Senior Comet becomes first high schooler in nation to finish under 8 minutes this spring, now stands No. 2 in national record book

Tayvon Kitchen has proven long ago that when he slips on his running shoes, anything can happen.

The Crater senior took it to another level Friday, however, during the Class 5A track and field state championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Spurred on by an energetic crowd that was feeding off his every step in pursuit of a sub-eight-minute 3,000 meters, Kitchen accomplished just that as he broke just about every record he could with a winning time of 7 minutes, 58.92 seconds.

Making it even more astounding, the BYU-bound Kitchen essentially ran by himself, without the benefit of a contending push to further stoke the fires to become the only high school runner to eclipse eight minutes this season in the 3,000.

Caldera’s Mason Morical finished a distant second in 8:20.42 and was followed by Central’s Ty Cirino in 8:21.04. Crater’s Ivar Hokanson placed sixth with a personal record time of 8:29.90.

“He was out there by himself the whole race. It’s crazy, he went through at a 4:15 mile and held on,” said Crater head coach Justin Loftus, whose particular specialty is guiding distance runners — and many of the best the state has ever seen. “It was a really good field today, too, even though he won by over 20 seconds.”

“It’s nothing I’ve seen before, soloing something that fast,” added Loftus. “We basically showed him that it was possible in the offseason when he was running against pros and college kids, and he did it today by himself. I think he’s got more, too.”

Kitchen’s time not only bested his own state record of 8:01.56 and is the No. 1 time among high schoolers in 2025, it also stands No. 2 all-time in the national record book to Drew Griffith of Pennsylvania (7:58.66, set in 2024).

Earlier this year, Kitchen ran 7:55.48 at the Dempsey Indoor Facility in Seattle as part of the Husky Classic, which featured collegiate and elite high school athletes. That result marked the fastest 3,000 meters ever for a high school boy (indoors or outdoors), and broke the previous American record by more than one second.

Friday’s effort also came on the 50th anniversary of Steve Prefontaine’s death, making it that much more special for Kitchen to kick his way to a record time in the same Eugene area that the legendary distance runner made his name.

Kitchen was without his usual running mate in senior teammate Josiah Tostenson, who has chosen to double in the 800 and 1,500 this spring and carries his own prestigious national resume. Both Crater stars expect to lead the field for a tremendous high school career sendoff in Saturday’s 1,500, but Friday was all about Kitchen and his own special abilities.

“He’s got the race (Saturday in the 1,500), but this was his chance today,” said Loftus, “and it was something special, for sure.”

Kitchen was far from alone in putting together a strong outing on the opening day of state competition for Class 6A, 5A and 4A track athletes.

In the 5A girls 3,000-meter run, Crater sophomore Brynn Davenport placed a close second to Crescent Valley senior Emily Wisniewski, who earned her fourth state title in the event to go with her four individual cross country titles. Wisniewski finished in 9:39.35, while Davenport posted a PR of 9:43.31 that set a Crater record by 15 seconds over the standard set by Gracie Tostenson in 2014 (9:58.38).

“It’s pretty big shoes to beat there as well,” said Loftus, “so that was pretty big for Brynn.”

Ashland’s Natalie Kupka placed fifth in the 3,000 (10:08.10) and Crater’s Mari Dunlap was 13th (10:26.30).

In the 5A girls high jump, Crater junior Claire Davenport battled through a quadriceps issue to finish runner-up to Centennial’s Alana Allen, who won in 5-4.25. Davenport checked out with a leap of 5-0.5, which is about five inches shy of her personal best of 5-5 set during this year’s Medford Rotary Relays.

Crater junior Grace Mattos set a PR of 111-6 to finish ninth in the 5A girls javelin, and Alexis Bakke was 16th (99-0).

Eagle Point’s Kadin Anthony placed sixth in the 5A boys shot put (47-6.25), while five locals finished in the top 18 of the 5A boys long jump.

District champion Dakota Lynch of Crater was two feet under his winning effort from a week ago in finishing 16th (19-6.25), while Eagle Point’s Kane Clark rose to the forefront by placing 10th at 19-11.5. Kai Mathewson of Crater (12th, 19-8.25), Corbin Farquhar of Eagle Point (14th, 19-7.5) and Eli Hamann of Eagle Point (18th, 19-5.5) also competed.

The Eagle Point boys 5A team trophy hopes took a hit when district champion Logan Brown took a no-distance in the boys discus.

In the 6A meet, North Medford’s Paije Carpenter placed ninth in the girls javelin (116-5), and Everett Cam was 16th in the boys shot put (41-6).

At the 4A level, Phoenix’s Elias Islas placed fifth in the boys discus with a PR of 144-4, and teammate Angelo Thom was 10th at 134-10.

Reach sports editor Kris Henry at kris.henry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035