ATHENA — Wyatt Parsons got offers to run track from numerous colleges, even some from out of state, but the Weston-McEwen speedster chose Mt. Hood Community College — one of the few Oregon schools that did not extend an offer.

“Mt. Hood was one of the only schools that didn’t reach out to me,” Parsons said. “My coach (W-M assistant Matt Wiseman) recommended them, so I reached out to their coach (Fernando Fantroy). The second I reached out, coach Fantroy got back to me and said he’d like to have me. I really like him as a person. He is a nice guy and is funny. I went for a visit and I liked everything there.”

Mt. Hood, located in Gresham, has a newly resurfaced track. The Saints will host the 2027 NWAC men’s and women’s track and field championships.

Parsons said he received offers from bigger schools, but he didn’t want the price tag.

“Going to a bigger school would have cost me a lot more money,” he said. “If I would have gone to EOU (Eastern Oregon University) or Portland State, it would have cost me more. I’d be getting calls every day from schools that wanted me, some were out of state. I didn’t want to go D3. Community college seemed like a perfect fit, budget friendly, and there are great athletes.”

When it comes down to it, Parsons is worth every penny of his scholarship.

Parsons won three gold medals at the 2A state championships in May, and helped the TigerScots to the boys team title — their first since 2017.

Parsons opened championship day on the track as he and the rest of the Weston-McEwen 4×100 relay team — Tristan Weseman, Logan Ray and Colby Perkins — turned in a time of 43.15 seconds to win the event and better their own school record.

Parsons, who ran the anchor leg, was a couple of steps behind two runners when he received the baton, but was a full step ahead of Columbia Christian’s Jasper Zapp when he crossed the finish line. 

After finishing second in the event at the Special District 4 Championships the week before to Culver, Parsons said that wasn’t going to happen again.

“I enjoy the pressure that the team puts on me,” he said. “They rely on me. I told them ‘if you guys give me a little bit more at state, I can do it.’ I’m too competitive to lose something like that.”

Parsons followed with a title in the 100 meters, running a state record 10.83 seconds, surpassing his own record of 10.89 that he ran in the prelims. Zapp was second in 11.12 as Parsons was the only runner under 11 seconds.

In the 200, he claimed the title with a state record time of 21.98 seconds. The previous record of 21.99 belonged to Nevin Lewis of Culver, set in 2009. It’s the first time Parsons had run under 22 seconds.

“That was exciting especially since I ran a 22.00 twice and it was a relief when I looked up at saw 21.99 (in the prelims),” Parsons said.

Parsons also added a fourth-place finish in the long jump at state (20-8), but that is not one of the events Mt. Hood would like him to compete in.

“He (Fantroy) wants me to do the 100, 200, 4×100 and 4×400,” Parsons said. “The 4×400 team was competitive last year and they only lost one guy. We should be one of the best in the NWAC.”

Parson never lost a race in the 100 meters all season. In 13 races, he ran under 11 seconds 11 times.

Early in the season, he ran a 10.87 at the Buck Track Classic, besting Pendleton’s Ben Hopkins (11.03), and ran a 22.29 to win the 200, just a whisker in front of Pendleton’s John Thatcher (22.30) and Hopkins (22.39).

“It was so much fun running against Ben and John,” Parsons said.

Parson’s made big strides from last year to this spring.

He was second at state last year in the 100, and ran under 11 seconds just twice. He was eighth in the 200 (23.40), he won the long jump (21-2 1/2) and the 4×100 relay was disqualified in the finals.

“Up until this year, I didn’t put in as much work as I should have,” Parsons said. “This year, I really kicked it up, especially since the loss at state last year in the 100 (to Oli Beauregard of Delphian). “He was younger than me and he ran my PR. I came in No. 1 and lost in the finals. It flipped a switch for me. I ran all winter. I was running around the middle school and going to the weight room with my coach. Putting in that extra effort in the offseason paid off.”

Parsons is confident he can shave even more time off when he gets to college.

“I hope working with Fernando, I can get some crazy times,” he said. “There is plenty left in me. I believe coach Fernando can get everything out of me with his expertise in sprinting.”