Long Creek track and field athlete Fernando Rodriguez stands with coach, and host mom, Linda Studtmann at the OSAA Track and Field State Championships in Eugene.

EUGENE — Long Creek track and field athlete Fernando Rodriguez made an exciting, and surprising, run at state.

Rodriguez, a foreign exchange student from Spain, finished sixth at state in 1A high jump, clearing the bar at 5-10 and achieving a personal record.

This is the first time in about 10 years a Long Creek athlete made it to state.

Competing with a wild card, Rodriguez found out just two days before the May 19-20 OSAA Track and Field State Championships that he would be included in the event.

He said, at the beginning of the season, he wasn’t sure he liked track and field.

“The coach and team said set some goals and practice with us,” he said. “I tried the events — long jump, triple jump, high jump.”

He said he enjoyed the state championship experience.

“It was really cool, and big and very professional,” he said. “I’m very glad I went there.”

Head coach Linda Studtmann said she had a learning curve as first-time head coach.

“I learned right along with the kids,” she said. “I appreciate all the effort they put into their events, and am proud of how well they all did. Every week we would have several kids PR in at least one event. They all showed steady progress in learning and improving their techniques.”

Studtmann said she knew how much Rodriguez wanted to make it to state.

“I count it a privilege to have been his coach — and host mom — this year and accompany him to his sixth-place finish at state,” she said.