Skeleton track crew competes over spring break

One of the challenges of Sisters School District's unique two-week spring break is the havoc it causes for spring sports coaches with league contests scheduled during the vacation.

Even so, a hearty and dedicated - though small - crew of track-and-field athletes traveled from Sisters to Sweet Home on Thursday, April 2, to compete against the Huskies and the Elmira Falcons in a three-way Sky-Em League contest.

Nine girls and seven boys used a day of vacation to test themselves athletically, showing dedication that impressed their coaches.

Michaela Miller is showing tremendous early season form in the 300-meter hurdles, which she won in a time of 50.32 and ranks seventh among 4A hurdlers with a best this year of 50.09.

Her coaches see her continuing a steady progression that will bring her the fast times she has as a goal by the time championship meets come.

Miller also won the long jump (15 feet 3 inches) and placed second in the javelin (91 feet 9 inches).

Tessa O'Hern came within two inches of her lifetime best in the pole vault, clearing 9 feet 6 inches to take first place. Mandi Calavan also earned a win, running 28.60 seconds in the 200 meters. She also played a part in the victorious 1600-meter relay team that included her sister Macadia, Dallas Knoop, and Sabrina Reifschneider.

The victory in the last event pulled the Outlaws into second place in the team scoring with 51.5 points. Sweet Home won the meet with 78.5 points, while Elmira finished third with 49.

Reifschneider picked up a pair of second-place individual finishes in the hurdles races, clocking 18.97 in the 100 hurdles and 55.03 in the 300 hurdles. Megan Calarco ran what her coaches considered a very solid time in the 3000 (12:56) where she placed third, and Betsy Ausman pushed through to a third-place finish in the 800 (3:01.32).

Coach Jeff Larson noted a breakout day for Tara Greaney who set lifetime bests in the javelin, long jump, and triple jump.

"I would consider her the female athlete of the meet," he said.

For the boys, senior Andres Pederson blazed through his first 400 meters of the season to win in 54.49, the lone victory for the Outlaws.

Two Outlaws picked up runner-up finishes, including Sam Garbrecht in the 100 (11.75), and Jadon Bachtold in the 1,500 (4:28.48).

Other performances noted by Head Coach Jeff Larson included the effort by the 400-meter relay team of Cody Martin, Garbrecht, Pederson and Connor Gellings that established a season best of 46.26.

The undermanned Outlaws had a tough time mustering up points as Elmira amassed 85 points to win the meet. Sweet Home scored 74 and Sisters 22.

"It was an eye opening experience for us as Sweet Home and Elmira both have very large teams, as do other league teams Cottage Grove and Junction City," he said. "Every week we are going to have to have our kids double and triple up to counter the great numbers these other teams have. Thank goodness our kids are ready and willing to do that."

On Saturday, distance ace Aria Blumm represented the Outlaws at the Marist Invitational where she ran her first 3,000-meter race of the year. She placed fourth in 11:22.53.

The Outlaws travel southwest to Sutherlin on Thursday, April 9 for a league meet and a few are entered in the Meet of Champions at Willamette University on Saturday, April 11.