Outlaw girls third at state cross-country meet

In one of the closest team finishes in state history, the Sisters Outlaws took third place among 4A girls teams at the OSAA Championships held Saturday, November 5 at Lane Community College in Eugene.

The team entered the meet ranked third in the final coaches' poll, and the team knew it would take a mighty effort to get past number-one-ranked Klamath Union and second-ranked Scappoose. But a tremendous effort by the Outlaws made it a three-way race for the state title and left the outcome in doubt until teams were invited to the awards podium.

The Outlaws scored 88 points, five behind Klamath Union and six behind champion Scappoose, which won its first team title in school history.

"All through the race I marveled at how tight our top four runners were packed and I could see that they were giving it their all to win," said Coach Charlie Kanzig. "It became clear that the first-place trophy race was going to come down to the wire."

Just how close it turned out to be is a story in itself, as Scappoose's fifth-place runner, Elise Harley, who happens to be the daughter of the coach, edged Klamath Union's fifth runner by less than half a second, securing the Indians' one-point victory. Had their places reversed, the Pelicans would have been the team champions.

"What a great example of every runner counting," said Kanzig. "And what an especially sweet victory for Dave Harley, his daughter, and the rest of the Scappoose team."

For Kanzig, it was the closest that one of his teams has come to the title.

"We have placed second twice in the past, as well as every other place besides first, but we were never just six points from the top. No one really expected us to be that close, but the girls believed they could run with anyone and they proved it," said Kanzig.

An added twist made the championship weekend especially memorable for the Outlaws team as fifth runner Shelby Duncan elected to run the race solo on Friday in accordance to her faith as a Seventh Day

Adventist.

"We knew for a few weeks that Shelby would likely be on our state team and I knew that the OSAA allows for Adventists to be accommodated in this way, so we prepared as best we could for Shelby to race alone," said Kanzig.

So, at 1:15 on Friday afternoon Duncan toed the line on the artificial turf of the soccer field in chute number six, the same one her other teammates would use the next day, all by herself.

With her teammates strung strategically along the course to cheer her on, Duncan started off on her solo quest with hopes of running near her best time of the season in order to help her team earn a trophy.

She did just that, completing the 5,000-meter course in 22:24, just 10 seconds off her official best for the season.

Moments after finishing she told Kanzig, "That was the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life."

Duncan's time was inserted to the overall results the following day and added to the Outlaws' team score, helping secure the third-place trophy.

"I couldn't have asked more from Shelby and I have profound respect for her decision," said Kanzig. "She so much wanted to help the team meet its potential, and she did it."

Zoe Falk led the Outlaws, placing ninth in 20:08, just ahead of freshmen Maddi Boettner (20:13) and Aria Blumm (20:18). Frances Payne also made the top 20, finishing in 20:37.

"Twenty-nine seconds between the top four girls is unbelievable," said Kanzig.

Emily Ford (22:52) and Jordyn Clymens (23:08) also contributed to the Outlaws' cause as the sixth and seventh runners.