Joseph’s Leavitt runs to state title in close track finish

Published 11:20 am Friday, May 26, 2023

EUGENE – Making a return trip back to the 1A state track and field meet on Thursday, May 25, Joseph sophomore Jett Leavitt claimed his first state championship, winning the 3,000-meter race in what was arguably the best race of the day.

In a time differential typically seen in 100-meter races, not 3,000 meters, Leavitt out-leaned Condon’s Grady Greenwood at the finish line, winning by 1/100th of a second. Leavitt was timed at 9 minutes, 2.40 seconds while Greenwood finished in 9:02.41.

This was Leavitt’s second trip to Eugene and the state meet. He did not run the 3,000-meter race in his last visit to the state track and field finale.

The Eagles also found an additional top-five finish in the race from Joseph freshman Jonah Lyman with a fifth-place showing and a time of 9:28.19.

Youth in the distance events continued to deliver results Thursday for the Eagles on the girls’ side, as freshman Mary Hellinger, running in her first state meet, placed sixth in the 3,000 meters after posting a time of 11:57.49.

Eagles sophomore Basey Dawson placed ninth in the 1A high jump event after clearing 4 feet, 7.75 inches.

Joseph freshman Emmerson Hook’s throw of 102 feet, 9 inches in the javelin event claimed 12th place.