Girls track comes up just short at district

The Sisters girls track team came up short of the district title at the Sky-Em League Track and Field Championships in a hotly contested battle with Cottage Grove and Marist.

The Lady Outlaws still qualified a strong crew of athletes for the state meet.

The Lions of Cottage Grove totaled 157.5 points to outduel Marist (153) and Sisters (148.5). Junction City was a distant fourth with 71, followed by La Pine (60), Elmira (54) and Pleasant Hill (11).

"It was a great competition among three very strong programs," said Outlaws track coach Bob Johnson. "The girls competed very, very well, so we have nothing to be ashamed of."

Nathalie Tresseras won both the 1,500 meters (4:58) and the 3,000 meters (11:21.44), while teammates Sara Small and Karah Herr placed first in the pole vault (10 feet 6 inches) and 300 hurdles (48.22) respectively.

Small's mark is the third best among 4A girls. The other blue ribbon went to the 1,600-meter relay team of Herr, Chelsea Reifschneider, Hayley Palmer and Courteney Satko, as Satko held off Marist's Tahne Apo down the stretch for the win in 4:04.48, which is the second-best time among 4A girls this season.

Second-place finishers who also qualified for the state meet included Satko in the 800 (2:22.16), Reifschneider in the 300 hurdles (48.53), Herr in the 400 (1:01.66) and Aubrey Cretsinger in the triple jump (34 feet 1.25 inches).

The 4x100-meter relay team of Herr, Satko, Annie Mutchler and Cindy Steele also qualified as the runners-up with a time of 51.44.

"I can't say enough about Nathalie Tresseras," he said. "Her desire to win is inspiring."

Johnson knew that the meet would come down to the wire among the top three teams.

"My hat is off to Cottage Grove and Marist for putting so many points on the board," he said. "We did our best and made it very exciting."

One of the highlights for the meet, for Johnson, came from the outstanding Outlaw fans that traveled to Junction City for the meet.

"It was awesome that even though our fans had to travel over the mountains, our crowd was the largest and most enthusiastic group at the meet, which meant a lot to the kids," he said.

Johnson feels good about a very successful regular season and knows his girls will make the Outlaws proud in Eugene this weekend.

"Our goal is to be in the finals in every event that we have someone entered in," said Johnson.

The OSAA Track and Field Championships take place Friday and Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene.