Track continues non-league season

Pre-season track is a time for getting accustomed to competition while training toward the district and state meets. Times and marks are used as indicators of development, but team scores, if kept at all, are not the main focus.

Such was the six-way meet at Summit High School last Wednesday, March 20 featuring Ridgeview, La Pine, Sisters, Gilchrist, Hosanna Christian and Summit.

Juniors Brandon Pollard and Jake McAllister achieved the only victories of the day for the Outlaws, as Pollard captured both the 1,500 (4:19.28) and the 3,000 (9:40.3), while McAllister cleared 5 feet 10 inches for the second week in a row to win the high jump.

"I was much closer to making six feet today," he said after the meet. "I am looking forward to future meets and maybe a little warmer weather."

Temperatures during the meet hovered in the mid-thirties.

Later in the meet, McAllister placed second in the 300-meter hurdles in 44.27 and third in the long jump (18 feet 11.75 inches).

Keegan Bloss finished as the runner-up in the pole vault, clearing 12 feet even.

Other top placers for the boys team included third-place finishes by Izaak Kanzig in the 800 (2:17.1), Dyut Fetrow in the 3,000 (11:07.5), and Ian Baldessari in the 110 hurdles (17.43).

Team scores reported after the meet turned out to be erroneous and have not been sorted out.

"Our young guys are really starting to show that they will contribute in a big way as the season progresses," said Head Coach Josh Nordell. "Tim Streeter, Austin Sandsness, Logan Schutte, Jonathan Luz, Gabe Rice and some of the others will be scoring points for us as we enter into league competition."

On the girls' side, Alisha Haken came up with the lone win for the Outlaws claiming the triple jump (32 feet 0.5 inches). She also cleared five feet in the high jump to place second and grabbed third place in the 100 hurdles (17.55).

Zoe Falk shook off the winter doldrums at the start of spring with a good opening time in the 800 meters at 2:24.53 in finishing second. Freshman Michaela Miller placed second in the long jump (15 feet even) and third in the 300 hurdles (51.72).

Molly Boyle notched a third-place finish in the 200 meters (28.4) and Macadia Calavan matched that finish in the 400 (1:05.74).

Aria Blumm closed in on her career best in the 1,500 (5:19) and doubled back in the 800 (2:34) to show fine early season form. Olivia Chandler snagged third place in the pole vault at a height of eight feet even.

Coach Nordell sees the girls team on a trajectory of improvement similar to the boys.

"We have a great group of hard-working kids who are going to continue to gel as a team, and we'll certainly get plenty of help from the younger athletes such as Madison Boettner, Cierra Mann, Nina Horner, Danika Wagner and Tessa O'Hern, among others."

The Outlaws return to action before spring break is over on April 4 in a Sky-Em League meet at Junction City.