When they were growing up in Oregon, neither Micah Williams nor Jaida Ross had many role models to look up to from their home state.
Williams was raised in Portland, and the closest he can remember as an in-state sprinting star was Ryan Bailey out of Salem. When Ross was coming up as a thrower from Medford, she looked up to Michelle Carter, a shot put luminary no doubt, but a graduate of Texas.
Some years from now, there may be a sprinter from Portland or a thrower from Southern Oregon who can indeed claim an Oregonian as a track and field role model.