Girls track team coming together

Last updated 4/16/2019 at Noon

Jerry Baldock

Lexie Miller clears the bar in the high jump.

The loss of some top performers to graduation last year has given the 2019 girls track team some big shoes to fill, and Coach Jeff Larson is pleased with the team’s spirit and performance now that the competitive season is getting into full swing. The team competed in two meets last week with a home meet April 10 and the La Pine Invitational April 13.

“It’s hard to compare to last year since we lost two state-level sprinters and one state placer in the distances, but we’re coming together,” said Larson. “Our younger team members are really starting to help us out.”

Jumpers and distance runners provided much of the scoring for the Outlaws in Wednesday’s meet at home against Cascade, Sweet Home and Culver.

Kate Bowen, Natalie Sitz, and Emma Singleton went 1-2-3 in the 1,500-meters, with Bowen clocking 5:20.7 for the win. Bowen claimed first in the 800 as well (2:41.32) while Singleton (2:45.86) and Ella Cole (2:48.97) took the next two spots.

Freshman Hollie Lewis got her first varsity win in the 300 hurdles with a time of 53.01. She also placed second in the high jump (4 feet 10 inches) behind teammate Ryliereece Morgan who won the event by clearing five feet even. Morgan also established a season best in the long jump on her way to winning with a mark of 16 feet 3.25 inches.

Shelby Larson won the pole vault with a clearance of nine feet while Maddi Busick placed second at eight feet. “We have a lot of youth to work with this season along with some veterans, so I am excited about how we will look even in the next couple of weeks,” said Larson.

The loss of some top performers to graduation last year has given the 2019 girls track team some big shoes to fill and coach Jeff Larson is pleased with the team’s spirit and performance now that the competitive season is getting into full swing. The team competed in two meets last week with a home meet April 10 and the La Pine Invitational April 13.

“It’s hard to compare to last year since we lost two state-level sprinters and one state placer in the distances, but we’re coming together,” said head coach Jeff Larson. “Our younger team members are really starting to help us out.”

Jumpers and distance runners provided much of the scoring for the Outlaws in Wednesday’s meet at home against Cascade, Sweet Home and Culver.

Kate Bowen, Natalie Sitz, and Emma Singleton went 1-2-3 in the 1,500 meters, with Bowen clocking 5:20.7 for the win. Bowen claimed first in the 800 as well (2:41.32) while Singleton (2:45.86) and Ella Cole (2:48.97) took the next two spots.

Freshman Hollie Lewis got her first varsity win in the 300 hurdles with a time of 53.01. She also placed second in the high jump (4-feet-10-inches) behind teammate Ryliereece Morgan who won the event by clearing five feet even. Morgan also established a season best in the long jump on her way to winning with a mark of 16-feet-3.25-inches.

Shelby Larson won the pole vault with a clearance of 9 feet even while Maddi Busick placed second at eight feet. Larson actually ranks third among 4A vaulters as a number of girls have best of nine feet. The state leader is Katie Aguilar of Marshfield, last year’s 4A state champion, who has cleared 11-feet-6-inches this year.

“We have a lot of youth to work with this season along with some veterans, so I am excited about how we will look even in the next couple of weeks,” said Larson.

At La Pine Saturday the girls got a taste of a bigger meet situation and performed well, according to Larson.