Tough course challenges Outlaws

The Jere Breese Memorial Ranch Stampede, hosted by Crook County High School, provides a challenge unrivaled among cross-country courses in Oregon.

Mosquito-infested irrigated cow pastures, rock-laden single-track, a creek crossing at the start and finish, a never-ending hill, and an unrelenting sun greeted runners from Sisters, Redmond, Mountain View, Summit, and La Pine in the inaugural race of the 2016 campaign.

For new runners, it is an initiation of sorts to a sport in which no two courses are the same and mental toughness is as important as physical stamina. For veteran runners, it is a chance to see if summer training has paid off.

For two Outlaws, the latter was certainly the case. Jordan Pollard led the boys race from start to finish on his way to garnering his first-ever varsity win, while Anna Bartlett, a member of last year's second-place state team, looked tougher than ever in earning a fourth-place finish among a high-quality field.

The approach to the race for the team, according to Head Coach Joshua Nordell, was to take it as a high-quality workout, given that official practices started August 15 and very few runners are race-ready.

"It's a fun, low-key meet on a challenging course that all the runners can learn and benefit from," said Nordell.

After running in the open race, he concurred that the course, especially the hill, presented a great challenge to the runners.

"That was one tough hill," he said.

Team scores and individual results were not immediately published due to some technical difficulties, but Nordell felt pleased for the team members who took on the course and made it through.

"We have a lot of training ahead of us, but the Stampede provided a good test for us and a chance to experience the meet atmosphere."  

The team races next on Friday, September 2 at the Pine Nursery at a meet hosted by Mountain View High School.