By Sierra Webster
Freshmen Perrin Xthona of Oregon and Maci Jokumsen of George Fox broke from the field early in the women’s 3,000 meters Friday night at the Oregon Twilight Meet at Hayward Field, keeping pace with one another for the majority of the race.
Xthona, a native of Grants Pass, Oregon, won the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter races in the 2016 4A high school outdoor state championship meet in Hayward Field.
Jokumsen, primarily a soccer player, is competing in her first track season after being recruited by the George Fox track coach earlier this academic year.
In the final 600 meters, veteran Xthona took the lead to win the 3,000 meters for the first time as a Duck in Hayward Field in 10 minutes, 8.73 seconds.
“It’s really emotional, actually,” she said. “It’s the race I know how to do and it’s the place I know how to do it, and that’s really exciting.”
For Xthona, transitioning to collegiate-level racing has been an adjustment, training with and racing for a team that is all-around very strong.
“Everyone who’s here was amazing in high school,” she said. “I see a lot of other freshmen dealing with it, where you’re not the fastest on the field.”
Going into the race, Xthona decided to sit on the pace and let her competitors lead. Second-place finisher Jokumsen took the lead early in the race and maintained it until Xthona’s kick in the last 600.
“Soccer was always my main focus, and it was like, ‘Oh, you can run long distances for a long time, like run in a circle,’” said Jokumsen.
Her strategy for the race was to go for it and hold it as long as she could, but when Xthona took the lead, Jokumsen knew she didn’t have the leg speed to hold on.
After the race, Jokumsen reflected that she should have kicked harder in the final couple laps instead of holding back, but that she is still learning race logistics and strategy.
She is excited about her future in track, saying, “I think with experience will come hopefully some faster times.”
When asked about the upcoming soccer season, Jokumsen said her participation is to be determined.
“I’m really liking this whole running thing,” she said. “So we’ll see if cross country happens in the fall but definitely track.”
