Holycross, Woodbury lead Goldendale at first track meet in TD
Raymond Holycross is shown competing on his way to winning the long jump on Saturday. Holycross was the top finisher in four events at the Mullen Leavitt Invitational in The Dalles.
Story and Photos by Mike Salsbury
The Dalles, Ore., March 16, 2024 — Quickly pick a few words to describe the 2024 Goldendale track and field team’s performance at the Mullen Leavitt Invitational.
Blazing works well.
How about fervid, unleashed and footloose?
Unstoppable.
Jenna Casey had a great day for the Timberwolves, shown here competing at the start of the 4x100 meter relay.
The team’s first competition of the season happened Saturday, March 16 at the Wahtonka Track in The Dalles and, by the looks of things, the Timberwolves are blistering.
These harriers can definitely hold their own against athletes from bigger schools. Goldendale competes in 2B and Eastern Washington Athletic Conference, however, Saturday’s season-opening meet was against a mix of schools.
After the meet, head track coach Jennifer Holycross spelled out some of the goals for 2024 with precision.
“The boys would like to improve on last year’s 3rd place State finish,” she said. “The girls, return some State participants.”
Freshman runner Emma Meagher left it all on the track while setting a personal record in the 1,500 meters last Saturday in The Dalles.
Cheering for Emma during the 1,500 meter race are, from left, Rebekah McDonald, Averie Mell, Dalilah Lauff, Ada Garner and Amity Bushnell.
Participation in the sport is growing in Goldendale. “Our overall number in the program is up this year with many first-time participants,” said Holycross.
Consider this, on the boys’ track team forty-one personal records (PRs) were established at Saturday’s meet in The Dalles, and on the girls’ team, 13 PRs were recorded.
Senior Raymond Holycross, the defending state champion in the triple jump, was the top finisher in four events on Saturday, winning the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump for Goldendale.
Also winning his event on Saturday was junior Storey Woodbury in the 400-meters. Woodbury was joined by teammates Jimmy Elwell, Anthony Hauck, and Rydell Myers for a 2nd place finish in the 4x400 meter relays.
Goldendale junior Matthew Gray placed second in the long jump, triple jump, 100-meters, and ran the anchor leg of Goldendale’s 4x100 meter relay team that also finished second. Also running on the 4x100 relay were Anthony Hauck, Jimmy Elwell and Rydell Myers.
Junior Matthew Gray crosses the finish line to win a heat of the 4x100 meter relay on Saturday in The Dalles and finishes with a celebratory gesture following the race.
On the girls team, senior Jenna Casey had a solid meet, finishing third in the triple jump, fourth in the discus, and running the 4x100 relay with teammates Charlotte Matulovich, Ella Riley, and Kelly Smith for a 3rd place finish.
Sophomore Kelly Smith finished third in the girls 800-meters. Freshman Emma Meagher finished fifth in the 800-meters and fifth in the 1,500-meter race. In the boys high jump, freshman jumpers Samuel Torres and Brody Hatfield tied for 4th place.
Freshman Brody Hatfield competes in the high jump, tying for 4th place and setting a personal best.
In addition to a day where personal bests were in abundance and the camaraderie of teammates and friends shined brightly underneath clear blue Oregon skies, coach Holycross noted one more observation.
“The new gold uniforms are ‘fire’ according to some of the athletes,” she said.
Simeon Messenger wears teammate Raymond Holycross’ shoes while competing in the long jump and on his way to a personal best.
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