Cheesemakers and Bobcats face off in national track meet

Athletes from Tillamook and Nestucca high schools traveled to Eugene’s Hayward Field to compete in the OSAA State Track and Field Championships May 16-18.

Three Nestucca athletes, Kyla Hurliman, Makayla Webber and Micah Rigg, along with Tillamook seniors Shayla Hillstrom and Juan Gomez, all earned podium finishes to lead their teams at the meet.

Webber Triple Jump — Makayla Webber of Nestucca competes in the triple jump.

John Gunther

Webber, competing in the 2A competition, finished in the top three in two events, taking second in the pole vault, clearing a bar at 9 feet 5 ¼ inches, and third in the triple jump, with a score of 34 feet 2 inches.

Rigging — Micah Rigg placed in the 800 and 1,500 for Nestucca.

John Gunther

Hurliman finished second in the state in the shot put with a throw of 34 feet, 9 ¾ inches and finished fifth in the discus competition with a throw of 100 feet, 11 inches.

Rigg placed in two events, finishing third in the 1,500 meters with a time of 5:03.50 and sixth in the 800 meters in 2:28.15.

Nestucca also had two boys in the events, Jonah Higdon finishing fifth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:19.30 and sixth in the 800 meters in 2:05.32, while Draven Marsh finished eighth in the pole vault . a bar at 11 feet 1 ¾ inches.

Hillstrom Hurdles — Tillamook’s Shayla Hillstrom, right, finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles and sixth in the 300-meter hurdles.

John Gunther

Hillstrom capped a successful high school career at the 4A meet, qualifying for the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, a feat she accomplished for three consecutive seasons.

Hillstrom reached the finals in both events, earning a fourth place finish with a personal best 16.20 seconds in the 100 meter race, and a sixth place finish with a 47.62 second run in the 300 meter event. This was Hillstrom’s third podium appearance in the 100 meter event.

“What a hardworking athlete Shayla is. She does it the right way. She never misses a day, she trains with a purpose, sticks to her training plan and then stays late to do all her hurdle work,” said Tillamook Track head coach Kye Johnson. “I know she wanted a better result in the 300 at state, but we are all very proud of her. She has been a great teammate and tone-setter for our team.

Avery Reeder finished sixth in the women’s high jump for the Mooks, clearing 4 feet, 11 ¾ inches, and Riley Huerta, a freshman, took eighth in the discus with a personal best 103 feet, 3 inches.

On the boys’ side, Juan Gomez finished fourth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:00.16 and Noel Guttierez finished eighth in the discus with a personal best of 138 feet, 1 inch.