May 2, 2008 - Jesuit HS, Beaverton OR

Mathabane 3:55.10 1500; S. Eugene boys 4x8 MR
Bridges leads 3 teammates under 4:47 in G-1500

Highlights

• In an anticipated 1500-meter showdown of top OR mid-distance talent, Lincoln junior Nathan Mathabane staked himself to a big lead with splits of 61, 2:03 and 3:11, then held off a furious last-lap charge from Central Catholic senior Taylor Morgan for a 3:55.10 to 3:55.83 victory. Dave Marks (Lakeridge OR) was third (3:57.66), while expected participant Elijah Greer was a late scratch after a busy mid-week effort at a league meet.
• The girls 1500 saw a notable scratch too, as St. Mary's Academy rising star Alexandra Jones withdrew to nurse a sore heel, but rebounding Jesuit sophomore Sarah Bridges (recovering from a broken ankle suffered during soccer season) stole the show with a super last lap en route to a 4:39.47 victory. Bridges led 3 other Jesuit Crusaders under 4:47, with the flood of green and gold (Adrienne McGuirk 4:40.68, Noelle VanRysselberghe 4:45.25 and Anna Marie Maag 4:46.69) broken only by Molalla OR senior Mikayla Bradbury's 4:41.88, third place finish.
• The boys 4x800 was a hotly-contested duel between South Eugene OR and Jesuit OR. With legs that were even at nearly every exchange, the two schools battled to the line, with Casey Weinman's closing carry winning the day for South Eugene in a meet record 7:55.79. Jesuit was a step...