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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2018)
8A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018 CONTACT US FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorianSports Gary Henley | Sports Reporter ghenley@dailyastorian.com MEMORIES OF HAYWARD FIELD | PART 4 HIGH SCHOOL meets at HAYWARD By NEIL BRANSON For The Daily Astorian L ocal high schools have had a good number of athletes com- pete in the state meet at Hay- ward Field. My apologies to the many athletes that I don’t remember. So many of you have had stellar performances at Hayward. High on my list of memories was watch- ing Seaside High School’s Shawn McCord win the javelin in 2000 and 2001. He threw very early in the day, one of the first events, so spectators were sparse save for all the Seaside kids who got up early in order to watch McCord put on a show. His vocals were on fine display after each throw. In McCord’s second year, Adrian Ander- son won the 3,000 meters. He was the first state champion I coached. That same year Alix Daggatt thrilled her teammates and the fans with her last jump for a come-from-be- hind victory in the long jump spanning 17 feet, 5¼ inches. The 2010 boys 1,600-meter relay team of freshman Brett Willyard and seniors Cory Rice, Henry Broderick and Zeke Smith stunned league rival Banks, which came into the meet with a time five seconds faster than the Gulls, as the lads ran wild to pick up the win. Willyard netted another four titles in two years, winning the 3,000 and 1,500 in 2012 and repeating in the 3,000 and adding the 800-meter title in 2013. It was not so much that he won, but the way he dominated. In his first 3,000 vic- tory he ran with the field until 900 meters remained, then he simply left his compet- itors in arrears like the roadrunner when being chased by Wile E. Coyote. Observing Jackson Januik win his third consecutive state title in the 800 was thrill- ing, not only for the win, but the way he took the measure of the field and executed a plan that made victory possible. This year it was a joy to watch Gretchen Hoekstre, in her second trip to Hayward, picked up a win and a second in the shot put and discus, respectively. Bridgette Blakesley from 2012 through 2015 ran the 1,500 four times and the 3,000 twice, and medaled four of those times. It was her 2014 season that sticks in my mind because, although she also qualified for both the 1,500 and 3,000 that year, she gave up her spot in the longer race so teammate Josie Smith could compete at state. Fresh in my mind are the Astoria High girls, powered by so many athletes, with their three-peat of state championships in 2015, ’16 and ‘17, racking up an amazing 109.5 points in 2016. The Cummings girls, Natalie and Gracie, brought in big points. Though they did not win this year, I would say the Astoria girls were every bit the team as those of the past three years in that they scrambled for every point possi- ble. Watching Darian Hageman in the ver- tical and horizontal jumps was a sight to behold. It was rewarding to see her earn the girls’ high point athlete of the meet at this year’s state championships. Over the years I have watched amazing races on all levels where an athlete simply overpowers the competition, as Rory Coon of Tillamook did in last year’s 100 and 200 meters, or Maya Rayle of Catlin Gabel, bound for Harvard, as she posted the fastest time in the state, all classifications, in the 3,000 and handily won the 1,500 in domi- nating fashion. Gary Henley/The Daily Astorian Former Astoria thrower Nathan Stinnett gets ready to launch the javelin on the Hayward Field infield during the 2006 state meet. It was not just the winners at Hayward who were thrilling. It was kids who got a personal record to take a spot on the podium. This year I served as a volunteer umpire at state, and in the distance races helped sep- arate eighth-place runners to the podium, from ninth place and no medal. In one of those races, a young lady, exhausted from her effort, was beside her- self with joy when we told her “keep mov- ing toward the podium.” Between efforts to get some air in her lungs, she announced and/or asked over and over again, “I got eight? I got eight?” Because of construction at Hayward, the venues for the state high school champion- ships next year are in the process of being decided. No matter where they go, the meets will be well-orchestrated. Yet I am a bit sad for those kids who do not get to com- pete at Hayward Field — the Taj Mahal, the Louvre, the Mecca of track and field in the United States. Neil Branson is a longtime cross-coun- try and track coach at Seaside High School. COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Coach Smith a feel-good story for Beavers after tough year Ducks clearly need to keep Herbert healthy this season By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press Jonathan Smith is a feel- good story for an Oregon State team that really needs one. The former Beavers quar- terback filled the head-coach- ing vacancy left by Gary Andersen, who abruptly parted ways with the program last October after a 1-5 start. Cornerbacks coach Cory Hall served as interim head coach for the rest of the season, and the Beavers finished 1-11. Oregon State won just seven games during Andersen’s 2½-season stint. It was a markedly differ- ent Oregon State team from the last one Smith played for. Originally a walk-on, Smith was a four-year starter