Last weekend, 14  Riverhawks competed in their final events of the season at the State Track & Field meet at UofO. Compared to Districts, racing conditions in Eugene were about perfect: clear, cool, and with that special dose of “Hayward magic” on the track. Somewhere between magic and hard work, many saw PRs and competitive placings: a satisfying close to a great season.

Results are already returning from the 4A Oregon State High School Track and Field championship that started today, May 17, in Eugene at Hayward Field. Julian Moorehouse reportedly took fourth place in the pole vault with a height of 13’05”. Read more here.

Riverhawks Track Coach Jill Bell, catches us all up on the accomplishments of TDHS student athletes last week at Sherwood and Crook County. 

For the first time since 2014, the girls’ team made the podium at the State Championship, placing fourth at 141 points, just 3 points ahead of fellow Tri-Valley team Crook County.

As the silly string descended on their sweat and rain-soaked hair, the Riverhawk runners took in the moment at the 4A-2 Tri-Valley Conference Championship at McIver Park in Estacada. The memory of last year’s District and State championship had haunted this year’s teams like a specter - and it seemed a new championship was the best way to relegate old expectations to the past.

While the results of the last three weeks have been heady and exciting, The Dalles runners know not to count their riverhawks or districts before they’ve hatched. If anything, their strong showing at the district preview and the 3k tuneup will likely motivate the other Tri-Valley teams to outwork and out-kick them this week.

At the Baker Meet on Sept. 28 - Like the boys’ race, the Riverhawk girls ran consistently, with few personal records- but a notable one-minute improvement for freshman Riley Elliot, who was sporting her mom’s cross country hoodie after the race.

A difference in starting position made all the difference for Aiden Erickson in Oregon City on Sept. 16. Normally in the back, the lean 6’3” sophomore toed the line for the varsity boys’ race, in the front quarter of the pack for the entire race. That lead translated into a 26-second PR from last year, with Erickson finishing sub-18 at 17:56.

Riverhawks send 10 athletes to State on May 26 in 4A Track and Field Championship at Hayward Field in Eugene culminating in gutsy racing and going for broke in the field events.

Thunderstruck varsity Riverhawks pounded out a strong performance at the district meet in Madras, earning several athletes a chance to compete at the OSAA Track meet today, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 in Eugene. Read Coach Pearson’s story here.  

The last third of the track season went by fast- literally and metaphorically. While it went out with a bang last weekend for Districts, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recognize the hard work the Riverhawk squad put in to get it right and make it better these past few weeks.  

Abuzz with potential in the setting sun, both of The Dalles’ relay teams performed well, with the girls’ 4x400 team within two seconds of their state time from last year. For the boys’ Distance medley relay, senior Leo Lemann led with the 1200, followed by smoking personal bests in the 400 for Vincent Ziegenhagen (55) and 800 for Tyson Long (2:05), and anchored by a quick 1600 for Juan Diego Contreras. Collectively, they finished at 11:01 - two seconds faster than the previous TDHS record.

Track Coach Jill Pearson brings us the first-half highlights for The Dalles High School Track Season. It’s hard to condense over a month of meets into a short list, but in honor of the lanes on the track, here are the top 8. Also, TDHS couriers will be in action for Senior Night at Wahtonka on April 19 when they match up against Estacada and Madras.

Emotions were running high as Bob Thouvenal calculated the scores while Caleb Caldwell and Tyson Long finished at 18:10. Wide-eyed and a little in disbelief, he turned to The Dalles parents huddled on the hillside near the finish line. “I think we won!”

On the back of the pullovers were quotes from the season, from the silly “are we running today?”, to the oft-repeated “chin down, eyes up!”, and encapsulated with one of the seniors’ reasons for improving: “I decided to be fast.” Last Wednesday, Oct. 26, the entire team followed that advice at the Tri-Valley District meet, racing their best season times, and earning multiple spots to the State meet.

At Estacada two days later, at last, the Riverhawks finally caught a glimpse of the reward for their efforts. With nearly 20 personal records, the varsity and JV boys placed first, while the girls’ teams came in second behind 6A Oregon City.

If you could only watch one cross-country meet in the season, go out to Heppner. It’s the ultimate, stripped-down version of what the sport is all about. Dust rises from the pack of runners. Weeds crunch under spikes as a handful of spectators look out under desolately beautiful blue skies.

It’s human nature to shy away from discomfort and disappointment- although you can learn so much more from a bad or a tough race than you can from a perfect one; it’s better to learn when there are still four weeks until Districts. Tough races are how we grow as runners- and as people.

Pretty has its place. So does grit. And it showed up with the TDHS Cross Country team on Saturday, Sept. 24 in Portland. Labored steps, flush cheeks and draining the tank were common themes as local harriers posted some personal bests.