Outlaws runners picking up the pace

Going against stiff competition on fast courses added up to some speedy times for the Sisters Outlaws cross country team members last week - including a new school record for 5,000 meters by senior Parker Bennett.

At the first Star XCity Classic, held at Bush Park in Salem Wednesday, October 8, Bennett toed the line against teams from 4A, 5A, and 6A schools, hoping to run under 15:59, a record that has stood since Daniel Kemp put it on the board in 1996.

After pacing through the first mile in 5:05, Bennett moved away from his closest competitor, West Albany's Michael Shoegren, by mile two (10:10) and then finished it off with a 30-second victory in 15:52.

Teammate Seth Schneider also broke through with a new personal record, moving up throughout the race to finish in 16:54. The rest of the varsity teams also produced best, including Jeff Wilder (18:27), Easton Curtis (18:49), Seth Flanders (18:51), Mason Calmettes (19:34) and Zander Albertson (19:45).

Emi Conrads posted her best time of the year to finish 11th (20:37), as did her running mates Hayley Palmer (22:06) and Jordan Richerson (22:54).

A skeleton crew of runners traveled to Philomath on Saturday, October 10, to join most of the other top-ranked 4A teams at the Paul Mariman Invitational. Illness, along with a conflict with the SAT for a few seniors, depleted the team to about half its normal size, but many of those who ran experienced another round of personal bests.

Bennett raced to another victory to remain undefeated on the season, setting a new course record in 16:04. Taylor Steele, coming back from illness, ran strategically to maneuver up to fifth place in 17:08. Easton Curtis (18:50), Zander Albertson (19:41), Mason Calmettes (19:46) and Erik Lund (19:47) rounded out the varsity team that finished fourth among the 16-team field.

"For us to get fourth place without Seth Schneider, Seth Flanders and Jeff Wilder indicates that our team is coming together compared to other 4A schools," said coach Charlie Kanzig. "Of course, I believe some of our competitors are battling illness as well."

Hayley Palmer led the Outlaw charge in the girls' varsity race, lowering her best to 21:56 to finish 23rd in a very competitive field of runners. Jordan Richerson (22:23) finished just two places behind Palmer, while Taylor Walker (23:06) ran a huge personal best to place 46th. Tia Berg (23:51) and Katie Stewart (24:09) completed the scoring for the Outlaws, who finished ninth among 14 complete teams.

"We have been ranked 10th the past two weeks in the coaches' polls and all of the teams that beat us are also ranked, so considering we were without our number-one runner, I think we performed quite well," said Kanzig.

Kanzig hopes that a week of practice without a race until Saturday will give his team a chance to replenish and be ready for the district meet at the end of the month.

The Outlaws run at the Bristow Park Rock and Roll Invitational hosted by Pleasant Hill on Saturday, October 17.