Outlaws shine at home meet

Last updated 10/17/2023 at 10:06am

Photo by Jack Turpen

Kolby McMahon at mid-race in last week's home cross-country meet at Pole Creek Ranch.

The Pole Creek Ranch provided a perfect setting for the Sisters Outlaws' home cross-country meet held Wednesday, October 11. Dramatic skies that included long-lasting rainbows added extra beauty to the course set at the iconic ranch.

As the inaugural contest at the site, the event was limited to five local teams in order to keep the field of runners more manageable.

The Outlaw girls won the team title 25-32 over Bend High, while the boys lost to Bend High on the sixth runner tie-breaker 29-29.

Sisters swept the top three places in the girls' race. Ella Bartlett took top honors over the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19:52. Josie Ryan (20:19) and Brooke Duey (20:21) came through next, and Kolby McMahon cracked the top ten in ninth place in 22:03.

Mae Roth picked up the fifth scoring spot in 24:20 and Kiara Martin crossed the line in 26:38.

The Sisters boys placed all five scorers in the top eight as they once again showed strength as a pack, finishing within 36 seconds of one another in fourth through eighth places. Colton Middlestetter ran his personal best on his way to fourth place in 17:52, followed by Will McDonnell (18:01), Spencer Tisdel (18:06), Thomas Hamerly (18:15), and John Berg (18:28).

George Roberts (19:52) and Eli Palanuk (21:24) completed the varsity team for Sisters.

Colin McCracken of Bend High won the race in 17:16.

In the junior varsity boys' race Broderick Womack led from start to finish to win the race in 19:45, while Jack Turpen (20:40), Ben Hayner (20:54), and Finn Clark (21:01) took second, fourth, and fifth respectively.

Naomi Bennette placed second in the junior varsity girls race in 24:36.

Head Coach Charlie Kanzig praised the Cole family and their crew for helping make the race at Pole Creek Ranch happen.

"For us to be able to have our race in such close proximity to our school on one of the most beautiful properties in the entire region was a tremendous blessing," he said. "The runners loved the course."

The Outlaws have a big break until the District Championships set for Friday, October 27 in Pendleton. The district meet serves as the qualifying meet for the OSAA State Championships, which will be held on Saturday, November 4 at Lane Community College.