Sisters runners race to records

It's been a long time since the Outlaw girls have had two runners under the 20-minute mark in the same race in the same season. Zoe Falk and Aria Blumm pulled off that feat at the George Fox Adidas Classic held at Mission Bottom State Park Saturday, October 12.

The meet featured one of the deepest, fastest fields of runners of the 2013 season in Oregon.

Falk finished in 19:37, while Blumm annihilated her personal record by some 30 seconds on her way to crossing the line in 19:52.

The high quality of the runners in the race coupled with the course being "as fast as a track," according to Coach Josh Nordell, led to personal records for nearly every single runner in the 66-team meet, including the winner of the girls' elite race Allie Ostrander of Kenai Peninsula (Alaska), who ran a stunning 16:47.

Sisters ran as part of the elite field, which pitted them against top teams from throughout the Northwest from all school-size divisions. While the squad finished near the back of the pack in team scoring, it was an important experience as the team prepares for championship-level races in the upcoming weeks, according to Nordell.

"We are doing good training and now the girls have seen what the best teams look like," said Nordell. "I am excited to see how the team responds as we focus in on our most important meets."

Maddi Boettner (21:15), Macadia Calavan (21:18), Mary Stewart (21:19), Natalie Marshall (21:38) and Megan Calarco (22:46) all competed well, according to Nordell.

Dyut Fetrow had a breakout race, dipping below the 17-minute mark for the first time in leading the Outlaws boys with a time of 16:52. The team was missing captain Brandon Pollard for the third meet in a row as he recovers from a foot injury. Senior Devon Calvin also missed the meet.

Shea Krevi (17:21), Ian Baldessari (17:47), Gabe Rice (18:18), and Caleb Johnson (18:19) also ran for the varsity team, all in or near record time.

Matthew Maton of Summit won the race in an astonishing 14:32, which is the fastest time recorded for 5,000 meters by an Oregon runner in memory.

Like the girls, the boys have their sights set on the upcoming weeks. After the Country Fair Classic this Thursday, all attention will be turned to the District and State meets in the following two weeks. The Outlaws are favored to repeat as boys and girls champions of the District meet which is the qualifier for State.

"We're nowhere close to being done with improving," said Nordell.

The Country Fair Classic, normally held on the well-known grounds of the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta, will take place near Fern Ridge Reservoir this year due to flooding at the Fair site. The Outlaws will get one last look at the rest of the Sky-Em League teams before District in addition to facing many of the 4A teams from around the Willamette Valley.