Runners fare well at regional competition

Parker Bennett and Taylor Steele continued their successful high school cross-country seasons, while an up-and-coming runner also did well in races held last weekend.

Steele, who placed eighth in the OSAA State Championships for the Outlaws November 7, traveled to the USATF Regional cross-country championships in Spokane, Washington, ran his personal best of 16:41, placed fourth and qualified for the national meet, scheduled for December 12 in Reno, Nevada.

Steele competed against runners from Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Alaska. The winner posted a time of 16:07, while Steele battled with the second- and third-place finishers in a close race.

Another runner from Sisters, Natalie Ambrose, who is an eighth-grader at St. Francis, placed eighth in her division covering the four-kilometer course in 16:18.

Bennett competed in the 11th annual Nike Border Clash held at the company's expansive Beaverton campus, where the top 40 runners from Oregon face off against the top 40 runners from Washington. Bennett qualified based on his third-place performance at the OSAA State Championships.

Washington dominated the meet, placing eleven runners ahead of the first Oregon runner. Bennett scored for the Oregon team, finishing eighteenth overall as the fourth Oregon runner to cross the line.

Coach Charlie Kanzig was pleasantly surprised by Bennett's performance.

"Considering that Parker beat the 6A state champion, the 5A state champion, and the 3A state champion all in one race says a lot about how tough he really is," said Kanzig.

His 14:44 time for the 4,400-meter course placed him 38 seconds behind the winner, Shane Moskowitz.

Athletes were treated to dinner and a tour of the Nike campus, where they rubbed elbows with some of Nike's elite athletes, including track Olympians Alan Webb, Dathan Ritzenhein, Amy Yoder Begley and Galen Rupp.

Bennett ended his senior season ranked among the top 10 overall of Oregon high school runners for 5,000 meters. Now he is working on where to continue his running career after high school.

"I know I want to run in college, and I hope I that find the right match for me and hopefully get some scholarship money," he said.