Considering he was among the state’s fastest high school sprinters, excuse Western Oregon University freshman Gabe Arce-Torres for winning the 400-meter dash Saturday in his first outdoor meet of the collegiate season.
The 18-year-old 2018 Taft High graduate, who was among the favorites for three Class 3A State sprint titles before being injured at the West Valley League District championships last spring, ran a personal-best 49.07 to win his debut event at the Willamette Invitational in Salem.
Arce-Torres defeated sophomore Adam Brown of Concordia College by .13 seconds.
Arce-Torres became the youngest athlete in Western Oregon University history to compete in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in early March when he ran in the distance medley relay for the Wolves in Pittsburg, Kansas.
