Hats off to Owen Powell. He is really the cream of the crop in the PNW right now. races like a 3:58 DMR split is getting to be "another day's work" for him at this point. Such a talent.
I went to the Oregon Relays for my kid's race and also watched the 4x800 that Crater ran (7:49); It was a very solid efforts by Tayvon Kitchen and Josiah Tostenson (both around 1:55 for 800m) but not jaw-dropping. It turns out they were just prepping for Arcadia.
The girls' DMR relay was similarly exciting and impressive with Chloe Huyler running a 4:41 anchor leg to lead Lakeridge.
Saw that.. Huyler, Rodriguez, Ritzenhein, Lincoln.. some firepower. Huyler is fit 4:41 to close out Rodriguez 4:45, Ritz 4:47, Lincoln 4:48
Chloe Huyler also won the open elite [full] mile on Friday night. I was shocked to see her run away from Ritzenhein. It was never in doubt once she started picking up the pace. The gap looked huge in person (5 seconds is huge in a mile).
1 - Chloe Huyler - Lakeridge - 4:46.70 (New '25 US #1)
Chloe was undefeated in XC until NXN where she was tripped at the starting line and could never get back into the race. Third at the two mile at New Balance, a 10:03 at Circuit Chicago (2 miles), 4th in the New Balance mile in 4:40 (second fastest prep mile ever in Oregon). She has come into the outdoor season in strong form, so not surprised to see her Oregon Relays performance including closing a 8 second gap in 4:41 in a very elite, national caliber field.
Chloe was undefeated in XC until NXN where she was tripped at the starting line and could never get back into the race. Third at the two mile at New Balance, a 10:03 at Circuit Chicago (2 miles), 4th in the New Balance mile in 4:40 (second fastest prep mile ever in Oregon). She has come into the outdoor season in strong form, so not surprised to see her Oregon Relays performance including closing a 8 second gap in 4:41 in a very elite, national caliber field.
Sorry, my post wasn't clear. I don't mean I was "shocked" like surprised that she ran so well, but more like "shocked" that Ritzenhein wasn't able to hang with her.
Chloe is the real deal, but so are those other kids. That is why the 5 second gap surprised me. ;)