Girls finish XC season at State

Charlie Kanzig

Brooklyn Liddell ran hard for the Outlaws in State competition.

The Sisters girls cross-country team completed its surprising season with an eighth-place finish at the OSAA 4A Championships, held Saturday, November 6, at Lane Community College in Eugene.

At the outset of the fall, the Outlaws faced a numbers crisis. There were barely enough girls to field a complete varsity team, but little by little things improved to the point of qualifying for the State meet.

“I give these girls a lot of credit and their finishing second at District and making it to State was a major accomplishment,” said Coach Charlie Kanzig.

The lack of experience and depth hurt the Outlaws’ chances of a top finish at State, however, according to Kanzig.

“Though the new girls improved tremendously during the year, the time gap between our first and fifth runners made it hard to go head-to-head with the teams with more depth,” he said.

Returning runners Ella Bartlett (20:50), Sasha Stolasz (21:15), and Brooklyn Liddell (21:25) placed 20th, 29th, and 34th respectively for the Outlaws. Junior twins Nevaeh (23:07) and Delaney McAffee (25:04) both ran personal bests to complete their first season.

Mae Roth (26:19) and Dulce Dunham (26:20) also competed at State for the Outlaws.

Siuslaw edged Philomath 85-86 to win the team title. Marist was next with 93, and La Grande snagged fourth place with 111 points.

Valley Catholic (120), Phoenix (139), Klamath Union (161), Sisters (184), Baker (199), Tillamook (244), Estacada (268), and Corbett (347) rounded out the leader board.

Emily Tubbs, a sophomore from La Grande, won the individual title in 19:04.

Ella Thorsett of Sisters placed sixth at the 6A State meet to lead the Summit Storm to its 13th consecutive state title by just three points over Jesuit High School. Thorsett, a junior who won the State 4A title as a freshman and placed second last year, clocked 18:02 for the 5,000-meter course.

Coach Kanzig has high hopes for the Outlaws going forward.

“While we will miss our two seniors, Sasha and Brookyn, tremendously, we look forward to next year already with hope to add to our numbers and continue our strong cross-country tradition at Sisters High School,” said Kanzig.