Viking runner claims 3K crown

Viking senior Mack Marbas claimed the state title in the boys' 3,000 meter at the 2014 OSAA 4A State Track and Field meet. (photo by Kim Pickell)
Viking senior Mack Marbas claimed the state title in the boys’ 3,000 meter at the 2014 OSAA 4A State Track and Field meet. (photo by Kim Pickell)

OSAA State Track and Field Finals

Siuslaw has one champion after day one; more qualifiers to compete Saturday.

Siuslaw has one state champion at the OSAA 4A State Track and Field Finals as day two of the three-day meet winds down.

Mack Marbas, a senior and half of the high-powered distance duo of Marbas and Mitchell Butler, brought home the state title with a personal record time of 8:42.75 in the boys 3,000 meters. While it was Marbas’ best time ever at that distance, it registered number three on the all time Siuslaw list behind Matthew Campbell (8:37.22 in 2012) and Mitchell Butler (8:37.39 in 2014). Butler, who will run for the University of Oregon in the fall, was fourth in the 3K with a time of 8:58.55. Marbas was the Far West Champion in the 3,000 as well as the 1,500. He also ran one leg of the league champion 4×400 relay. He’ll compete in the final two events tomorrow.

Billy Jones, the defending state champion in the boys’ long jump will make his leaps later today. Other qualifiers for the Vikings today were Jonathon Peterson with a time of 50.87 seconds in the 400 meters; Seth Campbell, who ran a 1:59.04 in the 800; Joe Dotson with a 42.98 in the 300 intermediate hurdles. The 4×400 relay team of Marbas, Peterson, Campbell and Dotson will run tomorrow as well.

Senior thrower Ashlee Cole finished third overall in the girls’ discus with a toss of 133’ 4”, her best ever and enough to move her up to fourth on the all-time best at Siuslaw. Haley Hunt (152’ 10.5” in 2002) holds the best mark, followed by Alexis Reavis (145’ 5” in 2010) and Mary Jacobson (144’ 2” in 1970). Cole, the Far West League discus and javelin champion will throw the javelin tomorrow.

Celie Mans, a freshman, was sixth overall in the girls 3,000 meters with a time of 11:02.75. She’ll run in the 1,500 tomorrow. Mikaela Siegel qualified for the finals in the 100 meter high hurdles with a time of 16.28, she’ll also run tomorrow. Katelyn Wells ran in one heat of the girls’ 800 meter, but failed to qualify for the final.

The meet wraps up Saturday afternoon at Historic Hayward Field in Eugene.