By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– West Salem’s Logan Hilty in his first jump in the Long Jump event PR’d with a jump of 22-feet-4-inches. That first jump alone had helped the senior and future Lane Community College athlete win the event and marked the first of two victories by Hilty, who also went on to win the Triple Jump with a 44-feet-9.5-inch jump Saturday afternoon.
And it’s been a steady progression for him as well. Going from winning the JV title in Triple Jump as a freshman and progressing up to State Runner-Up in the sport this past Spring as well as placing in Long Jump.
That progression is something that Hilty is hoping he can continue into this Spring as a senior.
“It’s my favorite sport right now, I’ve started since Elementary School, but I started focusing on it when I was in High School. And a ton of practice put into it as well. I just want to keep progressing forward,” Hilty said.
Hilty was one of several winners in Saturday’s meet as the Titans took the Boys and Girls Titles. Elijah James (100-meter dash), Garrett Fenske (800-meter) and Hilty all won individual titles on the boys side. The West Salem 4×400 meter relay team of Aaliyah Caldwell, Avery Meier, Sabina Carano and Madison Forest won the race and Mia Rasca won the 1500-meter to lead the Titans girls team.
Rasca’s race was incredible. The junior battled with longtime racing friend from North Salem Nelida Dalgas before Rasca pulled away from Dalgas late in the race for the victory with a last lap surge of energy.
“Just the drive and the last 150 and pushing it. (Dalgas) and I go way back to Middle School, it’s more than just competitors, it’s a friendship too,” Rasca said of the race.
The Titans also saw seven second-place finishes in the Meet on Saturday.
