An ecstatic and exhausted McKenzie Evans is shocked (above) as she crosses the finish line first in the 3,000 meters Thursday at Hayward Field. Evans won the 2A crown that had been teammate Katriel O’Reilly’s a year earlier. Evans set a new meet record of 10:28.57 with the win. (CASEY KELLAS/The Observer)

O’Reilly finishes second in 3,000 as Union teammates take top two spots in 2A race 

EUGENE — It was finally McKenzie Evans’ day.

The Union junior won the state title in the 3,000 meters Thursday at the state meet in Eugene, setting a meet record with a time of 10 minutes, 28.57 seconds.

She beat teammate and defending state champion Katriel O’Reilly, who finished second with a time of 10:41.79. 

Elgin pole vaulter Stephen Howes has the second-highest mark in the 2A event.

EUGENE — The road to a state title started in Union County at the district meet.

For some, it is a return trip to defend a title won a year ago.

For Stephen Howes of Elgin, he is only three inches away from a state title. 

La Grande’s Kayla Rasmussen, left, will compete in the 100-meter hurdles at the 4A state track meet Friday and Saturday in Eugene. Teammate Haley White, right, has the fifth-fastest time in the event heading into the state meet.

La Grande’s Rasmussen comes back from illness to qualify for state 

There are always hurdles that we have to overcome in life.

At different points, it can seem like those hurdles are larger than others.

Kayla Rasmussen was able to overcome one of her toughest hurdles in her young life recently, and now she will look to bring home a state track championship. 

Marta Stangel will run with Elsa Steen (left) in the 400-meter relay in the state track championships. (BRAD MOSHER/The Observer)

Enterprise senior Marta Stangel leaves her mark on the Outlaw record books 

Enterprise senior Marta Stangel faces the end of an illustrious high school athletic career and peers into the future for new possibilities. 

With a personal best of  36 feet, 3 inches she’s ranked first among 2A high schools in the shot put and gearing up for the state meet shot put finals Friday.

“I started throwing in junior high and I could throw it really far. It’s as much about speed as strength and I’m pretty quick,” Stangel said.  

Enterprise’s Austin Burns helped the Outlaws to the Blue Mountain Conference district championship Saturday in Union. Burns won the 800 meters, took second in the 400 meters and finished third in the 200 meters. He also anchored the winning 1,600-meter relay team. (Brad Mosher/The Observer)

UNION — Freshman Trevor Verhelst of Union may be the fastest sprinter in the Blue Mountain Conference, but the dominance of Enterprise in most of the track events swept the Outlaws to an easy team triumph in the district track championships Saturday.

Union’s Stormy Bullard won the Blue Mountain Conference district high jump title Saturday, clearing the bar at 5 feet, 1 inch to qualify for the state meet Thursday in Eugene. (Brad Mosher/The Observer)

UNION — There is already a forecast for conditions during the Oregon state track championships in Eugene.

La Grande’s Josh Gambill dives back to first base during the Tigers’ 6-5, play-in loss to South Umpqua Friday at Optimist Field. The loss ended La Grande’s season with a 14-10 overall record. (Casey Kellas/The Observer)

The La Grande baseball team saw its season come to an end at the hands of South Umpqua Friday. The Lancers pulled out a 6-5 victory in the play-in game at Optimist Field, ousting the Tigers from playoff contention.