TALENT — Ashland High distance running phenom EJ Holland announced his university desire in a maximum suitable way: on top of an impressive season debut Saturday within the Rogue XC Invitational. The senior held his arms to his chest, with thumbs and index fingers connecting to form an “O,” the famous symbol for the University of Oregon. Holland will compete for the Ducks, confirming his desire in a put-up-or-shut-up interview with Mail Tribune photographer Andy Atkinson. “I devoted to the University of Oregon ultimate week,” stated Holland, who sat out Ashland’s early-season meets to focus on training. “Go, Ducks! I’m notably excited. I can’t wait to rise there and be part of the U of O. It’s a fantastic program, and I’m extremely excited.”
However, Holland posted his selection to Instagram earlier in the week, but chose a public show on Saturday as he entered the finish chute. He patted the “A” representing Ashland on his chest, then “threw the ‘O.’” “I’m genuinely happy I can even head somewhere that has a lot of records,” Holland said in a phone interview Saturday night. “It’s an honest large deal to come back from Oregon and be able to go to Oregon. It’s an, in reality, cool factor.” He chose the Ducks over 3 different finalists: Washington, Colorado, and Northern Arizona.
“I felt like the U of O suited me the high quality,” said Holland. “It’s so close to home, and having any such running history and having a lot of aid for walking there, I felt it was simply a great place for me in such a lot of ways.” Holland captured the 000-meter race on the Colver Sports Park course in 14 minutes, 57.53 seconds. The time changed into simply 41/2 seconds off his private nice, established last fall.
“It turned into notable; it was all a laugh,” said Holland. “It changed into just a rust-buster. This is my first race. I was sort of coming in and feeling it out, getting my legs used to the pace. Some kinks to the exercise session, but typically it changed into a perfect season opener. There’s a protracted way to improve, that’s great, but it was a great place to begin for sure.”
Holland paced the Grizzlies to the group victory. They scored 35 points to runner-up Crater’s 54 and third-place South Medford’s fifty-five. In the ladies’ race, Crater senior Presley Robison cruised to the person identified in 19:50.61. She beat out runner-up Sophia Stubblefield of Phoenix, who clocked 19:fifty eight.38, and Phoenix’s Kyla Potratz, whose time changed to 20:04.61. Robison paced the Comets to the team win with forty-four factors. South Medford and Phoenix tied for second with 73 points.
“It became appropriate,” stated Robison. “It commenced out pretty rapid. The first mile changed into a sure pack.” She changed into hesitant to push to the front because “I typically don’t lead races,” she stated. “But all in all, it becomes good,” Robison brought. “It becomes a little hot out. This path is usually pretty difficult because it’s all grass and bark. Considering the occasions, I concept I did quite well.” Holland had reason to be pleased with his first race: Two years ago, he received the Rogue Invite in 16:14.7.
By dipping underneath 15 minutes, he turned nicely ahead of South Medford chasers Truett Bostwick, the runner-up in 16:20, 66, and third-place Michael Maiorano (16:24.41). Ashland and Crater are ranked Nos. 1 and the pair of coaches’ polls for the Oregon Class 5A groups. The Grizzlies, who have been staggering in a pair of huge meets without Holland, did not move all out Saturday. “We’re truly sturdy this year,” said Holland. “I’m genuinely glad about how the guys are doing. Many guys ran it as simply a kind of workout these days and ran with some other guys. We weren’t going for an excessive amount of a group-type issue. However, it became top.”
“When we’re at full pressure,” he delivered, “we’re going to be pretty tough to conquer. So I’m excited, specifically for the postseason.” Holland will be a part of a hallowed Oregon software. The Ducks commenced this cross-United States season with a national rating of eleventh. Holland enjoyed an embellished junior year and was roundly hailed as one of the top elite high school runners in the nation. He is selected for the All-USA boys ‘ track and field crew, launched by USA TODAY High School Sports and Track and Field News.
Holland won the Class 5A kingdom championship in the cross the United States of America and claimed titles in tune and discipline, putting the kingdom meet-file instances for 1,500 and 3,000 meters. He followed those achievements with personal information in high-powered invitational meets in June. His pass of a kingdom crown closing fall at Lane Community College in Eugene got here in 15:30 and came on the heels of a regular season wherein he turned unbeaten and three times breezed underneath 15 minutes.
