Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 27, 2015 13A
Polk County Sports
CLASS 5A PREP TRACK AND FIELD
Benz takes second in discus
White, Remington also place in Eugene on Friday and Saturday
“… I had a good series of
throws. I could have done
The Itemizer-Observer
better, but I’m proud of what
EUGENE — Headed into I did.”
Benz, who also took 11th
the OSAA Class 5A state
meet on Friday and Satur- in the shot put, was one of
day, something was different three Dallas athletes to
for Dallas junior Kyleen reach the podium at the
Benz. The three-time state state meet.
Sophomore Aaron White
qualifier was on a mission
to not let state overwhelm finished fifth in the boys
triple jump with a mark of
her.
“I was going through 42-2½, while senior Danielle
warmups doing the usual Remington placed eighth in
things to make it feel like it’s the girls javelin with a throw
not a big meet,” Benz said. “I of 108-8.
For White, state marked
wasn’t nervous at all. I
what he hoped was the be-
thought I’ve been doing
ginning of something
this for a while. I
special.
s h o u l d
“It was really great,”
know how to
White said. “I didn’t
adjust if I do
do my best, but the
some-
fact that I’m a soph-
thing
omore it’s fun to
wrong.”
know that I have the
Then, she
possibly of coming
scratched on her
back for two more
first discus throw.
years.”
“I thought, ‘Oh my
In addition to his
god. What if I don’t get
competitors, White
any (of my throws) in,’
battled nerves and
and started psyching
taking in the atmos-
myself out,” Benz said.
phere of a state meet
Luckily, that stress was
for the first time.
short lived as Benz placed
“It was a little crazy,”
second in the discus on
White said. “I don’t
Saturday with a throw
think I was ready (for
of 117 feet, 8 inch-
my first jump) a little
es, her second-
bit. I was thinking
straight second
too much and I
place finish.
jumped pretty
“It’s actually Remington
badly.”
nice,” Benz said.
By Lukas Eggen
LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer
Dallas junior Kyleen Benz hurles the shot put to place 11th at the OSAA Class 5A
state track and field meet on Saturday afternoon.
White recovered to reach
the podium, though over-
coming nerves remains the
top priority for the 2016
track and field season.
“I’ve been jumping for a
while, so I don’t need to
nervous,” White said. “I need
to figure that out if I make it
next year.”
While White pondered the
future, Remington soaked in
the present. As a competitor
in one of the first events on
Friday, Remington didn’t
have to wait long to compete.
“I wasn’t very nerv-
ous. Just excited to be
here,” Remington
said. “It all went
by so fast. I felt
like I just got
here and it was
over.”
She may have been the
first of Dallas’ athletes to
compete, but that didn’t
make the experience any
less exciting.
“It’s crazy,” Remington
said. “That’s another thing
about being early, there’s not
as many people watching so
there’s not as much pres-
sure. But the environment is
insane. I’m really glad I got
to come here.”
Remington didn’t set a
new personal record, but
she did beat Lebanon’s Kate-
lyn Frederic, providing a bit
of revenge.
“I’m glad I placed,” Rem-
ington said. “I didn’t throw
as well as I wanted to, but I
beat the girl who beat me at
districts so that’s nice at the
end of the year.”
As Remington competed
for the final time as a Dallas
Dragon, performing at the
state meet provided her the
perfect way to end her high
school athletics career, Rem-
ington said.
“It’s a good way to end,”
she said. “I’m glad I got to
come and experience
everything. I definitely
wanted to end here at the
state meet. I think I could
have done better and
that would have made
it a little better, but
I’m not disappoint-
ed.”
White
CLASS 5A PREP TRACK AND FIELD
Peterson makes podium in 200
Senior sprinter ties for fifth in the 200-meter run at OSAA state meet
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
EUGENE — In a matter of hours,
the preliminary heats of the boys
200-meter run became huge for
Central senior Thomas Peterson.
“It wasn’t super important com-
ing into state,” Peterson said. “But
it was a big deal for me. It was kind
of like redemption because I didn’t
make the finals of the 100.”
Peterson qualified for the finals
at the OSAA Class 5A state meet on
Friday and Saturday. He would tie
for fifth, finishing with a time of
22.77 seconds.
“I was happy I made it in some-
thing,” Peterson said.
Battling illness and hamstring
issues, Peterson didn’t compete at
100 percent. But he made the most
of his final opportunity to compete
with the Panthers.
“I worked through it and I did
the best I could, so that’s all I could
ask for,” Peterson said.
