Girls cross-country team steps up in big meet

"Run like a team and go after Philomath," was the battle cry that Coach Josh Nordell gave to the girls' cross-country team in preparation for the Paul Mariman Invitational. The team delivered as the Outlaws placed second in the meet, just nine points behind the host Warriors, among 28 teams, mostly from the 4A ranks.

Philomath and Sisters were ranked second and third in the most recent 4A coaches' poll and the meet was the first head-to-head encounter of the two teams. Most of the other top-ranked teams also competed in the meet, other than number-one-ranked Tillamook. In the end, Sisters came up just short, but the difference between the two teams is minimal, according to Nordell.

"The girls ran great together and they really raced hard as a group for the first time this season," he said. "Considering we ran basically even with Philomath on their home course without Molly Winter finishing, I am really happy with the way the team performed."

The key for the Outlaws was having the five scorers run in a tighter bunch. Anna Bartlett and Sophie Borders finished just 14 second apart, but it was also the work of Tate Ricker, Engracia Diez, and Zidane Galant-LaPorte who closed the gap among the scorers.

Bartlett finished in 11th place (21:07), and Borders crossed the line in 15th (21:21) to lead the Outlaws up front. Ricker (22:14) placed 24th, Diez 37th (22:49), and Galant-LaPorte (23:15) 43rd to complete the scoring. Galant-LaPorte's surge to the finish where she passed a runner in the final step helped Sisters edge Catlin Gabel, the top-ranked 3A girls team, by one point.

Philomath won the meet with 109 points, 10 points ahead of Sisters at 119. Catlin Gabel finished third (120), Scappoose fourth (131) and Siuslaw fifth (167) among 19 complete teams.

The Outlaws, who finished second at last year's state meet, appear to be ready to compete with any and all 4A teams with a month to go before the 2016 state meet.

For the boys team - which continues to improve, according to Nordell - the challenge is having its strongest runners healthy and available for the important meets to come.

Jordan Pollard returned to action after having to step out of last week's meet with a tight calf and placed fifteenth in 17:40. The Outlaws got Cole Pade back (19:01), but were missing number-two runner Josh Liddell, who had a scheduling conflict. However, Jack Berg (20:28.0) and Peyton Myhre (20:28.7) ran much stronger and closer to the middle of the pack than earlier meets. Will Werts 21:05) returned to action after missing earlier meet, to place fifth for the Outlaws.

The Outlaws finished 18th among 25 complete teams with 429 points. Number-one ranked Valley Catholic ran away with the team title with 84 points. The next two places went to 3A schools Bandon (113) and East Linn Christian (144), while 4A schools Phoenix and Siuslaw finished fourth (169) and fifth (214).

"Both of our varsity teams and our junior varsity teams continue to improve week after week, so I am very pleased with their continued growth," said Nordell.

The Outlaws are scheduled to run at the George Fox Classic at Mission Bottom State Park on Saturday, October 15.