Track team makes marks during summer

October 19, 2009 • AJ Untermeyer  
Filed under Sports

Even after Summit captured the state track title last May, head coach Dave Turnbull, knew his work was not completed.

Turnbull headed the first and much anticipated two day Oregon Elite meet, attracting the strongest and most talented athletes  in every league, from 1A-6A.

The most anticipated match-up came between Summit’s Kellie Schueler and Kayla Smith of Benson. The two had just won state titles in their respected classifications.

This is just one of the prime examples explaining Turnbull’s desire to have this meet take place. His goal is always to discover the true champions.

Schueler and Smith had competed once earlier in the season, in Portland during the Jesuit relays. Schueler won both the 100 and 200 meter dashes at the Jesuit relays and did the same at Summit during the Elite weekend.

The Oregon Elite meet was a stepping-stone for Summit athletes as they prepared for the Nike Outdoor Nationals held in North Carolina.

The Storm’s 4×800 meter relay team took center stage. Relay team members Schueler, Keelin Moehl, Eirann Cohen and Alyssa O’Connor broke the all-time Oregon state record with a time of 9:05.88.

All but O’Connor are returning to the team in the spring.

Summit graduate Matson Hardie competed in the triple jump, and earned himself a spot in Eugene for the USA Track and Field Championships at the end of June.

Summit also had three freshmen running the mile in North Carolina: Sara Fristoe, Megan Fristoe, and Kira Kelly. Megan Fristoe took seventh place in the final with a time of 5:18.75

At the end of June, Schueler and Hardie competed in Eugene for the USATF Championships, the meet that decided the USA team for the junior Olympics in Trinidad.

Schueler started the week with runs in the 100 and 200 meters, which she fell short of the finals in. But when it came time for Schueler to  run her last race she showed up.

In the 400 meter dash, Schueler swept the prelims in route to the finals. She was the only high school athlete competing in the finals, finishing 3rd with a time of 54.41 which was good enough to send her to Trinidad to represent the USA in the Junior Olympics.

Hardie, who was competing in the triple jump, had a career best of 48’ 4”, which earned him a full ride scholarship at Western Oregon University. In Trinidad, Schueler competed on the USA team in the 4×400 meter relay.

“Trinidad is definitely a third world country, everyone living there is pretty much living in poverty,” said Schueler. “They fed us local cuisine, and I’m a really picky eater, so I basically lived off the box of Pop Tarts I brought from home.” The Pop Tarts proved to be enough for Schueler as she helped the USA team earn a first place finish in the race.

The story behind the race draws much more attention. During the race Schueler was accused of running into another runner and stepping out of her lane.

“She (the Jamaican runner) cut straight into lane one, cutting me off,” said Schueler. “I stumbled pretty badly, falling in to her. We both almost fell over, but I stepped to the outside and passed her.” When the results were read over the loud speaker they announced that the U.S. was disqualified from the race.

A similar thing happened to the Summit boy’s 4×400 team at the state meet. In the final 50 meters of the race, Summit was challenging for first place, as a Crescent Valley runner cut in front of the Summit runner not allowing him to pass, there were a few words and actions exchanged between the runners after the race which led to a disqualification for the Storm. From video it was clear that the punishment was much too harsh for the crime, yet the call was never reversed.

In Trinidad however, after the Olympic officials reviewed the tape of the 4×400 race it was clear that the Jamaican runner had cut off Schueler, making her stumble out of her lane. After review the call was overturned and gave the U.S. a victory.

“We got the disqualification reversed pretty quickly. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get a medal ceremony like the rest of the events did, but all in all I was just happy that I didn’t disqualify the USA Track & Field team,” said Schueler “You’re not just running for yourself, you’re running for the entire country. Sometimes it feels like a lot of weight on your shoulders, but also it feels amazing to be running down the final 100m hearing people chant USA!, USA! and know they are cheering for you.”