He recorded Central’s best finish
at the state meet. Sophomore Abby
McBeth placed ninth in the girls
1,500 in 4:59.76, while senior Tay-
lor Knauss finished 12th in the girls
long jump with a mark of 14 feet,
9¼ inches.
Senior Kaj Bansen scratched in
the boys long jump.
As Peterson soaked in his last
state meet, McBeth reflected on a
trying season, one that saw her
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Central sophomore Abby McBeth catches her breath after finishing
ninth in the girls 1,500-meter run on Saturday afternoon.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Central senior Thomas Peterson ties for fifth place in the boys 200-
meter final on Saturday at the OSAA Class 5A state track meet.
track and field year nearly derailed
before it began.
Given all she worked through,
including issues dealing with over
training, finishing ninth at state
was something she was proud of.
“Any day you can compete with
thousands of people watching you,
that’s a good day,” McBeth said.
“It’s a lot of fun to be in this atmos-
phere, even if I didn’t compete at
my best. It’s still a great experi-
ence.”
For McBeth, this season provid-
ed a vastly different experience for
her, but one that helped her enjoy
the moment more.
“Last year as a freshman I think I
amped it up a little bit more in my
head than it really was,” McBeth
said. “This year was comfortable,
honestly. I wasn’t nervous or any-
thing.”
McBeth will be the lone state
qualifier returning to Central next
season. But she’ll be one who can
not only help other state qualifiers
get ready for the experience, but
how to manage their time and
training throughout.
“I swear I’ve learned a lifetime
supply of lessons from this whole
over training,” McBeth said. “Talk-
ing to (coach Eli) Cirino, someday
I’m going to be able to help my
teammates who are going through
what I am going through.”
And while she’s already looking
ahead to cross-country, she’s also
learned one important lesson.
“It’s definitely time for a break,”
McBeth said with a smile. “An actu-
al break with no running, believe it
or not.”
CLASS 2A PREP TRACK AND FIELD
Perrydale duo gains experience at state
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
EUGENE — In the weeks to fol-
low, Perrydale juniors Taylor Price
and Sarah Clark will likely find
fond memories
of the OSAA Class
2A state track
and field meet.
In the mo-
ments and days
after, the duo
were looking to-
ward the future
as much as the
Clark
present.
“I had higher hopes going in,
but my body is so drained,” Price
said. “It was nerve wracking I
guess. I think people thought,
she’s a junior, so she’s going to be
good, but I didn’t really know
what I was doing.”
Price finished eighth in the 300-
meter hurdles in 52.96 seconds,
while Clark took 10th in the javelin
with a throw of 95 feet.
“I was extremely nervous,” Price
said. “I tried to relax, but when I
got out there, I was breathing
heavily already because I was so
nervous. I had to calm myself
down.”
Clark experienced similar feel-
ings as both competed at state for
the first time.
“I was thinking of not messing
up,” Clark said. “That kept going
through my mind not to mess up.”
As Price and Clark soaked in the
state meet experience for the first
time, the girls knew this moment
was a big one.
“I’m really grateful I made it to
state,” Clark said. “I’m kind of sad
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Perrydale’s Taylor Price took
eighth in the 300-meter hurdles.
for the people who couldn’t make
it to state. Only Taylor and I made
it (on Perrydale), so it was really
exciting to get the opportunity.”
Despite enjoying the experience,
Price and Clark also couldn’t help
but look to the future.
“I want to make state,” Clark
said. “I want to get first or second
next year. I know I need to work a
lot harder at practices and condi-
tion a lot more for next year. I need
to do everything correctly to get
my form good. … My teammates
and coach push me to achieve
greatness. They try and work me as
hard as I can so I can get better.
That’s what helped me this year.
Knowing I can make state pushes
me.”
Pirates coach Brian Evans hopes
their experience at state will do
more than motivate them to work
harder — he expects to see his
whole team gain from it.
“State was a great learning expe-
rience for my two girls and, indi-
rectly, a great learning experience
for the whole team even if they
weren’t there to witness the
events,” Evans said. “I believe the
desire the girls gained to get better
from their experience at Hayward
(Field) will rub off onto all their
teammates.”
Price and Clark may have
hoped to finish higher at state
this year, but that doesn’t mean
their accomplishments are lost
on them.
For both, qualifying for state
helped cap off a journey that they
will treasure for years to come.
“Obviously, I wanted higher, but
I can’t complain,” Price said. “A lot
of people would wish to qualify for
the finals. I’m very thankful for the
support I have from my family and
friends.”