South Albany freshman Pharalynn Dickson makes history at 5A track state meet, winning all 3 sprints

“It’s a whole lot of mental aspect of running all these races. But I still went out there and did my best today.”

By René Ferrán 

EUGENE — South Albany freshman Pharalynn Dickson wasn’t part of the record-setting brigade that wowed the Hayward Field crowd all weekend at the OSAA track and field state championships.

What Dickson accomplished Saturday afternoon was noteworthy in its own right. She became the first 5A girl in the past 13 years to win all three sprints (no 6A girl has accomplished the feat), capping her performance by running a personal-best 25.12 seconds in the 200 meters.

“I’m feeling really good about today,” Dickson said. “The weather is nice. I’m running at my dream school. This is an awesome opportunity for me.”

Dickson had run career bests in her other two events — the 100 (12.30) and 400 (56.77) — in Friday’s prelims, and despite winning both Saturday, she expressed disappointment that she couldn’t match her times.

“I was feeling like it wasn’t my best 400, but competing yesterday had something to do with that — not just the physical aspect,” said Dickson, who went undefeated in the 400 this season. “It’s a whole lot of mental aspect of running all these races. But I still went out there and did my best today.”

To finish her sweep, Dickson had to knock off the defending 200 champion, Breanna Raven of Thurston, and the two were neck and neck coming off the curve before Dickson steadily pulled away.

“I was really happy she was in the race to push me,” Dickson said. “I’m always looking to other people for motivation.”

The previous 5A girl to win all three sprints at the same meet was Summit’s Kellie Schueler, who did it all four years she ran for the Storm (2007-10) before going to Stanford and becoming a resident physician in obstetrics and gynecology at UC San Diego.

Dickson has a long way to go before matching Schueler’s record 12 individual state titles, and plenty could happen between now and May 2026, when she would be a RedHawks senior. 

“Honestly, I didn’t really have any expectations coming into the season,” said Dickson, whose best finish at the middle school state championships was a second place in the 400. “I didn’t really think about it. I was just thinking about, what’s next for me, you know? Being this age, I can always do better.”