The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

After a district championship, two event wins, and a top-five team finish at State last year, the Outlaws girls' track and field team is poised for another successful campaign thanks to a large number of returnees, and some talented new arrivals.

Meanwhile, the boys' team looks to build on its fourth-place district finish last year.

Jonathan Kelly, in his second year at the helm of the program, feels that the learning he experienced last year will help him in 2024.

"Having the benefit of a year of experience, I think I can be a lot more proactive in coaching this season - especially in terms of training with an eye towards the district meet and peaking for the end of the season," he said.

For the girls' team, defending the district title and moving into trophy position is a realistic goal, according to Kelly. The girls finished fifth at last year's state meet, just four points shy of a trophy.

With a majority of the scorers back from last year's state meet, Kelly has reason to believe in the team's potential.

State 400-meter champion Gracie Vohs returns for her senior season. Vohs also anchored the winning 4x400-meter relay team, which returns sophomore Brooke Duey and senior Ila Reid. Vohs also placed in the high jump, while Duey competed at state in the triple jump and placed fifth in the 300 hurdles. Senior Lilly Sundstrom placed in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and fellow senior Ella Bartlett placed third and fifth in the 3000 meters and 1500 meters respectively. Junior Mae Roth qualified in the pole vault.

Returnees, Katie Buller, Kate Singleton, Kiara Martin, Analycia Erdekian, Lauren Sitz, Norah Thorsett, along with a crew of talented freshmen, provide depth across the 17 events.

Things are definitely looking up for the boys team, according to Kelly.

"We've had senior Tony Gonzalez join us this season, and I know he's got his eye on the school's shot put record," he said. "Senior Ted Stolasz is starting the season strong in the pole vault and hurdles as well as picking up the javelin this season after missing quite a bit of last year due to illness. Junior Spencer Tisdel qualified for state last year in the pole vault and he and John Berg will likely lead our mid-distance runners. I'm also interested to see how all of the boys brand new to track find their strengths and the younger boys continue to develop."

Kelly is enjoying a lot of extra help from returning and new assistant coaches.

Photo by Charlie Kanzig

Senior Tony Gonzales hopes to make the most of his first track season for the Outlaws.

"We are quite lucky this year to have many assistants, mostly volunteer, so that we can really focus on specific events at practice," said Kelly. "Returning assistant coaches include legendary pole vault coach Jim Anderson, who will also be assisting in the horizontal jumps; Dennis Dempsey coaching the hurdles, high jump, and the discus; and Sarah Thorsett heading up our distance squads. New this season, we have Dana Charpentier coaching pole vault and horizontal jumps; Mark Hodge coaching the sprints and relays; Aarika Brooks coaching the javelin and shot put; and Joe Uhan helping with distance as well as strength, mobility, and keeping athletes injury free."

The Outlaws started the competitive season on Tuesday, April 2, at Mountain View and will host a nine-team invitational on Saturday, April 6, which Kelly hopes will attract local track fans.

"We'd love for folks to come and show support to our teams," he said.

Sisters will also be the host for the District Championships on May 9 and 10. "It will be great for our athletes and supporters to be right here at home for that important, state-qualifying meet," he said.

Kelly acknowledged that putting on quality meets requires a full lineup of volunteers, including helpers at events and the concession stand. Anyone interested in helping out with the meets can email Kelly at [email protected].