Ellery Lincoln sweeps distance events, breaks 1500 meter meet record to lead Lincoln track and field

When scouring through the United States' 2026 comprehensive track and field season top lists, there's something fascinating to behold.

Among the dozens of grown women, which include American record holders, Olympians, a World Championship gold medalist, multiple USA national champions — who belong to clubs and brands such as Adidas, New Balance, Saucony, Brooks, Puma, Lululemon, and NikeSwoosh — sits a high school junior.

I'm sure you know who I'm talking about.

Considering the stratosphere she's entered, it shocked absolutely nobody to see Lincoln High School's Ellery Lincoln sweep the girls 6A 3000- and 1500 meter races at the OSAA track and field state championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, though she certainly added some flair.

After winning the 3000 meters on Friday morning by almost 17 seconds in a time of 9 minutes, 30.41 seconds, she broke the 1500 meter meet record on Saturday, May 30, by over five seconds, winning the race by over 12 seconds, clocking in at 4:18.83.

Though she was well off her personal bests in both events (4:12.16 & 9:06.61), others benefited, Lincoln essentially working as an unofficial pacemaker for the rest of the field. In the 3000 meters, five of the seven other podium finishers recorded personal bests, while six of the top seven in the 1500 meters achieved the same feat.

"It's kind of fun to put on a show for a home crowd or my future home track," Lincoln, who's committed to the University of Oregon, said after her 1500. "I've had to do a lot of front running during the regular season, which is really great for building different kinds of tools."

“(With the) mindset of shooting (for the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships), we thought this would be a cool opportunity to really focus on that last lap,” Lincoln continued. “That last lap, just focusing on every 100 (meters), kind of hitting a new gear, practicing for that championship racing.”

Senior teammate Elyse Henriksen made her presence felt in the distance events as well, taking third and eighth in the 3000- and 1500, respectively, running times of 9:56.83 and 4:40.99.

Lincoln made one final podium appearance as she, along with Rosie Gross, Matilda Hof and Kelsey Hill, capped the night with a second-place finish in the 4x400 relay, crossing in 3:56.35.

Hill, a junior, also finished eighth in the 100-meter hurdles, registering a time of 20.06. She set a personal best of 44.82 in the 300-meter hurdles en route to a third-place finish. Junior Eva Keenan joined her, running 46.78 to make the podium at eighth. Meanwhile, Hof, only a freshman, finished eighth in the 800 meters in 2:20.56. On the field, junior Emerson Pitzer threw 110 feet in the javelin to land eighth on the podium.

The girls' combined efforts resulted in 45 team points, good enough to take home a fourth-place trophy.

“The Matilda Hoff’s making the final of the 800, Eva Keenan making the final of the 300 hurdles, it’s all those kids (who help win a trophy),” Lincoln head coach Eric Dettman said. “I don’t know that there’s necessarily one (girl) that overshadows another, but it’s all of them coming together for the same goal.”

On the boys' side, however, there wasn't quite the same success, as the team totaled 20 points and tied for 13th. Seven individuals scored points, highlighted by junior Greyson Murff's second-place finish in the discus with a throw of 167-07. Teammate Cameron Mirzakhalili joined Murff at sixth, throwing 152-03.

Junior Peter James finished eighth in the 1500 meters in 3:56.42. Senior Joshua Prince ran 1:56.23 to finish seventh in the 800 meters. Fellow senior Nicholas Ranalli finished fourth in the 400 meters in 48.61. In the high jump, senior Harlan Novy-Marx cleared 6-02.25 to take eighth, while sophomore Matvey Klebleev rounded out scoring, finishing eighth in the pole vault at 12-11.75.

"We had some high hopes, and we didn’t necessarily reach those, but that’s sports sometimes, and I think that’s what makes sports so special," Dettman said. "It’s not necessarily the outcome that you’re striving for, but it’s all the things you’re willing to do to get there. And these kids are willing to do that every single day, and that’s what makes you so proud about this group.”