Class 4A events, athletes to watch out for at the upcoming track and field state championships

The track and field state championships get underway on Friday for the Class 6A, 5A and 4A schools at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Here’s a quick preview of the Class 4A track and field state championships:

Boys: 3 to Watch

1,500

Two-time state cross country champion Carter Bengtson of Cottage Grove has yet to win a title on the track. The 3K seems like a safe bet — he’s seven seconds faster than the rest of the field — but he was beaten by Marist Catholic sophomore Corbin Sage in the 1,500 Sky-Em district final. The rematch should be taut.

Discus

La Grande sophomore Brogan Hedgepeth broke the 4A sophomore record with his 180-10 throw at the Uriarte Invitational, while Junction City junior Kaleb Moore — last year’s state runner-up — is 14 inches behind him in the state rankings.

High jump

Phoenix senior Brayden Decker and North Bend senior Miles Baxter both cleared 6-2.75 last year at the state meet to finish third and fourth, respectively. Now, Baxter comes to state as the 4A leader at 6-8.25, while Decker is at 6-7 and The Dalles junior Derek Goulart at 6-6.

Boys: 3 to Cheer

Bodey Lutes, Marshfield, senior

In his three years on the South Coast since moving from Willow Canyon in Surprise, Ariz., all Lutes has done is win two state titles in the 400, anchor two champion 4×400 relays, and take home medals in the 200 and 800. He’s focused on the 800 for his final state meet to go with the 4×100 and 4×400.

Rasean Jones, Baker, junior

The two-time champion in both hurdles races isn’t even the state leader in the 300s coming into the meet, but the third-fastest high hurdler all-time (and No. 7 in the 300s) regardless of classification will be on a mission to complete the three-peat this weekend.

Nolan Sieben, Henley, senior

Sieben didn’t turn out for track until last year. Now, he’s moved to No. 7 on the all-time 4A list with his winning 198-11 javelin throw at the Skyline district championships.

Girls: 3 to Watch

800

Two-time defending champion Haley Butenschoen of Stayton is only No. 4 on the season list, less than two seconds behind 4A leader Natalia Crass of Crook County — with Sky-Em rivals Lola Esplin of Junction City and Tori Sherman of Marist Catholic in between. It should be a cagey, exciting final Saturday.

100 hurdles

Molalla senior Peyton Craven has only lost twice in three years in this event en route to winning a 2A title as a sophomore at Colton and the 4A last spring. Standing in her way this year is Mazama junior Sydney Baker, who won the 4A title as a freshman and battled through injuries last season to finish runner-up.

Triple jump

A trio of district champions, all within 13 inches of each other — seniors Adelynn Adams of Madras, Mada Lee of Mazama and Maevri Bergerson of Astoria — and all of whom finished in the top five at state last year will do battle Saturday afternoon.

Girls: 3 to Cheer

Janice Hellesto, Philomath, senior

Hellesto won titles in the 400 as a freshman and long jump as a sophomore, but after a snake-bitten junior year — she finished second in the 100 and 200 and didn’t find the board in the long jump at district — she’s looking to close her career with a big weekend, fresh off district wins in the 100, 200 and long jump.

Abby Behrman, Estacada, senior

After winning her first title in the discus last year, Behrman has busted out this spring, improving her personal-best by 14 feet and moving her to No. 14 on the all-time state list with her 153-3 throw in mid-April. She also is the state leader in the shot put by 2 feet.

Peyton Craven, Molalla, senior

Craven competed for Colton as a sophomore before joining the Indians last year when the Vikings dropped the sport, winning 4A titles in the 100 hurdles and high jump. She won Tri-Valley district titles in both hurdles, high jump and long jump coming into this year’s state meet.

— Rene Ferran is a freelance reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He can be reached at

rferran.oregonianhssports@gmail.com

More Oregon high school sports

• Class 6A events, athletes to watch out for at the upcoming track and field state championships

• Class 5A events, athletes to watch out for at the upcoming track and field state championships

• Playoff rewind: Results from Tuesday’s first round baseball state tournament games

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