Outlaws shine at state cross-country meet

For the third time in school history the Sisters girls cross-country team placed second at the OSAA State Championships held Saturday, October 31, at Lane Community College in Eugene.

The Outlaws gave champion Siuslaw a bit of a scare, but could not overcome the Vikings' speed up front, as junior Celie Mans earned the individual title to give her team 89 points. Sisters totaled 105 for second with Molalla right behind with 112. South Umpqua snagged the fourth-place trophy with 136 points.

Junior Sophie Borders once again paced the Outlaws, placing 12th in 20:26. Anna Bartlett, a sophomore, finished strongly in 20:53 for 20th place. Senior Megan Calarco completed her career with a personal record of 21:03 to place 23rd.

Macadia Calavan and Serena Salisbury worked together throughout the race and finished just one second apart in 43rd and 45th place in 21:54 and 21:55, respectively.

Engracia Diez ran her best time of the season to place 54th (22:18) and Amy Hills, battling a side-ache, came through in 68th place in 22: 58.

"The girls ran very well, overall," said Coach Josh Nordell. "We knew that Siuslaw would be a challenge to get in front of, but we did everything we could to keep the team race close. I am extremely proud of how they performed at state and all season long."

Tony Hooks stole the show for the boys team as he contended throughout the race for the individual title, coming up just short in second place in a personal best of 16:18.

Eulises Cruz-Vieyra of Tillamook, Michael Brown of North Bend, Bradley Rzewnicki of Seaside and Hooks pulled away from the rest of the pack by the midway point of the meet and it still looked like anybody's race with 600 meters to go. Cruz-Vieyra faltered and Rzewnicki opened a gap approaching the track. Hooks got by Brown to move into second and did everything he could to stay close over the final 250 meters, but ended up five seconds short.

Hooks' finish was the highest ever by a Sisters runner at the state cross-country meet.

"We knew T.J. was as strong as anyone in the field and would give it his all no matter what," said Nordell. "He is such a great kid and the best kind of competitor."

The Outlaws did not expect to challenge for a top-four finish, but hoped to finish in the upper half of the 14-team field, which they were able to do as they placed seventh with 208 points.

Seaside placed three runners in the top 10 on their way to the state title with 49 points. Phoenix placed second (65), Tillamook third (78), and Newport fourth (134).

Sophomore Jordan Pollard helped the cause by placing 30th in 17:36. Seniors Izaak Kanzig and Dyut Fetrow finished together on the track in 18:30, while fellow senior Patrick Krevi completed the scoring for the team with a personal best of 18:55.

Rounding out the team were Cody Martin (19:29) and Will Werts (19:32).

"I think we got all we could out of our boys this year," said Nordell. "Winning the district title and coming through with a strong finish at state met my expectations and more."