The story of how Revac Banfield, Columbia River High’s standout sprinter, became the school’s first state champion at 100 and 200 meters didn’t begin this season.
Banfield points to the moment after the 2023 state track and field championships in Tacoma — capping his first year in track and field — when he returned to the school’s parking lot with coaches and teammates. Before family picked him up, the teenager walked to the track at John O’Rourke Field, paused, and made a big decision.
He wanted greatness.
“I realized (track and field) is what I like,” Banfield said. “This is my thing. I like doing this, and I wanted to keep working at it.
“I eventually came to the realization that I want to be the athlete I want to be.”
Banfield, The Columbian’s All-Region boys track and field athlete of the year, grew up dreaming of reaching the NBA. Not a track athlete who now is River’s school record holder at 100 meters (10.54 seconds), has two Class 2A individual sprints titles and helped the school win its first boys track and field team title.
So, after making the boys basketball junior varsity roster for a third year last winter, Banfield shifted full-time focus to track and field. He already was a different sprinter physically and mentally by the time the 2024 season began in late February. He credits work with a personal trainer and a new-found 100 percent all-in attitude.
“I had to start actually committing to things and put forth more effort than I usually do,” the junior said. “Track is one of the first things I’ve ever actually committed to, and I put more effort into that than anything I’ve ever done.”
The results were instant. He went undefeated in the 100 and 200 in all but one meet — the prestigious Oregon Relays as Historic Hayward Field — and both personal-best times ranked in the top-10 across all classifications.
In the postseason, Banfield found a new gear: grit. A quadriceps injury over the final two meets kept Banfield not at 100 percent.
At state last weekend, he estimated his quad was at 50 percent when racing six times over 24 hours between preliminary heats and finals in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay.
Despite steady head-winds Saturday, Banfield won the 100 (11.26), 200 (21.97) and anchored River’s relay to a school-record time (42.22) placing third.
In fact, his grit shined most in the 200 final. River and Anacortes were neck-and-neck in the team-title chase, and Banfield’s 200 was the final event with a River participant.
Banfield knew it, too, which is why he had a team-first approach when he stepped into the blocks. Reflecting on River’s historic weekend, a team title is what he’s proud of most.
“All of those guys out there,” Banfield said, “it was so, so hyped. I felt happy for them.
“I’m more happy and excited and thrilled about the fact that we won. It’s even cooler, because I think we can do it again.”
ALL-REGION TEAM
Boys track and field athlete of the year: Revac Banfield, Columbia River
Rest of the All-Region team:
Josiah Alanis, Evergreen: Junior set a 3A state meet record to win long jump title (24-1) in second year of track and field.
Joe Callerame, Seton Catholic: Saved his best for last by throwing a lifetime-best 184-3 in the javelin to place fourth at 1A state meet.
Will Foster, Prairie: Junior won the 3A shot put state title with an all-classification-best (59-7.75). Also finished second at state in the discus (177-3).
Ethan Linerud, Camas: Broke Camas’ discus school record (172-7) to win the 4A state title. School’s first boys discus champion in 22 years.
Chase McGee, Camas: Won 4A pole vault state title clearing 16-6, a height tied for third-best all-time at state across all classifications.
Jacob McManus, Columbia River: Set personal-best times at the 2A state meet with a pair of runner-up finishes in the 1,600 (4:11.10) and 3,200 (9:06.80).
Juan Pasillas-Stanton, Mountain View: Finished runner-up at 3A state meet in the state shot put (59-6). Had the state’s second-best mark in all classifications.
Davis Sullivan, Ridgefield: Placed eighth at 2A state meet in the 800 (1:57.47). Time achieved in state prelims ranks tops in region (1:57.12).
Adam Williams, Hudson’s Bay: League, district champion at 400 meters placed fourth at 2A state meet with first sub-50-second time (49.85).
Koynn Williamdyke, R.A. Long: Captured 2A 300 hurdles state title (39.75). One of four 2A hurdlers statewide with sub-40-second times.
Tucker Wyninger, Stevenson: No 1A pole vaulter matched the senior’s top height of 14-6. Won 1A state title and placed eighth in 110 hurdles.
