head coach David Castle said Boyd is an ultimate competitor.
“She’s a three-sport competitive athlete. She might get nervous, but she doesn’t show it,” Castle said. “She and her sister, Izzy, are the core of the girls team. They both are a pleasure to coach.”
Although she has dropped softball this season, Boyd still plays basketball and volleyball in addition to track and field.
I’m the winter season, Boyd helped the Cougars win the basketball state championship, 37-21 over Stanfield in the title game.
At the 2A state tournament in Pendleton, Gervais beat Western Christian (38-28), Monroe (46-17) and Stanfield.
“That was crazy. That was so cool to win it all,” Boyd said. “And for it to be my last year playing with my sister was really special for the two of us.”
The 2A Special District 1 meet is set for Friday and Saturday at Portland Christian High School.
The OSAA 2A state championships are set for May 25-26 at Hayward Field.
Boyd finished second in the state last season in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.85, behind only Neah-Kah-Nie’s Emma Miller (16.23).
This season, Boyd hopes to defend her high jump title, and add a 100-meter hurdles title.
“I really want to win the hurdles this year, because last year I messed that up for myself,” said Boyd, who hopes to compete athletically in college. “I’d like to do basketball or track in college, but I don’t really know yet.”
Mid-Valley district track and field schedule
6A-Central Valley Conference: Friday-Saturday at McNary High School.
5A-Mid-Willamette Conference: Thursday-Saturday at West Albany High School.
4A-Oregon West Conference: Friday-Saturday at Sweet Home High School.
3A-Special District 3: Wednesday-Thursday at Scio High School.
2A-Special District 1: Friday-Saturday at Portland Christian High School.
2A-Special District 2: Friday-Saturday at Blanchet Catholic School.
1A-Special District 1: Friday-Saturday at Portland Christian High School.
Statesman Journal reporter Pete Martini covers college and high school sports. He can be reached at pmartini@StatesmanJournal.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Olivia Boyd looks to expand her championship career at Gervais
