Titans stars jump to next level

Ten Lane track standouts have signed National Letters of Intent with four-year schools

In one of the greatest seasons in school history, the Lane track and field program repeated as Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges champions on both the men’s and women’s sides. Sparked by 11 individual champions, and 25 All-Americans, the 2014 Titans sophomores were the first group since 1997 to contribute to back-to-back championships. Leading Lane’s championship run were ten athletes who are transferring to four-year schools, all of which are Division II or higher. “Without a doubt, in my 16 years, we have never had this many athletes move on to the next level,” Lane head coach Grady O’Connor said. “It speaks volumes to our assistant coaches and their hard work, and it speaks to our institution and our support staff. I’m obviously biased, but it goes down in my book as the best sophomore class in Lane history.” The Titans featured seven sophomore pole vaulters who earned All-American honors a combined ten times in their respective careers. Four of those vaulters, Zach Olivera, Erik Jorgensen, Anna Jensen and Janelle Noga have signed National Letters of Intent at NCAA Division I schools. Sophomore throwers Madison Seamen and Leah Wilson have also committed to NCAA Division I schools.

Two members of Lane’s record-breaking relay team, Jahzelle Ambus (Seattle Pacific University) and Macaulay Wilson (Oregon State University), have chosen to remain in the Northwest, and heptathlete Kara Hallock will join Wilson at OSU. Hallock and Wilson will accompany former Lane sprinter Allie Church as Titans who have committed to the Beavers’ upstart track program, which was reinstated in 2012. Wilson will attend as a walk-on, and pole-vaulter Kayla Vasquez will attend at California State University Chico as a walk-on.

Courtesy The Torch | in Sports, Track and Field | by Jarrid Denney