Outlaws athletes are back on track

Athletic contests, non-existent in the area for months due to COVID-19, are slowly returning, allowing Sisters High School track-and-field program to host an informal, abbreviated competition against Ridgeview High on Wednesday, September 30.

Events are being handled carefully. The non-scored meet featured just five running events, along with all the field events other than triple jump, in the first meet for most of the athletes since the spring of 2019.

Sisters, along with other regional schools, elected to use the OSAA “Season One” to offer mini-seasons prior to the start of sanctioned seasons which begin in late December.

Hudson Jones had a banner day in the field with personal records on his way to victory in all three throwing events.

Jones put the shot 42 feet 9 inches, winged the discus 134 feet 11 inches, and chucked the javelin 145 feet 2 inches.

“Hudson made the most of getting back into competition,” said Coach Jeff Larson. “I’m not sure when the last time we had an Outlaw pull off that trifecta.”

Cody Anderson won the 100 meters (11.98) and Hayden Sharp established a new personal best for second place in the long jump at 20 feet 8.5 inches, just 3.5 inches out of first place.

On the girls side, Shelby Larson led a Sisters sweep of the top four pole-vaulting places, winning the event at nine feet, while Hollie Lewis took top honors in the long jump with a mark of 15 feet 1 inch.

Anya Shockley cleared 4 feet 8 inches in the high jump for the first time and Lewis finished third at 4 feet 6 inches.

Regardless of results, athletes appeared quite pleased to be able to take part in the meet on a warm, sun-splashed fall afternoon.

“I saw smiles and genuine appreciation from kids on both teams, Larson said. “None of these kids will ever take for granted something so mundane as a dual meet. What was so special is that there was literally nothing at stake. It was just a chance to compete, have fun and do what kids do. I’m so very grateful our AD, Gary Thorson, had the willingness to make this happen for us.”

Following the meet, Larson reflected further on the positivity surrounding the afternoon.

“It was a perfect day for a track meet — beautiful weather, wonderful facilities, great volunteers, friendly competition. The meet represented what high school sports should be about and was so welcome and needed in abnormal times.”

Some traditional spring sports will continue a “mini season” through mid-October, followed by fall sports four weeks and culminating with winter sports, which will begin in November.

Sisters hosted another meet Tuesday, October 6, against Redmond and Ridgeview and the team is scheduled to travel to Prineville Thursday, October 8, to face Crook County and Ridgeview.