[These are stories that ran with the Statesman's spring preview package for Track and Field.]
Five track and field athletes to watch
March 29, 2011
Tim McDowell
SCHOOL: McNary
YEAR: Senior
McNary’s Tim McDowell is a competitor.
The senior multievent specialist always looks to improve, be it on the track or in the classroom.
“I love competing,” said McDowell, who noted that even taking tests in school provides an opportunity to feed his competitive fire.
That drive is why McDowell, last year’s Central Valley Conference district champion in the high jump, wants to shake off a sub-par outing at last year’s state meet.
He wasn’t pleased with his 400 meter prelims race on day one, and it affected his performance in the high jump a day later.
McDowell ran 52.16 in the 400 prelims, a full second slower than his season best. In the high jump, McDowell cleared 6-2, two inches below his 2010 best (he finished sixth). He cleared 6-5 as a sophomore at Sweet Home to place second in the 4A state meet.
“When it came to state, I feel like I didn’t perform as well as I should have,” McDowell said.
The high jump is McDowell’s favorite event. His coach recommended he try it in sixth grade and, seven years later, he still loves it.
First-year McNary head coach Jake Lucey admits that he has a natural athlete in McDowell. But it’s not as simple as McDowell just showing up on meet day.
“Tim’s a kid who really does work hard and tries to get better,” Lucey said.
McDowell also realizes that his success boosts him into a leadership position on the team, and that’s something he embraces.
“I’m hoping to lead by example for the team,” McDowell said.
The future is unclear, but McDowell knows he wants to compete collegiately in Oregon. He competed in eight different events during the course of last season and thinks he might compete in the decathlon at the next level.
In the meantime, McDowell wants to make a return to Hayward Field in May for the Class 6A state meet. He wants to be prepared this time around so last year’s results don’t happen again.
“This year it’s definitely going to be more preparation, getting more sound in everything I do,” McDowell said. “I’m hoping to go to state in everything that I can.”
— Lee Clarkson
Alyssa Neal
SCHOOL: North Salem
YEAR: Junior
North Salem’s Alyssa Neal got into the triple jump by a different route than you might expect.
It wasn’t because she saw it on TV or in person and wanted to try it. While competing as a sixth-grader at the midget level for Salem Track Club, Neal says some deception was involved.
“My old coach … she tricked me into doing it,” Neal said. “She was making me do the drills and stuff, and eventually I did the whole thing.”
The coach was former South Salem state champion and current Oregon jumper and hurdler Rebecca Rhodes.
Based on the results of her first two years of high school competition, Neal has learned the event pretty well.
As a freshman, Neal won the triple jump at the Central Valley Conference District meet and placed third at state. As a sophomore, Neal repeated in the CVC meet and took second at state.
The junior wants to move up one more step on the triple jump podium this year.
“I want to get first, yeah,” Neal said. “I want to get first in triple jump and then place in long jump and see how high (on the podium) I can get.”
North Salem jumps coach Troy Walker said he will support Neal’s pursuit of a state championship.
“We think we can get (Taisha Moore from Aloha, the two-time defending triple jump champion) this year,” Walker said. “If we can stay healthy, we have a shot.”
Neal appears ready to challenge Moore. At an indoor meet at University of Washington on Feb. 13, Neal jumped 37-101/2, a 10-inch personal best.
Neal, who also competes in the sprints for the Vikings, was elected as a jumps group team captain. Walker and head coach Don Berger attributed the honor to Neal’s maturity and ability to lead, in addition to her talent level.
“She is without question one of the most elite athletes I’ve ever worked with,” Berger said. “She’s certainly gotten stronger. She understands the sport a lot more. … She’s grown a lot.”
— Lee Clarkson
