The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The Outlaws boys cross-country team took full advantage of competing at the home course on the school fields and forests behind the high school, on the way to winning the team title in the third annual Clash in the Cascades Invitational on Thursday, October 13.

The 15-team meet included schools from all over Central Oregon, and some from the Willamette Valley.

All of the Outlaws’ scorers placed within the top 22, giving the team a 14-point margin over runner-up 5A Crook County 64-78. Cottage Grove finished third (81) and Caldera fourth (87).

After taking an early lead, Hayden Roth held on to fifth place to lead the Outlaws over the 5,000-meter course in 18:06. Cole Jervis moved up in the second half of the race to finish seventh in his best performance of the season at 18:15. Spencer Tisdel came through in 19:01 for 13th place, and was followed by freshman Ace Chew in 17th (19:17). John Berg rounded out the scoring for Sisters in 22nd (19:38).

Eli Palanuk finished sixth for the team in 21:28.

The course, consisting of some heavy grass and dusty trails, resulted in slow times. The winner, Jaden Owens of Cottage Grove, clocked 17:10, nearly a minute slower than his personal best.

“The boys are coming together as a group just at the right time with two weeks to go until District,” said Coach Charlie Kanzig. “Staying healthy and keeping our eyes on the prize is the goal for the rest of the season.”

The mid-season coaches’ poll has Sisters ranked fifth among 3A boys teams behind Siuslaw, Valley Catholic, Oregon Episcopal, and Santiam Christian.

“If we can stick together, I believe we can live up to that ranking,” said Kanzig. “Enterprise, last year’s state champions, are coming on late in the season, and can’t be ignored.”

On the girls side, Ella Bartlett won her very first varsity race in cross-country, leading throughout the race to win in 20:50. Sydney White of Burns took second in 20:56.

“Ella ran with great poise and confidence,” said Kanzig. “She has had a very strong season and is one of the top ten 3A/2A/1A runners in Oregon.

Freshman Brooke Duey had another strong outing herself, finishing in seventh place in a quality field of runners (21:39).

Delaney McAfee (25:47), Freja Pederson (27:03), and Mae Roth (27:23) scored for the Outlaws, who finished fifth in the team standings among eight complete teams.

Sisters was without number-three runner Nevaeh McAfee due to injury.

Philomath, the top-ranked 4A team, ran with only half of its varsity team, showing its depth by still capturing the team title with 64 points over Burns (72), Crook County (86), and Caldera (90).

JACK TURPEN

Ella Bartlett won her first varsity race in cross-country last week.

The Sisters girls have their work cut out for them heading into the 3A/2A/1A district meet as five teams from Special District 3 rank in the top 10. Enterprise, Union, Burns, and Heppner were ranked fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth in the mid-season coaches’ poll. Sisters is rated 10th.

“We are in a similar position as last year in that the teams that come most prepared at District will be the ones to advance to State,” said Kanzig. “At least three teams from our district meet will go on to State and we will do all we can to be one of them.”

The Special District 3A boys and 3A/2A/1A girls meet is scheduled for Friday, October 28, at Pendleton Community Park starting at 2 p.m.

“It’s a new world for us; being in this classification and having to drive 250 miles to get to the meet to face all the Eastern Oregon teams will be a bit of a challenge, but we’ll be ready,” Kanzig said.