Reynolds Callier wins gold with third-best all-time school long jump at 2024 Districts

Published 6:47 pm Tuesday, May 7, 2024

A springy Reynolds senior soared during a district meet, setting records and earning his spot at state.

Salahedin Callier exploded off the runaway on his final attempt in the long jump finals during day one of the Mt. Hood Conference District Track and Field Championships. His gold-medal winning mark of 22-feet 6.5-inches was a personal best and claimed victory from second-place Joseph Donnelly, Central Catholic sophomore, who had 21-feet 9-inches. Sandy sophomore Jasiah Cochran took 3rd (21-1.5 feet).

“The jump felt good, and hearing that mark it was pure excitement,” Callier said. “I am getting close to that school record, so this let me know that I am improving every single day.”

“I was just thinking about Allah, I try to keep my religion sacred,” he added of his Muslim faith. “That inspired me to jump today.”

That jump is the third-best in Reynolds history. The mark to beat is 22-feet 8.5-inches set by Able Taylor in 2017.

“Hopefully I can hit that at state,” Callier said.

Day one of Districts, Tuesday, May 7, hosted by Gresham High School, was dominated by field events. As the runners largely battled through prelims in their respective events, the jumpers and throwers vied for medals and spots at the State Championships later this month at Hayward Field in Eugene — top two automatically qualify, with two more spots open to statewide wildcard.

In the long jump Callier wasn’t alone. There was a large contingent of East County competitors who celebrated and clapped each other on.

“My teammates are the ones who push me to keep going forward,” Callier said. “It’s beneficial to all of us — they push me and I give the same back to them.”

But for the senior, all of this has been icing on the cake before the next chapter of his life begins.

“I have things coming after this, I am planning for a long career not in track and field but in engineering,” Callier said. “This has just been fun for me.”

Another athlete peaking at the right time is Sandy senior Lander Marak, who won boys discus with a heave of 150-feet 9-inches. That beat Nelson senior Riley Le (141-6) and Sandy senior Grayson Brown (141-4).

“I felt good throwing today, I keep getting closer to that PR (160 feet),” Marak said. “I told my dad earlier today that all this is happening at the right moment.”

“Districts was a great environment — no rain,” he said with a laugh. “I just have to keep competing and staying mentally focused during these final meets.”

Here are the top-three finishers from day one of the meet:

• Boys Pole Vault: Troy Hockett, David Douglas senior, 1st (3.72 meters); Hayden Jones, Barlow junior, 2nd (3.72 SR); Owen Post, Nelson junior, 3rd (3.27).
• Girls Shot Put: Ava Hanson, Gresham senior, 1st (35-1.5 feet); Alithia Lam Tiang, Gresham junior, 2nd (34-3); Daymiah Miller, Gresham senior, 3rd (30-11 PR).
• Girls Javelin: Madi Andrews, Nelson sophomore, 1st (112-6 feet); Ava Hanson, Gresham senior, 2nd (108-1); Alithia Lam Tiang, Gresham junior, 3rd (104-5).
• Girls High Jump: Ja’lan Abdullah, David Douglas sophomore, 1st (1.52 meters PR); Gabrielle Hill, Nelson junior, 2nd (1.52); Addison Patton, Clackamas junior, 3rd (1.47).
• Girls Long Jump: Rachel Hardy, Nelson senior, 1st (17-1 feet); Ava-Lane Floyd, Nelson freshman, 2nd (17-0.5); Alexus Hudson-Williams, Reynolds sophomore, 3rd (16-10 PR).
• Boys 3000: Finn Briscoe, Central Catholic junior, 1st (8:43.46 PR); Kai Miles, Nelson senior, 2nd (8:44.90 PR); Mason Hawkins, Central Catholic junior, 3rd (8:45.63 PR).
• Girls 3000: Zoe Rector, Central Catholic senior, 1st (10:53.32); Susan Mcgaughey, Sandy senior, 2nd (11:12.19 PR); Madeline Pizzuti, Nelson senior, 3rd (11:25.86).

For a full list of results, visit athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/521874/results.