Outlaws near top in Portland To Coast

The Sisters Outlaws Portland To Coast High School Relay team "Black and White Bandits" placed seventh among co-ed teams and 14th overall in the annual trek from Portland to Seaside. The Outlaws have entered at least one team every year since 2000, making the event a much-anticipated tradition.

The team, comprised of a dozen members of the cross-country squad, finished in 17 hours, 3 minutes and 41 seconds.

The High School Challenge is run in conjunction with the Hood to Coast Relay, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and is considered the "mother of all relays" in the U.S.

The High School Challenge, which is limited to 50 teams, started under the Hawthorne Bridge on the east side of the Willamette River and finished 127 miles later in Seaside. Each team member ran two legs, ranging from 3 to 8 miles. Hood to Coast teams start at Timberline Lodge and runners do three legs each.

Garrett Trahern braved 90-degree temperatures in the first leg, which began at 6 p.m.

"I don't mind the heat, and it was a lot of fun being the one to start off the relay," he said.

The first six legs of the race took runners through the industrial area of northwest Portland along Highway 30 and on to St. Helens. From there, the course followed country roads up and over the coast range, through tiny bergs such as Mist and Birkenfeld.

All the runners experienced one run in the dark, which contributed to the sense of adventure.

"It's cool to be out there in the dark when all you can see is the road right in front of you and a few other headlamps and reflective vests in front of you," said one runner.

Jared Schneider, a senior, ran the longest leg of the relay, covering just over eight miles, and felt satisfied overall with his effort.

"I was hoping to hit seven-minute miles, and I averaged about 7:15," he said.

Team members involved included Schneider, Trahern, Jordyn Clymens, Katie Stewart, Zoe Falk, Madison Boettner, Frances Payne, Becky Thomas, Sierra Slaughter, Mason Calmettes, Jake Miller, Ian Baldessari and Brandon Pollard.