Sandy High senior Marak adds more than two feet to personal-best effort, with Tigard High talent Johnson prevailing against Beard in girls competition; Wright adds 200 victory to 60 win, with Huyler prevailing in girls mile

Story and photos by Keenan Gray of DyeStat

SPOKANE, Wash. – Lander Marak had seen an upward trajectory as of late that’s shown no signs of stopping.

The senior from Sandy High in Oregon followed his first 70-foot performance in the weight throw from last weekend with a two-foot improvement of 72-11.25 (22.23m) on the final day of competition Sunday at the Spokane High School Invitational at The Podium.

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In three meets this year, it’s the second time Marak has improved by at least two feet or more, maintaining his current U.S. No. 3 ranking in the event behind Tahir Hines (77-2.50) and Phillips Moore (74-1). 

Marak, who represented Super Thrower Track Club, opened with a mark of 67-9, then followed with throws of 69-7.50 and 70-1. On his first throw in the finals, he eclipsed 70 feet again and then some to reach a new personal best.

“I felt like I worked it,” Marak said on his fourth throw. “I pushed it…Once I do that, I just got to keep it the same and it was a better mark.”

Marak reached 72 feet for the second time on his last throw, but just a bit under his 72-11.25 mark at 72-0.25.

Marak managed to complete a sweep of the weight throw competition for Super Thrower Track Club, as teammate Marissa Johnson of Tigard High in Oregon won the girls title just beforehand.

The sophomore battled with Nike Outdoor Nationals hammer throw champion Kimberly Beard of King’s High in Washington, to produce a U.S. No. 2 mark of 53-0.25 (16.16m).

Beard, a member of the Nike Elite Program, threw 51-1.50 (15.58m) to equal the No. 4 performance in the country this season.

Chloe Huyler from Lakeridge, Ore., ran 4 minutes, 50.12 seconds to win the girls mile a day after finishing second in the girls 3,000 meters.

Nate Standtlander of Meridian High in Idaho outkicked Dane Eike of Valor Christian High in Colorado and Maximus Cervi-Skinner of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to win the boys mile in 4:18.86.

Keelan Wright of Chaparral High in California collected her second victory of the weekend, winning the girls 200 in 24.02.

Sutton Flint from Liberty (Issaquah) High in Washington won the boys 200 in 22.14. Two false starts from top entries Dominick Corley – Saturday’s winner of the 60 in a national-leading time of 6.64 – and Reggie Witherspoon III, runner-up in the 60, resulted in disqualifications.

Lahela Ray, Arielle McKenzie, Paige Porter and Zoe Ray of Code Black Elite out of California clocked 3:47.68 to win the girls 4x400 relay.

Issac Ford, Cameron Trichel, Dallas Miller and Evin Ford from GLS Speed ran 3:19.92 to win the boys 4x400.

David Mangum and Samuel Agbakoba of Central High in California completed a 1-2 sweep in the boys triple jump competition, with Mangum achieving a mark of 45-6.25 (13.87m) for the win and Agbakoba producing a 44-7.50 effort (13.60m) for second.

Future Oregon Duck teammates Cassandra Atkins and Maleigha Canaday-Elliott placed first and second, respectively in the girls triple jump competition.

Atkins, a senior at Federal Way High in Washington, won with a performance of 38-9.50 (11.82m) to go with her victory in the long jump Saturday. Canaday-Elliott, a senior at McDaniel High in Oregon, jumped 38-4 (11.68m).

Brandon Gutzwiler of Central Valley High in Washington cleared 6-4 (1.93m) to win the boys high jump.