Outlaws run well at home meet

It's always good to compete on your home turf and with cross country that only happens once a season, so the Outlaws wanted to make sure and show some speed at the annual Cold Springs XC meet and barbecue held Wednesday, September 22.

They did just that as the varsity teams both took second and the junior varsity teams both won. The six-team meet set a record for participants with teams from South Albany, McNary, McKenzie, Regis, and league rival Cottage Grove.

Freshman Brandon Pollard got things rolling in the 3,000-meter junior varsity race, racing to victory in 10 minutes 39 seconds. Five other Outlaws placed among the top 10, including another frosh, Trevor Barry, in second, in what Coach Charlie Kanzig viewed as good news for the future.

"The younger runners are on the verge of breaking through into running varsity-level times," he said. "Brandon is already there, but others are knocking on the door."

Jordyn Clymens, in her first year of running, won the junior varsity girls' race in 14:04 ahead of teammates Danielle Lovegren and Olivia Chandler, also first-year runners.

"It was neat to see the new runners experience being at the front of the pack," said Kanzig. "Their progress is pretty amazing."

The varsity boys' race featured the top two teams in the Sky-Em League with Cottage Grove edging the Outlaws for the team title 27-37, despite Taylor Steele's dominating victory in 17:02, almost a full minute ahead of the Lions' Teagan Settelmeyer, who finished second in 17:58.

"They are more tightly packed than we are right now and that could pose problems when district comes, but I still think we will be neck and neck with them when we get into the final weeks of the season," said Kanzig.

Mason Calmettes (18:07), Easton Curtis (18:47), Seth Flanders (18:49) and Jared Schneider (18;58) completed the scoring for the Outlaws.

The girls' race featured a number of fast individuals, including winner Anna Demchuk of South Albany who toured the course in 21:46, keeping runner-up Sarah Sherman of McKenzie (22:01) at bay. The Sisters' squad, battling illness, held its own, with Katie Stewart pacing the team with her sixth-place finish in 22:38 on the rugged course.

Hayley Palmer (23:03), Kirsten Clarke (23:44), Jordan Richerson (23:57) and Zoe Falk (23:59) helped Sisters to a second-place team finish to South Albany, 33-43.

The varsity girls continue to improve, according to Kanzig, and are looking forward to running on a faster course to get their times down.

"We haven't really run yet on a smooth, fast course, so the race in Albany this weekend will be a great venue for the entire team," said Kanzig.

The Outlaws race on Thursday at Schwartz Park near Cottage Grove on a course that includes a monstrous uphill, but Saturday the team will compete for the first time ever at the Harrier's Classic at Bryant Park in Albany.