BILLINGS — If it appears like individuals have seen Manhattan Christian's Oren Arthun on the Class C podium for years, that's as a result of they’ve.
The three-time cross nation champion additionally has three state titles in monitor (one within the 1,600 meters and two within the 3,200). These are accompanied by 5 runner-up finishes within the 800 to 3200 over the previous three seasons. The truth is, he by no means completed decrease than second at any of these on the state meet. Along with the relays, he and his teammates gained eight straight cross nation titles and likewise added the primary monitor and area crew championship at school historical past final season.
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He'll have one final likelihood so as to add to that this week on the state meet in Nice Falls.
“It's the identical mentality it doesn’t matter what the result is, if we win a state championship or I win three particular person championships or heck if I don't win any, it's only a results of blessings,” Arthun mentioned. earlier this season.
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“That is one for the report books. I'll be speaking about it for a very long time,” Manhattan Christian coach Nate TeSlaa mentioned.
Arthun is aware of this is only one chapter in his profession after committing to NCAA Division II Harding College in Arkansas. He's centered on preparing for that — beginning with the indoor monitor season and persevering with to work towards a time when his future faculty coaches are in search of him to hit them with a watch towards a couple of summer time meets, albeit after stateside.
He broke his PR 3 times this season within the 3,200 and leads Class C in each that and the 1,600. Arthun additionally holds the college information in each.
“It units me up for the long run,” Arthun mentioned.
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Whereas he mentioned he runs a variety of miles solo, it helped that former Eagle runner Ben Morrison, who he additionally ran with, was again. Morrison competes for the College of Sioux Falls.
“It was actually good to satisfy you, not solely as an escape, however our religion is related,” Arthun mentioned. “It's at all times good conversations, but additionally actually good exercises and it's on the faculty degree as properly.” So subsequent 12 months I'm going to take one other step and it's like I form of perceive it.”
He selected Harding for each the crew and his most well-liked theology main.
“Somebody instructed me that after I visited, it was like, 'Faculty is a spot the place it's going to be okay in case you're not at dwelling, after which in the future, hopefully, you'll have a future dwelling elsewhere,'” Arthun mentioned.
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He seems to be ahead to the problem, together with ending his highschool profession.
“This 12 months's state is not going to be simple. Class C is the quickest in a very long time,” mentioned Arthun.
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The highest 10 marks in every occasion earned by Montana highschool monitor and area athletes this season.
State information can solely be set on the state monitor, however the two-time defending 3,200 champion has a present season excessive of 9 minutes, 28.95 seconds. It’s simply off the C Grade boys' 1999 mark of 9:29.22, though the English distance report of 9:24.0 nonetheless stands from 1975.
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Within the C 800 and 1600 class, Arthun and his teammate Shaphan Hubner lead one of the best instances of the season. Hubner is the defending champion in each distances after Hubner cleared 1,600 x .01 finally 12 months's state meet.
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After an nearly three-hour delay simply earlier than the ultimate relays, the champions lastly earned their trophies.
That crew depth and energy got here in helpful final week when Arthun got here down with the flu on Wednesday and was unable to run till Saturday, the ultimate day of the Western C Divisional meet in Missoula.
“I felt like a burden at this level,” Arthun mentioned.
Teammates stepped as much as modify, nonetheless, and the Eagles gained the Western C championship in a crew scoring race that got here right down to the ultimate 4×400 relay, which featured rearranged formations and even a dropped baton, however they pulled by to win by simply six factors. over Drummond.
“It's a luxurious to have teammates, but additionally an optimism,” Arthun mentioned.
That crew extends to his coaches, which embody his mom, Laura.
“It's not such as you get to hug your dad and mom after the race, however you get to go hug your coach and it's at all times such a blessing,” Arthun mentioned. “He trains you in stuff you is likely to be good at.
This data comes from private expertise as Arthun comes from a household with a number of state champions. Each of his dad and mom gained at Absarokee after competing for his grandfather within the hurdles and his mom held the Class C state report within the pole vault. Older sister Alexa turned a hurdler and pole vaulter for the Naval Academy after successful state titles for Manhattan.
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However as an alternative of competing in the identical occasions, he solid his personal path in distance competitions. Within the fourth grade, he began cross-country snowboarding at his mom's suggestion, after which he turned fascinated by its progress.
“The household joke is that I haven't been cooking lengthy sufficient,” mentioned Arthun, who was born prematurely. “I didn't develop lengthy sufficient to be a hurdler.
However their affect continues to be there as he approaches the ultimate meet of his highschool profession.
“I keep in mind my dad speaking about it on the state meet, simply strolling down the monitor and simply, , benefiting from that second at his final meet in highschool, and I might need to begin with that,” Arthun mentioned.
Take into account it one other merchandise so as to add to your bucket record throughout the whirlwind of graduating highschool.
