Outlaws run to third-place trophy at State Meet

Placing three runners in the top 12 and getting personal bests from the rest of the team, the Sisters Outlaws boys cross country team earned a third-place trophy at the OSAA State Championships Saturday, November 7 at Lane Community College in Eugene.

Parker Bennett, one of the favorites to contend for the state title, tried repeatedly to separate himself from Henley's Jed Tolbert and North Valley's Brady Beagly, but ultimately finished third behind the pair from the Skyline League.

Tolbert finished with a tremendous kick to win in 16:04, Beagley was second at 16:19 and Bennett clocked 16:23.

"They really worked together to challenge me," said Bennett. "I tried everything to lose them, but they kept coming back."

Taylor Steele also finished among the top 10, placing eighth in 16:55, and Seth Schneider was close behind in 12th in 17:18, putting the Outlaws in tremendous scoring position.

The remaining four Outlaws boys exceeded expectations, placing within nine seconds of one another, all with personal bests.

"Jeff Wilder, Easton

Curtis, Seth Flanders and Mason Calmettes were tenacious in the second half of the race and passed all sorts of other runners, which is what distanced us from fourth place La Salle," said Coach Charlie Kanzig. The foursome all ran between 18:23 and 18:32.

Henley and Siuslaw had their own battle going for first and second, with the Hornets prevailing by eight points, 49 to 57. Sisters scored 109 for third, and La Salle was fourth at 135.

The Outlaws have now won trophies three years in a row, placing third last year and fourth in 2007.

The girls team had a solid showing, finishing eighth among the 14 teams.

"We were ranked 10th nearly the entire year, in the coaches' polls, so I told the girls to see how far up we could place," said Kanzig. "I didn't think we had the firepower this year to edge into the top four, so I felt very pleased with how the girls did overall."

Emi Conrads completed her fourth consecutive state meet appearance, finishing 30th in 21:46 as the lead runner for the Outlaws. Hayley Palmer moved up throughout the race along with her teammates to finish in 46th in 22:22. Palmer was followed by Katie Stewart (22:41), Jordan Richerson (23:12), Tia Berg (23:17), Fabiola Schellworth (23:49) and Taylor Walker (24:41).

"The girls really gelled as a group overall during the year, and with six of them back next year, they are excited to come back to Eugene and get on the awards stand," said Kanzig.

Sky-Em champion Marist ended Siuslaw's streak of championship trophies, edging the Vikings by eight points, 58-66.

The Outlaws scored 194 points.