Yul Provancha (1982) - Track

Long-time track and field coach Dwight Cranston has seen his share of amazing athletes. He's seen record-breakers as well as state champions. But when Yul Provancha landed on the R.A. Long campus his senior year (1981-82), Cranston took notice.  "Yul was probably the best all-around track athlete I ever coached in my 39 years," Cranston said. "He had a lot of talent for a lot of things."  At R.A. Long, Yul excelled in every event Cranston entered him in - high hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump, 800, 400 and 1600 relay.  He even starred in one that Cranston didn't put him.  "During one meet, Yul was high jumping for me and he saw there was an open lane in the 200. This was in the middle of the season and he had never run it," Cranston continued. "So Yul runs it without starting blocks and wins."  At state, Cranston entered him in the 800 and 1600 relay. The senior took third in the 800, but saved his best for the relay.  "When he got the baton, we were in fourth place," Cranston recalled. "He exploded from fourth to first to claim the state crown with Tim Roberts, Chris Nolden and Ken Dockery.  Yul's journey of excellence began in Moscow, Idaho where he turned tail and ran away from most of the competition as a sophomore. He spent his junior year across the Columbia at Rainier where he captured the Class AA 5,000 meter state title.  As impressive as Yul's performances before R.A. Long were, his efforts post-RAL were just as dramatic. At Clackamas Community College in 1984, he placed second overall in the 800 to earn All-American honors. From there he headed to the deep south – Auburn University in Alabama.  On the big stage in the Southeastern Conference, Yul established Auburn school records in the 1,000-yard and 1,000-meters. Those performances put him on the national All-American team.  Yul received a BS in Economics at Clackamas, a BS in Education from Auburn, a BS in Education and a Masters in Education from Western Oregon University.  He was named Coach of the Year for the Gulf South Conference, coaching Cross Country and track & field while at Troy State University.  Yul spent several years teaching at the high school level in Regis, Oregon.  In 2001 Yul went back to college at Portland State and received his Administration Certification in 2005.  He has been actively involved at the Administration level in several Oregon school districts, over the last several years.  Yul, who owns nine properties, has been in the rental business for 25 years.  He married Mary in 1991 and they have three children - Kelsie, Carliee and Landis.