Newport’s Bokuro wins two titles at OSAA Class 4A track championships

Newport High School senior Aaidyn Bokuro is quick to point out he is a basketball player who just happens to do track.

Bokuro was the Oregon Class 4A basketball player of the year this winter and is headed to the University of Redlands. But he added to his resumé by winning his second triple jump title Friday at the Oregon School Activities Association track and field championships in Eugene and surprising even himself by winning the long jump Saturday.

“Yeah, that felt good because these past three years, I’ve made it, but I’ve always done bad,” said Bokuro, who finished 13th, 13th and 12th in his previous appearances but jumped a personal-best 22-9.25 (6.94) to earn the win. “So, this year, to finally break that curse felt amazing.”

The triple jump has always been Bokuro’s better event, one he started as a freshman because his mother wanted him to pick up a second sport.

When he placed second at state that year, he stuck with it, and he felt relaxed despite coming in as the defending champion, jumping a personal-best 46-11.75 (14.32) in the third round that moved him to fifth on the all-time 4A list.

“All year, I haven’t really been able to prep for this,” Bokuro told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “But this week, I was able to lock in. Just be in my own head, don’t let any distractions get in, and just do what I do.”

The Newport boys team tied for ninth in the state championship with 27 points. Henley was first with 97.5 points.

— Rene Ferran/The Oregonian/OregonLive