Outlaws surprise as champions

Last Wednesday afternoon, Head Coach Josh Nordell laid out a plan with the varsity cross-country team helping them know exactly what they would need to do to be one of the two teams to qualify for the state meet by being in the top two at the next day's Oregon West District Meet.

With Philomath appearing to be a heavy favorite, Nordell's plan was focused on beating the Stayton Eagles for the second spot. Even that would require most of the team to run personal bests.

In one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, the Outlaws pulled off the unthinkable, winning the meet ahead of the Warriors and the Eagles.

Kate Bowen held off Stayton's top runner to place second overall as the first Outlaw across the line in 19:36. Two of her teammates, running lifetime bests, also placed in the top 10. Senior Ella Cole placed sixth in 20:07, while Emma Singleton ran a full two-minute personal best to place eighth.

Amy Hills battled all the way to the finish, edging Stayton's Alyssa Cudd by .03 seconds to place 15th in her best time of the season (21:54) and Pearl Gregg knocked nearly a full minute off of her personal best to finish 18th in 22:09 to secure the win for Sisters with 45 points. Philomath finished second with 48 and Stayton was third with 50 points.

Iris Diez (23:19) and Sasha Stolasz (24:57), the sixth and seventh non-scoring runners for the Outlaws, also ran personal bests.

"Honestly, that was one of most amazing team performances I have ever seen," said Nordell. "These girls outdid themselves!"

Hannah Hernandez of Philomath led wire to wire to win the individual title in 18:22.

Sisters will join 11 other 4A teams at Saturday's OSAA State Championships at Lane Community College in Eugene. All classifications converge at the same site starting with the 1A/2A/3A girls at 10 a.m.

The 4A girls start time is 11:45 a.m.

Other teams competing include top-ranked Marist, defending champ Tillamook, Philomath, Siuslaw, La Grande, Valley Catholic, Baker, Henley, Phoenix, Gladstone, and Estacada.

"I am not making any predictions for State, but I am more confident than ever that these girls will give it their best effort, that's for sure," said Nordell.