By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
MOUNT ANGEL, Ore.- Kennedy’s Tia Allen and Isabel Berning have been rivals going back to childhood. The good kind of rivals.
They always compete with one another. Softball. Track. They push each other day in and day out to be the best versions of themselves while having that personal rivalry amongst one another.
And now. On Tuesday afternoon, they signed their Letters of Intent to compete at Clackamas Community College. Renewing their lifelong friendly rivalry into the Junior College ranks for the next few years.
“We’ve had our ins-and-outs, but we always supported each other no matter what. And having that familiar face, if something happens to one of us or we need a ride to school,we’re able to communicate with each other. I think we’ll have a good connection and relationship the next few years,” said Allen.
“It’s exciting. I’ve played softball with her, basically growing up, and we would push each other, and I felt like it helped us grow. We don’t do the same events in Track, but we’ll be there pushing each other and supporting each other,” adds Berning.
Berning and Allen were joined by Yuliisa Chavez Cortes, who signed to run Cross Country and Track at Western Oregon University. Marking three kids from a graduating class of roughly 50 kids at Kennedy High School to be going onto the next level to compete athletically. Chavez Cortes, a two-time State Qualifier in Cross Country and three-time State Qualifier in Track and Field in the Distance races, pointed towards the work she put in her craft from her sophomore year onward to this point at the end of her High School career.
“I didn’t take it seriously until my sophomore year and being teammates with Tia and Isabel for four years. It’s great. We’ll still be in Oregon. We’ll still be close together, and it’ll be amazing,” said Chavez Cortes.
The senior qualified for the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter races after she finished fifth and third respectively at the 2A Special District 2 District Meet this previous weekend at Portland Christian with the aspirations to close out her High School career strongly.
“Finishing it off at Hayward would be an amazing feeling. It’s a great field for everything. Being a spectator or being on the track, to see all the athletes and all the hard work being at Hayward, it’s amazing,” said Chavez Cortes.
Berning and Allen both will join Chavez Cortes at Hayward Field in Eugene as well this weekend. Berning in the Javelin, coming off a District Title win thanks to a PR throw of 122-feet-6.5-inches and Allen in the Discus and Shot Put. Allen won the Discus District Title with a PR throw of 149-feet-4-inches and was District Runner-Up in the Shot Put.
“I’m just want to remember to give it my all. It’s my last time ever throwing in High School, but I know that I can PR by a lot, I have a lot more in me. I haven’t PR a lot this year, so I just want to give it my all,” said Berning, who will also run Cross Country at Clackamas.
For Allen, it’s a matter of going out relaxed and composed.
“Go in there relaxed. That’s all I got to say. I know I can win, but I don’t want to go in with that mindset right away. Take it with a grain of salt,” starts Allen. “I went the last two years. The first year I went, it didn’t go very well. Second year, it went well. The last throw fouled, but I still placed second. This year, I’m expected by a lot of people to place first. And if I don’t, it is what it is. I want to finish first, but just go in relaxed and be ready for anything.”
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
