‘I can’t let my team down.’ Adam Maxwell’s lean the difference as West Linn edges Lincoln in thrilling finish to Boys 4x400 at Jesuit Twilight Relays

“We just ran this amazing race, and so getting everything I could, I dove over the line practically. But we came out on top, and that’s all that matters.”

By René Ferrán | Photo by Taylor Balkom  

With a title on the line, Adam Maxwell was willing to put a little skin in the game in Friday’s final race at the Jesuit Twilight Relays. 

The West Linn senior anchored the 1,600-meter relay team to victory, diving across the finish line to outlean Lincoln’s Enrico Ganz by five-hundredths of a second, winning in 3 minutes, 26.67 seconds.

Maxwell powered his way past Eagle’s Brody Tomlinson to take the lead early on the final lap. As he entered the final straightaway, on came Ganz, furiously moving up from sixth place to sidle up alongside Maxwell. 

“It was so crazy,” Maxwell said. “I knew I couldn’t wait on (Tomlinson), so I passed him, and I just tried holding my lead as long as I could. Then, in my peripheral, I see Lincoln, and I hear them say that they’re getting in front of me.

“I was like, ‘I can’t let my team down.’ We just ran this amazing race, and so getting everything I could, I dove over the line practically. But we came out on top, and that’s all that matters.” 

A week ago, the Lions were the top in-state team at the Oregon Relays, placing third behind Wilson of Long Beach, Calif., and Boise. Coupled with Friday’s win, these two results establish West Linn as a slight favorite among a host of contenders that could win a Class 6A state title in three weeks at Hayward Field.

“We’re just going to keep pushing and keep improving,” Maxwell said. “It’s going to be great.” 

The Cardinals’ close call was their second of the meet for the Ganz twins, Enrico and Antony. They were part of the 4x200 relay team that lost by seven-hundredths of a second to Tualatin, but they later ran the final two legs of their victorious 4x100 team. 

Boys 4x400 Relay Podium

1, West Linn (Quentin Robinson, Cavan Mikami, Parker Sullivan, Adam Maxwell), 3:26.67.

2, Lincoln (Antony Ganz, Aiden Smith, Finn Chamberlain, Enrico Ganz), 3:26.72a.

3, Summit (Jake Bernardi, Fisher Fraley, Boden Coker, Max Anders), 3:26.94.

4, Eagle (Idaho) (Crayton Reese, Charles Fales, Lukas Teuwsen, Brody Tomlinson), 3:26.96.

5, Tualatin (Marcus Ludes, Noah Ogoli, Joshua Tedlock, Alex Smith), 3:27.34.

6, Catlin Gabel (Malcolm Grant, Joshua Widdows, Jackson George, Mike Hart), 3:28.59.

7, Sunset (Chase Limbocker, Jackson Vande Zandschulp, Avery Cesar, Benjamin Balazs), 3:28.79.

8, Central Catholic (Edrees Jackson, Xavier Simpson, Wesley Shipsey, Stryder Todd-Fields), 3:29.16.

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