Track teams hit their stride in early season Crook County meet

Despite missing about half the team to spring break, the Outlaws track squads held their own at a five-way meet hosted by Crook County on Tuesday, March 20.

Team scores were not kept for the meet.

Benton Urquhart and Eli Callan came up with the only individual first place finishes for the Outlaws' boys, but a slew of athletes, many of them freshman and sophomores, placed in the top three.

Urquhart overcame a very cold wind in winning the 1,500 meters (time not available) and the 3,000 (10:21.2).

Callan was the class of the hurdling field, winning the 110-meter highs in 16.84 and the 300 intermediates in 43.09. To round out the day, Callan made up a large deficit in the anchor leg of the 1,600 relay, securing a win with teammates Carroll Gryder, Cory Holt and Nick Head in 3:48.94.

In the short sprinting events, Carroll Gryder and Travis Myrick led the way for the Outlaws as Gryder came up with a pair of second places with Myrick on his heels. The pair went two-three in the 200 (24.6 and 25.3) and two-four in the 100 (11.96 and 11.99).

Freshman Cory Holt picked up a second place in the 400 (57.2), and Andy Stahn nabbed points for fourth place in 58.0. Sophomore Mike Calavan (4:50) and frosh Drew Harrison (4:50.6) finished second and third respectively in the 1,500 and came back in the 800 where Harrison placed fourth (2:14.1) and Calavan fifth (2:14.9) behind Andrew Legg who was second in 2:13.05.

The Outlaws were shut out in the throwing events but picked up points in the jumping events as Scott Salgado leapt 32 feet 3.75 inches for fourth place in the triple jump and Travis Myrick placed fifth in the long jump at 18 feet 2 inches.

In girls action, Kelsey Neilson lead the way with a win in the high jump (4-feet-10-inches), a third place in the 100 (14.11) and 200 (29.73) and anchored the winning 400 meter relay team of Annie Mutchler, Brandi Palmer and Courtney Satko that finished in 54.17.

Lani Ulmer won the pole vault with an effort of 7 feet 6 inches.

Five freshmen contributed top finishes for the Outlaws as Mutchler placed second in the 100 in 13.63 and Satko tied for third in the 200 (29.73), while Susan Ruettgers earned second place in both the 100 hurdles (18.99) and the 300 intermediates (55.96). In addition, Brittany Birkeland scored a third place in the shot put (28 feet 11 inches), and versatile Mindy Marr placed fourth in the 300 hurdles (57.24), fifth in the discus (78 feet 6 inches) and helped the 1,600 relay team of Brandi Palmer, Justine Head and Jessica Head to third place in 4:38.0.

Other top-three placers for the Outlaws included Neeka Rhodes, who placed second in the triple jump (30-feet-1.5-inches), Aubrey Cretsinger third (30-feet-1.25-inches), Tara Hermens in the javelin (third, 88-feet-9-inches), Rachel Tenneson third in the 300 intermediate hurdles (56.41) and Brook Rosauer, second in the 100 hurdles (19.18).

"It was encouraging to see 45 kids out for the meet during the middle of spring break," said coach Bob Johnson. "The kids showed a lot of dedication and never complained about the terrible wind and cold weather that we were competing in."

The Outlaws will compete next at the annual Sisters Rotary Invitational set for Saturday, April 7, a 14-team affair that will feature some of the top squads in Oregon.