Track: Girls win title, boys take second

A pair of freshmen did all they could to help their more seasoned teammates, and together the Outlaws girls track team won the Sky-Em District title in a hard-fought battle with the Sweet Home Huskies. The boys team also performed exceedingly well in placing second to a deep and talented Cottage Grove squad.

Zoe Falk won the 1,500 (5:06.58) and 800-meter races (2:25.49), placed second in the long jump (16 feet 4.75 inches) and anchored the winning 4x400-meter relay, while classmate Natalie Ambrose placed second in the 200- (26.90) and 400- (59.01) meter sprints despite a sore hamstring. Her time in the 400 was a career best.

The two frosh had plenty of help, including wins by Sara Small in the pole vault (11 feet) and Chelsea Reifschneider in the 300 hurdles (48.70).

The top two finishers in each event at district qualified for the OSAA State Championships set for Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 at Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus.

Other state qualifiers include second-place finisher Alicia Haken in the high jump (4 feet 10 inches) and the rest of the winning 4x400-meter relay team comprised of Hayley Palmer, Jodie Reoch, and Reifschneider. Typically, Ambrose is part of the relay, but was held out to protect her from injuring her sore hamstring, according to Head Coach Nik Goertzen.

"Thankfully, we have the kind of girls who are ready to step in and help the team, so we are very thankful for Jodie's effort in the relay to help us advance to state," he said.

The Outlaws girls had some near misses for state qualification with third-place finishes, including state 200-meter finalist Hayley Palmer, who finished just .07 seconds out of qualifying. Kristina Johns' career best effort in the 800 (2:37.94) gave the team some much-needed points by placing third. Similarly, Shannon Fouts' best-ever time in the 300 hurdles earned her a fourth-place finish, which typified the effort by the Outlaws team in achieving its goal of winning the district title.

"What a special group of hard-working young women," said Goertzen. "Seventeen different girls scored for us, contributing to the title, some in multiple events like Bailey Bremer, Zoe McAllister, Lauryn Chauncey, in addition to the state qualifiers.

"As a new head coach, I am deeply thankful to my assistants Dennis Dempsey, Carlos Garcia, Wayne Powell, Jim Anderson and Melvin Herburger who helped me step in and do my best to keep the program at the high level in which my predecessor, Bob Johnson, left it," he added.

The boys' team really gelled for district, scoring more points than predicted and produced a handful of state qualifiers as well.

The Outlaws scored 137.5 points to finish second to Cottage Grove, which racked up 185 in total. Sweet Home kept the Outlaws honest with 125.5, followed by La Pine (84.5), Junction City (58), and Emira (57.5).

Runners led the way for Sisters as Taylor Steele and Easton Curtis contributed to four wins. Steele swept the 3,000 and 1,500, while Curtis won the 800. The pair teamed with Devon Prescott and David Cowan to win the 4x400-meter relay as well, in a season-best time of 3:31.

Steele is among the top returnees in his two events and Curtis is hoping to break into the elite ranks in the 800 as well.

Brandon Pollard pulled off one of the most exciting finishes of the day to outstride Emanuel Romero of Sweet Home to take second place behind Steele in the 1,500 and qualify for state.

"That was one of the best races I have ever witnessed," said Goertzen.

Many among the boys' team produced career bests, including Devon Prescott in the javelin, where he placed third with a toss of 171 feet 5 inches, some 15 feet further than he had ever thrown before. Other key contributors included pole vaulters Jared Nelson and Andrew Snyder, Stefan Bolle in the javelin and hurdles, as well as freshmen Landon Prescott (fourth in the 800) and Jake McAllister, who scored in the high jump and both hurdles races.

Goertzen was named the Sky-Em girls' coach of the year at the conclusion of the meet.

"All I can say is the kids rose up and did their best and it worked out for the Outlaws' program," he remarked. "We peaked at the right time."