Track teams make good showing

The Outlaws track teams aren't letting cold early season weather keep them from showing their talents. Back-to-back meets last week produced a pair of school records and a number of personal bests.

On Tuesday March 18, the Outlaws traveled to Mountain View for the annual non-scored Icebreaker meet. By most accounts the meet could have been called the "Windbreaker," as athletes faced an unrelenting, steady breeze all afternoon. Nonetheless, Sisters athletes competed strongly against teams from Culver, Lost River and the host Mountain View Cougars.

Top marks included Max Gruettner's second place in the 400 (52.99), Jared Henderson's win in the 800 (2:10.76), Evan Eady's 38-foot-nine-inch toss in the shot put and Cory McCaffrey's win in the 200 (23.57).

Sisters won both relays as well.

On the girls' side MacKenzie Williams topped the field in the 400 (1:04.24), Rachel Tenneson won the 300 hurdles (53.7) and Brittney Birkeland captured first in the shot put (31-feet-7-inches).

The Ulmer twins brought home blue ribbons as well, as Lani won the pole vault (8 feet) and Kali won the long jump (14-feet-6-inches) and the high jump (5-feet-1-inch). Kelsey Neilson also cleared 5-feet-1-inch to take second. The girls now share the school record in the high jump.

Aubrey Cretsinger completed the list of top finishers with a victory in the triple jump (32-feet-3.5-inches).

"Although the wind affected some of the times, the kids competed very well," said coach Bob Johnson. "Our jumpers brought in a ton of points."

Outlaws swept the top three places in both the long jump and triple jump and finished 1-2 in the high jump and the pole vault.

On Thursday, March 20, the team traveled over the mountains to Pleasant Hill for a 12-team meet against a variety of 4A, 3A, 2A, and 1A teams. Athletes faced constant precipitation that included snow flurries.

Outlaw sprinters had the greatest success overall on the day; Cindy Steele showed her speed in the 100 (13.5) and 200 (28.84) where she finished third and fifth respectfully. MacKenzie Williams lowered her season best in the 400 to finish second (1:02.75), and the 400-meter relay team (Justine Head, Jessica Head, Brandi Palmer and Aubrey Cretsinger) kept the Outlaws undefeated on the season with a time of 52.80.

The boys team showed its muscles in the 400 meters and up as Cory McCaffrey blew to a 51.21 to win, his best ever. Teammates Drew Harrison (54.75), Cory Holt (55.43) and Mike Calavan (55.62) all finished among the top eight.

Calavan's fast 400 came after a personal best in the 3,000 (9:50) run earlier in the meet where he placed third.

Harrison doubled back in the 800 where he finished second (2:10.5), just ahead of Luke Glick (2:10.89) who earlier in the meet had claimed a come-from-behind win in the 1,500 (4:26.14). Parker Bennett was third (4:29.49).

Hayden Stein leapt to a pair of fourth-place finishes in the long and triple jump (17-feet-5 inches and 34-feet-3-inches) to lead the boys' jumpers.

The team departed from the meet prior to the 4x400-meter relay and the 300 hurdles due to the lateness of the hour and the weather conditions.

"The size of the meet caused some time delays, so we decided to head home in order to get kids home," said Johnson. "The kids had great attitudes despite the weather and organizational challenges of the meet."

Team scores for the meet were not reported.