Middle school track has a stellar season

Headed up by a strong group of seventh graders, the Sisters Middle School track and field team had one of its most successful seasons to date. Thirteen new records were set, and a record 95 kids turned out for the season.

"It was a really fun, rewarding season. It was great to see how the kids came together and represented Sisters Middle School so well," Coach Sally Taylor-Pillar said.

Seventh-grader Evan Rickards led the team with five new school records; one each in the 200, 400, 800 and 1,500-meter races, and the 4x200 relay. Rickards, along with teammates Justin Harrer, Blake Knirk and Jake McAllister broke the record in the seventh-grade 4x200 relay. Also setting a seventh-grade record was Scott Nelson with his pole vault of 8 feet, 6 inches. Eighth-grader Dexter Muller put the shot 41 feet, 1 inch for yet another school record.

The girls held their own, breaking school records as well. Eighth-grader Alisha Haken set a new record in the high jump, with a jump of five feet at the middle school state meet held in La Pine on May 30th. Haken also set a record in the eighth-grade girls 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.9 seconds at the same meet.

Bailey Bremer broke the seventh-grade 100-meter and high jump records, and was on the record-setting 4x100-meter relay team with Haley Carlson, Codie Lagao and Savanah Spear. Olivia Chandler set a new record as well, clearing seven feet in the pole vault.

At the district meet in La Pine, the times posted by the boys distance runners scored well enough to have won the meet by their performances alone.

"I've been coaching since 1984, and as a group, I've got the best bunch of distance boys I have ever seen," Coach Kris Kristovich said.

At the small school district meet held in Gilchrist on May 20, Sisters' junior varsity boys' and girls' teams finished first, and both varsity teams placed seconnd.

Coaches have noted that several team members plan to participate in various competitions beyond the end of the season.

"Some of these athletes will be working to better their records even after the season has ended, since we have until June 30 for the record to be official," Kristovich said.