and helped lead the Beavers to a Fiesta Bowl victory fol- lowing the 2000 season under coach Dennis Erickson. Smith was MVP of the bowl. He returns to Corvallis after a stint at Washington, where he was an assistant to head coach Chris Petersen. He followed Petersen to the Huskies from Boise State. “I kind of came in with all eyes wide open,” Smith said about his first head-coach- ing gig. “Not doing it before, I knew I was going to learn a ton and experience it. So (I was) expecting the unexpected.” One of the first things he’s been tasked with is help- ing the team forget the disap- pointment and upheaval of last season. Oregon State’s Just 12 months ago it was the start of the “Willie Tag- gart Era” in Eugene. Now it’s Mario Cristobal’s turn. The team’s former co-of- fensive coordinator is embarking on his first sea- son at the helm of the Ducks. Taggart, meanwhile, is doing the same at Florida State after a one-year tenure at Oregon. It’s not quite Cristob- al’s debut. He led the Ducks in last season’s Las Vegas Bowl, a 38-28 loss to Boise State. With a full season in front of him, Cristobal’s clearly ready to move on from 2017’s 7-6 finish. “This season has nothing but opportunity in front of it, and we’ve got to do it. There is no way to sugarcoat it or try to dance around it, there is not. We’ve just got to get it done,” he said. Cristobal, who was an assistant at Alabama under Nick Saban for four years, has one of the league’s top quarterbacks in junior Jus- tin Herbert, who threw for 1,983 yards and 15 touch- downs last season — despite missing five games with a fractured collarbone. He also rushed for 183 yards and five scores. He was replaced as starter by freshman Braxton Bur- meister and the Ducks went 1-4 over the course of his absence. Burmeister threw for 324 yards with two touchdowns and six intercep- tions during the span, while Andy Cripe/Corvallis Gazette-Times Jonathan Smith at a news conference announcing his hiring. last game was a 69-10 loss to Oregon in the Civil War. He said he hasn’t dwelled too much on the bad parts. “I wanted to come in with a message of, ‘I’ve experi- enced it here. I’ve sat in those seats. I’ve gone through a coaching change when I was a player,’” he said. “It’s been done before. We can do it again. So trying to be authen- tic that I’ve lived it, and I want to help them do the same.” Other things to know as Oregon State prepares to begin the 2018 season: LOOKING TO LUTON: Oregon State had high hopes last season for quarterback Jake Luton, a junior col- lege transfer, but his time as starter lasted just four games after he sustained a thoracic spine fracture in a 52-23 loss at Washington State. He fin- ished the season with 853 passing yards with four TDs and four interceptions. Darell Garretson stepped in and took over, throwing for 1,465 yards with six touch- downs and eight intercep- tions. He’s since graduated. Luton is back this year and ready to pick the reins up again. He is being challenged in fall camp by Conor Blount, while Jack Colletto and Nick Moore push for playing time, but the job is Luton’s to lose. GOTTA RUN: Oregon State’s running game is in rough shape with the depar- tures of Thomas Tyner, Trev- orris Johnson and Ryan Nall, who left school early and is now with the Chicago Bears. The top returner is Arta- vis Pierce, who ranked sec- ond on the team behind Nall with 323 yards rushing and one touchdown. Calvin Tyler is the only other rusher with experience. Freshman Jermar Jefferson impressed during a fall camp scrimmage. RETRO BENNY: Much like Smith, the old Benny Beaver is making his return, too. Oregon State will revive the mascot with special homecoming uniforms on Oct. 20 against Cal. Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal. also rushing for 106 yards and three scores. The key will be keeping Herbert healthy, while also making sure he has a backup who is ready to step in. And in this case, Burmeister took his lumps last season. Herbert has done his part by bulking up over the off- season and now weighs in at some 240 pounds. “It’s not just how he looks. It’s the mindset that comes with it, the confidence that comes with it,” Cristobal said. “The ability to cre- ate a galvanizing effect for the guys in the locker room, because you know you’re preparing and holding each other accountable.” The Ducks averaged 52 points with Herbert on the field last season, so the lon- ger he stays there, the better for Oregon. WHO’LL CATCH HER- BERT?: With the departure of versatile WR Charles Nelson, a lot of attention has gone to Herbert’s targets. The Ducks return their top receiver from last season, Dillon Mitchell, who caught 42 passes for 517 yards. Then there’s fellow wideout Brenden Schooler, who switched from safety, and tight-end Jacob Breeland, who caught five TD passes last season. TWO-WAY PLAYER? Bryan Addison could also be a welcome addition to Ore- gon’s receiver corps. He somewhat surprisingly joined the Ducks in July. Originally committed to UCLA, he was granted his release after his admission was delayed. Addison, who is a 6-5 prospect out of Gardena, Cal- ifornia, could see time at both wide receiver and defensive back — both positions where the Ducks could use some help. Cristobal didn’t hide his enthusiasm for Addison at the league’s media day: “He’s played both ways. He has spe- cial teams value. He is intelli- gent, he’s tough, he’s athletic. Great balance and body con- trol. Explosive. Incredible ball skills.”
