03 Jun Archers High School Track Makes History at the New Hayward Field
In May 2019, freshman Colin Friend qualified for his first state championship meet in the 3000m with a season’s best 9:21.87 at the district meet. At state, he finished 8th against Tim Stevens from Cove, who won in a record time of 8:38.20. Stevens had finished sub-9 repeatedly in 2018 and 2019, and Colin watched with a sense of disbelief as Stevens set a state meet record for the ages. But somewhere inside this young Archer, a spark of belief began to flicker.
All track fans know the story of the pandemic: a canceled season in 2020 after the Archers men won the state and individual XC titles in fall 2019, and an abbreviated season in 2021. In February 2022, a hopeful group of 16 student-athletes started official practices for this “normal” season and a road back to the new Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
While Head Coach Tim Tsuei and Distance Coach Joseph Pia knew that the strength of this year’s team would be in the distance events at the state championships, Sprints/Hurdles Coach Joel Williams prepared his squad for the seven regular-season meets along with the veteran distance crew. As part of this year’s program, the fastest Archers distance runners also competed in some 6A meets, to refine skills against the best from the big schools. In the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays in late April, senior Olyvia Oeverman set a new school record in the 1500m, Colin lowered his 3000m school record to 8:43 and the men’s Distance Medley Relay team (Colin, Justus Jackson, Nathan Contreras, Gabriel Morrow) finished 4th overall.
Olyvia had run cross country for four years and ran high school track for the first time in 2021. She won the 1500m 1A girls’ title at last season and finished 3rd in the 800m. In 2022, she focused on off-season training between the XC and track seasons. As a result, she won nearly every final 800m and 1500m race that she ran this season, a remarkable record.
Colin entered this season as 2021 XC state champion for 1A/2A, and defending state champion (3000m and 1500m) in 1A track. His hard work had further been rewarded with a breakout race in the 1500m at the 2021 Portland Track Festival, running 3:58.53. The incredulity of 2019 had changed; Colin started to believe that Stevens’ record was beatable. He opened this season with a 3000m race against 6A McMinnville, running a second place 8:45.52. He followed this with 8:43.28 in the Jesuit Twilight Relays 3000m. Believe!
But the path to the 3000m took a self-prescribed detour for the senior captain. The Archers were led this year by captains Colin Friend, Olyvia Oeverman, and Nathan Williams – a group of special leaders. These team captains did a remarkable job mentoring their team, particularly the ten 9th grade and first-year HS track runners. As a result, freshmen Nathan Contreras and Macy Marshall made their state championship debuts in both the 3000m and the 1500m. Contreras’ story, in particular, is special: in late April, Colin came to Coach Tsuei and said, “I think we can get Contreras into state if I pace him during the race at districts.” Colin wanted to run slower, to sacrifice his own personal stats to help a teammate join him at the highest stage. The Archers tried out the pacing strategy in early May at the Portland Christian Invitational, and Contreras ran to a new PR. At districts, Colin and Contreras ran together in the 3000m for 2200m before Colin accelerated away to secure his district title. Contreras picked up a wild card berth at the state championships, as well as an automatic qualifier spot in the 1500m.
According to Coach Tsuei, “Colin’s unselfishness and the joy he gets from seeing his teammates succeed is remarkable … his legacy at St. Stephen’s isn’t just his performance on the track. If he sees the program grow and succeed after he’s gone, that’s a legacy. Colin changed the way that the coaches and the entire school view our running teams. He’s made me believe that our 1A school can compete at the highest level. He’s built a legacy of unselfishness, encouragement, and sportsmanship while achieving great personal success.”
Olyvia has been an outstanding captain for the women’s team. She has been an extension of the coaching staff, especially monitoring how the women are doing mentally and emotionally throughout a taxing season. Similarly, Nathan has been a leader on the track for the sprinters/hurdlers and even an instructor for our lone discus hurler, Cadence.
Junior Gabriel Morrow chose to compete only in the 800m at districts, even though he was seeded second in the 1500m and had a relatively easy path to state in that race. His deferral from the 1500m opened the door for Justus and Contreras to compete – another team-first move that paid off as Gabriel ran a season-best to qualify for state in the 800m. Overall, this 2022 Archers team exited districts by qualifying for 12 individual spots at the state championships in the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m. Both 4×400 relay teams also qualified. This was, by far, the largest team that St. Stephen’s had sent to the state championships.
Returning to the new Hayward Field in Eugene was remarkable. The first day of competition opened with the 3000m races. Macy and Emilie Santoso (both first-year runners) represented the Archers well. Macy was running in 4th place with 200m to go when her running spikes on her left foot let go, leaving her shoeless for the homestretch. Unperturbed, the driven freshman passed two competitors to earn a silver medal in her first state meet. Then it was time for the marquee race for the distance Archers. Colin had the top seed, and Contreras joined him at the start line. Colin ran a blistering 32s for his first 200m and settled in for the 7 remaining laps towards history. Colin closed the final lap in 64s as the crowd rose to their feet. 8:37.78 at the line for a new meet record! His four-year dream had finally come true! Contreras finished 7th, giving the Archers team three podium finishes for the first day.
On the final day of competition, Olyvia and Macy raced to perfection in the 1500m, where Olyvia secured her first gold by running a new lifetime best of 5:03.83. Macy finished 5th with a PR. On the men’s side, a weary Colin was joined by Contreras and Justus. While challenged for most of the 1500m race, Colin was able to pull away to earn his second gold, while Justus ran a remarkable race to finish 5th on the podium.
Olyvia was seeded first in the 800m, but a fast start by the field put her in 7th place after the first 200m. Without panic, she made her way through the field to take back the top spot at the bell lap. One competitor passed her briefly in the final lap, but at the final curve Olyvia swept wide and put the hammer down, winning gold by a convincing 2.6 seconds. Inspired by their teammates’ success, Justus and Gabe came to the 800m start line in a very competitive men’s 800m field, but double Archers gold was not to be. Gabe finished a very respectable 4th place, while Justus joined him on the podium in 7th.
The relay teams ended the night with a bit of drama; first-year runner Hayden Lind had performed very well at districts, but her work in the previous meet had taken a toll on her legs. Despite careful recovery and protective measures, it became clear she would be unable to join Evelyn Warren, Macy, and Olyvia in the 4x400m relay. Sophomore Amelie Oeverman was put in for the second leg. This group of ladies ran well and was able to set a season’s best time, finishing 7th on the podium. The Archers men were exhausted, but made one of those gut-check decisions to put all their effort out on the track. Justus led off with a strong first leg, followed by Contreras, both running their usual times. Gabe threw down a season’s best 52.9s third leg, handing off the baton one last time to Colin. As Colin crossed the finish line, he threw both arms in the air in exultation. The Archers men had leapfrogged two district rivals to finish 4th overall!
In summary, the Archers landed four gold medals and one silver medal. Out of 14 possible chances, these Archer athletes made it to the podium 12 times. Both the men’s and women’s teams finished 5th overall in the team competitions. All of these achievements are records for the Archers track and field program.
Coach Tsuei had encouraged the team prior to arriving in Eugene: “Run with joy: The best part of this journey is that you’re doing this with friends. We’ve thanked God throughout the season for putting this collection of people together … I don’t want you to prepare or compete with fear. If you have nerves, I want that emotion to be driven by joyful anticipation of the opportunity to compete … Joyfully pursue the limit of what your body can do this week, and rest peacefully afterward, knowing that you gave it your all.”
Be proud of this Archers team, St. Stephen’s Academy community. They gave it their all, and they did it with joy and love for one another. That is, perhaps, the legacy of this 2022 track and field season.