Track teams continue winning ways

In the second and final home meet of the season on April 19, the Outlaws track teams vanquished their Sky-Em foes in cool but windless conditions which contributed to some impressive marks including one school record.

Senior Tara Hermens, who has been flirting with the school record in the girls' javelin all year, popped a throw of 109 feet 6 inches to put her name on the books and win the event. She also placed fourth in the discus with a toss of 84 feet.

Kelsey Neilson earned a pair of wins in the high jump (five feet) and the triple jump (31 feet 9 inches), while Cammy Jacobson and Courtney Satko won the pole vault (nine feet) and the 200 meters (27.25) respectively.

Satko also finished second in the 400 in 1:02.6.

Second place finishers included Ryanne Conrads who set a personal best in the 3,000 (12:07), Annie Mutchler in the 100 (13.3), Karah Herr in the 300 hurdles (51.0), Lani Ulmer in the pole vault (8 feet 6 inches), Neeka Rhodes in the long jump (15 feet 2.75 inches) and Kali Ulmer in the triple jump (31 feet 7 inches).

Mackenzie Williams finished second in the 200 (27.48) and third in the 100 (13.4) as well.

"We are winning because of great depth," said Coach Bob Johnson. "We picked up a lot of second, third and fourth places."

The Outlaws edged Marist 103.5 to 99 for first place. La Pine placed third with 42 points and Elmira fourth at 7.5 points.

The boys got things fired up right from the start with a 4A leading time of 44.04 in the 400-meter relay team of Carroll Gryder, Eli Callan, Travis Myrick and Cory McCaffery.

Stefan Redfield followed with a wire to wire win in the 1,500 (4:22), and McCaffery captured the next event, the 100 meters in 11.1.

The Outlaws didn't see another win until late in the meet when Eli Callan hit his best mark of the season in the 300 hurdles (40.5) followed by Luke Glick's dominating win in the 3,000 (9:48.9).

The 1,600 relay team of Andrew Legg, Kelly Crowther, Eli Callan and Parker Bennett concluded the meet with a win in 3:37.9.

But like the girls team, it was depth that carried the boys to victory. For example, in the 800 meters Stefan Redfield lowered his season best to 2:01.1 for second place pulling Andrew Legg (2:07.2), Drew Harrison (2:08.0) and Mike Calavan (2:10.9) to season bests and team points, as well.

Kelly Crowther picked up two second places with strong performances in the 400 (53.2) and the 300 hurdles (41.7), and Jeff Sampson put points on the board with a mark of 42 feet 3.5 inches in the shot for second place and 121 feet 7 inches for fourth in the discus.

Sisters outlasted Marist with 109.5 points to 104.5 for the Spartans. La Pine pieced together 36 points for third, and Elmira finished fourth with 14.

La Pine is the next stop for the Outlaw tracksters for a four-way Sky-Em meet with Junction City and Cottage Grove, Thursday, April 26. The team then travels to Gladstone, Saturday, April 28 for the Dick Baker Invitational.