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Varsity 541 NEWS NOW Century-old practice of writing graffiti in Mount Ashland lichen has to stop, forest officials warn ... Emergency Services, Sept. 13 ... Central Point woman who died in house fire identified ... Century-old practice of writing graffiti in Mount Ashland lichen has to stop, forest officials warn ... Emergency Services, Sept. 13 ... Central Point woman who died in house fire identified ... GIRLS PREP TRACK & FIELD North Medford's Folsom goes out with a bang Comment By Tim Trower Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted May. 24, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted May. 24, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News EUGENE — Halley Folsom found a perfect way to forget about disappointment in the high jump at the Class 6A track and field state championships Saturday at Hayward Field. The North Medford senior won a championship a short time later in the 300-meter hurdles, finally getting an elusive personal best and breaking her own school record in the process. Folsom breezed around the track cleanly, then separated from the pack in the final 80 meters and triumphed in 43.84 seconds. She was more than a second faster than runner-up Riley Ford of Central Catholic (44.99). When the time went up on the stadium's giant scoreboard, it also showed Folsom's picture. She looked pleased. “Pleased is probably not a strong enough word,” said Folsom, who won her third state championship and second in the intermediate hurdles. “I was very excited to get under 44. I've been trying to get under it for two years. I just really, really wanted it this year, so I trained really hard, and it finally came, and it felt really good.” Folsom's previous best was 44.09, set last year when she placed second at state. Folsom, who holds four Black Tornado school records, had her usual busy and productive meet, placing third in the 100 hurdles, fourth in the high jump — which she won last year — and participating on the 4x400 relay. Hers was one of two local championships as the meet for 6A, 5A and 4A teams concluded. The Phoenix girls 4x400 relay got a stirring finishing lap from junior Audrey Hazel and won in a school-record 4:06.56. Her teammates were Lindsey Burns, Danielle Jantzer and Nevina De Luca. Other highlights included a second by North Medford's Savannah Greenwade in the 400 and a second by the Crater 4x100 relay team. Hazel also finished third in the 400. Folsom had already accomplished one PR when she went under 15.0 in the high hurdles, clocking 14.72. But the meet turned a tad sour when she cleared 5-4 in the high jump — the same as the other top three — but was left out of a jump-off because she had more misses. On one attempt at 5-5, which would have won, she grazed the bar with her calf. “That was really frustrating,” she said. “I knew I'd be able to make 5-5, but as the time starts winding down to the next event, my mind gets out of high-jump mode and gets into hurdles.” She has worked on putting the angst of one event out of her mind to focus on another. But it's hard to “just throw it away and say when it's over, it's over.” She didn't let it affect her hurdles race. Folsom looked sharp throughout, then pulled away in front of the grandstands. She's been switching her lead leg, and that doesn't always pan out. But when she reached the final hurdle with her lead leg in sync, “that's what I needed to get under 44,” she said. She knew Ford was there and got a glimpse of Jesuit's Claire Corbitt in Lane 8 right with her. “That just helped me to push through it.” The Phoenix girls placed fourth on the strength of the relay victory. Astoria won with 76 points, and the Pirates scored 51. Hazel, fresh off her third-place 400 of 59.22 and seventh-place 200 of 26.58, was up to the task in the relay when she took the baton from De Luca and had a deficit of about 10 meters to make up. “The 4x400 is all about guts,” said Hazel. “It's all adrenaline.” She chased down Corbett anchor Elisabeth Krieger around the last turn. “We wanted it so bad, I was like, how bad do you want it,” said Hazel. “I kept saying that over and over. Do you want it? Are you gonna do it? And I just pulled in front of her. It was all for Nevina because she's our senior.” Greenwade's time in placing second to Olivia Gabriel of Central Catholic was 57.06 seconds. Gabriel clocked 56.74. The Tornado's goal was to be in good position when the group bunched up after the stagger start. “When I got there I just kind of stayed and coasted, not ease off my pace but kind of stayed with everyone,” said Greenwade, a junior who repeated as runner-up. “As soon as I hit that last 300, I have to be able to kick it at the end, and that's the toughest part.” Crater's runner-up quartet in the 4x100 was up against a powerhouse. Hillsboro shattered the meet record with a time of 47.99 seconds. The Comets' 49.82 was a season best. The team was made up of Cassidy Layton, Halie Walker, Paige Berriochoa and Bailey Bascom. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 541-776-4479, or email [email protected] By Tim Trower Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted May. 24, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Schedules & Events --> Recent Scores --> Prep Notebook Kris Henry Challengers make it back on top in softball Winning the Southern Cascade League title seemed like a pretty bold goal this spring considering the recent history of the Cascade Christian... Varsity 541 Photos South Medford vs. North Medford Phoenix vs. Marshfield Ashland vs. Mountain View North vs Fortuna Coach K Summer Competition at SOU U19 Memorial Day Challenge » More Photo Galleries Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Contact Us | Advertise | © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.