Cross country runners finish first at Silver Falls

Jordan Beck sprints to a personal best time.

The varsity boys and girls cross country squads both won team titles at the Silver Falls Invitational on Thursday, September 26 -- without the number one runner from either team.

Resa Hodson was unable to finish the girls' race, but her teammates scored an impressive 21-point victory nonetheless.

The boys came through with an exciting one-point victory without the services of Alex Templar, who took the day off to help with Sisters Middle School's eighth grade retreat.

Anna Morton led a pack of three Outlaws in the top four. Morton placed second overall in 20:30 and was followed closely by Lindsay Chick (20:38) and Iris Powell (20:39). Heather Fitz-Gustafson of The Dalles, a contender for the individual 3A title this year, won the race in 19:09.

Sisters scored 33 points to 54 for The Dalles. Scappoose was third at 135, Stayton 139, and Cottage Grove 220. The other four teams were incomplete.

Other scorers for Sisters included Rikki Glick, who finished ninth (21:51) and Amber Craig (22:09), who wound up thirteenth. Melissa Little (22:34) also cracked the top 20, finishing 19th.

"For us to win so convincingly without Resa is a testament to the strength of this girls' team," said Coach Charlie Kanzig. "Amber Craig is eighth or ninth on our team, yet she would likely be in the top five of the varsity team of every other 3A school in Oregon. I guess that's why we're ranked first in the state right now."

Hodson dropped out of the race at about the halfway point due to illness, but her teammates pulled through with great teamwork.

"Anna, Lindsay, and Iris really pushed one another through the hilly course," said Kanzig. "It was impressive to watch them work together."

Jordan Beck ran his fastest time ever, placing fifth in 17:12 to pace the Outlaw boys to the team title with 75 points. South Albany was second with 76, followed by The Dalles with 87 and Stayton with 88.

A total of nine complete teams participated in the meet. Koby McCorkle was the second Outlaw through the chute, finishing 10th in 17:39.

Sophomore Wes Hodson came through with a personal best of 17:42 to finish 12th. David King finished 20th (18:08) and Devon Pelkey 28th (18:28) to help secure Sisters' narrow win. Justin Thomas and Ben Boro each ran personal bests as Sisters' sixth and seventh finishers.

Thomas outkicked Boro to place 39th (18:47.2) to 40th (18:47.3) for Boro.

"I knew it was a four-way battle for the team title and didn't know until the awards ceremony that we'd won," said Kanzig. "The team's performance has me convinced that they really are one of the top 10 3A boys teams in Oregon."

The Outlaws are ranked eighth in the latest coaches' polls.

The junior varsity girls, who are undefeated as a team this season, swept three of the top four places, to win with 22 points.

Gretchen Addison won the 3,000 meter race in 13:12. Kaitlin McAlister finished third, and Marigrace Marshall fourth.

Scores for the junior varsity boys were not announced.

The Outlaws are scheduled to run at the Regis Invitational on Thursday, October 3, and at the prestigious Paul Mariman Timbertown Invitational in Philomath on Saturday, October 5.