New track coach sets sights on great season

Track season is here, with the first competition of the season set for Wednesday, March 16, and Nik Goertzen, the newly hired head track coach, can't wait.

"We had more people out for pre-season conditioning than ever before, so even though it's early, many of the kids are ready to compete," he said.

With a total of 54 athletes on the roster and a few more expected to turn out, the Outlaws look to be competitive with the other teams in the Sky-Em Conference.

The perennially tough league lost Marist to the 5A ranks but added two-time defending boys state champion Sweet Home, so the level of competition ought to remain high. Cottage Grove also tends to field strong squads, but the Outlaws have a good number of returning state qualifiers and a fine looking stable of new and returning runners, hurdlers, throwers and jumpers, according to Goertzen.

"The kids, behind the leadership of captains Hayley Palmer, Chelsea Reifschneider, Taylor Steele and John Green, are really dedicated to improvement," he said. "The team cohesion appears to be very strong already and kids are willing to do what they can to help the overall team goals."

Top returnees include Taylor Steele, who placed second in last year's state meet in the 1,500-meter run and third in the 3,000. With a best time of 4:04.69, he has his eye on the top spot and the school record, set last year by Parker Bennett, of 3:59.16 He has equal potential in the 3,000 with a best of 8:53.91, second all-time behind Bennett's 8:49.92, Steele looks to be part of a very competitive 4x400-meter relay team that returns two members of last year's fourth-place state squad.

David Cowan and Easton Curtis, two of the top three 400-meter runners in the league, give the group incredible potential, according to Goertzen.

"We are lucky to have these guys back, and we'll see who our fourth man will be," he said.

Jared Nelson will be looking to improve on his best in the pole vault, where he cleared 14 feet on two different occasions last year in one of the deepest 4A fields in recent memory. He finished third at district last year, clearing 13 feet, and did not advance to the state meet.

A strong freshman class, along with returning athletes, gives the boys some depth in nearly every event. Sara Small is the top returning 4A pole vaulter with a best of 11 feet six inches, while Chelsea Reifschneider, hampered by injury late in the season last year, is among the top five returning 300-meter hurdlers. Small placed third at the state meet last year.

The Outlaws girls also return state qualifiers in the 200 meters, Hayley Palmer and Jodie Reoch, which bodes well for both girls relay teams. Palmer placed seventh and Reoch 12th at the state meet and both girls ran on relays at state as well, helping the girls' team to a fifth-place team finish, just 1.5 points away from a trophy.

Two high jumpers who could bring in a lot of points for the girls' team include Alicia Haken and Hannah Harrer, who in 2010 cleared 5 feet and 4 feet 10 inches, respectively.

Overall the girls have the events well covered, according to Goertzen.

"We have some fine freshmen and sophomores who really will contribute to the team this year," he said.

Goertzen hopes to see a few more kids join the ranks in the next few days, but couldn't be more pleased with the 30 boys and 24 girls who have been working out already.

"These guys and girls will have the first-meet jitters, but they can't wait to compete," he said.

The team travels to Sky-Em foe Junction City for a four-way meet that includes La Pine and 3A Harrisburg as well. Goertzen is assisted by a group of well-qualified assistants including Jim Anderson, Carlos Garcia, Melvin Herburger, Dennis Dempsey and Wayne Powell.