All-Region boys track and field: Daniel Maton, Camas

Among a family of elite runners with storied pasts, Daniel Maton stands out by putting his own spin on racing.

Everyone in his immediate family features different race styles and strategies, Maton said, from parents, Jim and Michelle, each winning NCAA distance titles in college in 1988, to siblings Ashley and Matthew, Oregon high school state champions who ran for the Oregon Ducks.

And Maton, The Columbian’s All-Region boys track and field athlete of the year, sets himself apart through smarts and wits.

“I kind of made it my own style of racing,” he said. “I’m more of a racer than a time-chaser.”

Racing, winning, and meeting lofty expectations each time stepping foot on the track is what Maton did throughout his four years at Camas High School. He won a combined eight state titles with six coming individually as a three-time Class 4A state champion in the 800 and 1,600 meters. He also won a state title last month as part of Camas’ 4×400 relay team, and helped the program share a team title in 2017.

The All-Region award is Maton’s second. He won it in 2017 as a sophomore when, at 16, he surprised himself and others by doubling up as 4A’s 800 and 1,600 champion at Mount Tahoma Stadium.

As it turned out, it was the beginning of Maton’s owned storied path to success.

No runner in Washington accomplished what Maton did at the 4A state meet last month. When he won the 800 and 1,600 races for a third time, including running the nation’s best 1,600 time in 4 minutes, 6.04 seconds, he became the state’s inaugural three-event champion in both races, according to historical data kept by washingtontrack.com.

Maton never set out to make history, but credits consistency in training from early-morning runs to afternoon workouts that got him to where is today. He averages 75 miles per week.

“If you do that every day,” Maton said, “you develop a strong desire to win after you do it for long. That’s when you get on the track and you feel prepared enough and have the motivation. It’s fun.”

But motivation came from another factor. Placing 24th at state cross country last fall a year after a dramatic second-place diving finish fueled Maton’s fire to return to the track and prove he’s a winner.

His nation-leading 1,600 time at last month’s 4A state track and field meet was a personal-best, and two days later after cruising in 800 preliminaries, Maton won the final by 15 meters. A few hours later, he ran the anchor leg in the Papermakers’ title-winning 4×400 relay, catching Enumclaw’s Kale Engebretsen with 50 meters left to go.

Like his siblings, Maton will compete in the Pacific-12 Conference, but run both track and cross country at the University of Washington.

To be an eight-time high school state champion, Maton showed what it takes using his own style and strategy.

“You have to be smart about it,” he said, “but be willing to put in a lot of time and effort.”

All-Region Boys Track & Field Team

Alex Bishop, Woodland

2A state runner-up in the high jump (6-6) leaves as school record holder in the event.

Nolan Mickenham, Prairie

3A District 100, 200 champion ran top-5 finishes at 3A state meet, and also anchored 4×100 relay to state runner-up.

Kyle Radosevich, Ridgefield

Ran a school-record 9:16.42 to place second at 2A state meet. Also finished XX at state in 1,600.

Trent Thompson, Battle Ground

4A District javelin champion was one of the state’s top throwers all spring, and placed third at state (191-4).

Levi Williams, Columbia River

2A state pole vault champion had the classification’s best vault this spring (14-6).