XC teams finding their footing

Two weeks into the cross-country season, the Sisters Outlaws are adjusting to competition against a variety of quality Oregon teams.

On Saturday, September 6 at the Jere Breese Memorial Ranch Stampede hosted by Crook County High School, the Outlaws faced a tough course and even tougher competition as the girls placed fifth out of six teams, and the boys placed sixth.

Summit placed five runners among the top 11 finishers to cruise to the team title despite the 1-2 finish by Mountain View runners Sage Hassell and Tia Hatton. Hasell, who twice ran under 19 minutes last season, won the race in 21:12, indicating the rugged hilliness of the course.

Maddi Boettner placed 25th as the leader of the Outlaws in 24:44, about a minute ahead of teammates Macadia Calavan (25:44), Sophie Borders (25:48), Serena Salisbury (25:49) and Betsy Ausman (25:51). A total of 128 girls completed the race.

For the boys, Dyut Fetrow paced the team (19:05) on his way to 19th place among 147 finishers. Fetrow was followed by freshmen Jordan Pollard (20:49), William Werts (22:31), Halston Sellentin (22:53), Jared Jefferies (23:33), Patrick Krevi (23:33) and Chris Burdick (24:31).

Dakota Thornton of Mountain View won the race in 17:21.5, while the Storm of Summit won the team title with a near-perfect 20 points.

The team traveled across the mountains for the Ash Creek XC Invitational near Western Oregon University in Monmouth, which featured runners from 23 different schools.

The Outlaws placed seventh among 16 complete teams in the varsity race. Once again, it was Maddi Boettner at the front of the Outlaws pack, finishing 33rd in 21:48.

Macadia Calavan and Sophie Borders stuck together finishing in 22:04 and 22:06 respectively. Serena Salisbury (23:06) and Mary Stewart (23:13) completed the scoring for Sisters.

Summit ran away from everyone on its way to the team trophy with just 31 points. Sisters scored 223.

The boys faced a steeper challenge, placing 14th among 23 teams, but enjoyed the return of Shea Krevi to the lineup as he placed first for the team in 17:41, which was good enough for 50th place among 166 finishers.

Dyut Fetrow (17:56), Jordan Pollard (18:00), Patrick Krevi (20:42.6) and William Werts (20:45) rounded out the scoring for Sisters.

The boys got their first look at Valley Catholic, a newcomer to the 4A classification, and ranked first in the most recent coaches' poll. The Valiants placed fifth, just nine points out of second, among a field that was comprised mostly of 6A and 5A teams.

Summit won the meet with 31 points, followed by Marist (106), Corvallis (111), Mountain View (113) and Valley Catholic (115). Sisters scored 413.

The Outlaws are scheduled to compete next at the Seaside Three Course Challenge on September 20, held at Camp Rilea.