Cross-country team runs well in Bend

The Outlaws cross-country team appreciated a meet close to home after three consecutive weekends of travel to western Oregon, and responded with a slew of personal and season bests.

The course for the Oxford Classic, hosted by Bend High and moved to Rockridge Community Park from its traditional venue at Drake Park for the first time in 30 years, presented a big challenge within the first 50 meters of the race, providing runners with war stories of how they survived a sharp right turn amidst a field of 150 racers from over 20 schools.

Despite the dangerous start, which saw numerous runners fall, most of the Outlaws came home with smiles regarding their performance as a team.

The focus for the boys team, according to Assistant Coach Dennis Dempsey, was to truly run with the team score in mind. The Outlaws accomplished that goal by being the top 4A team, finishing only behind 6A and 5A schools from Summit, South Medford, Mountain View, Bend, and Hermiston.

Hayden Roth crossed the line as the first 4A runner in a new best of 17:35.9. All of his scoring teammates finished within 1:10 of him.

Max Palanuk and Kaleb Briggs finished in 18:17 and 18:18 respectively, and Cole Jervis (18:34) and Evan Eby (18:45) came through next, giving the Outlaws 176 points to finish seventh among 14 complete teams.

Freshman Spencer Tisdel, the sixth man for the Outlaws, ran a personal record of 19:02.

The Storm of Summit edged South Medford 40-41 for the team title.

The girls did not field a complete team due to injuries, but the three Outlaws that did run had solid performances.

Sasha Stolasz, a victim of a brief fall at the start, finished in 21:52, while fellow senior Brooklyn Liddell, in her first meet of the year, clocked 22:29 for her second-best time ever. Delaney McAfee came through in 28:47.

In the junior varsity boys race, eight of the nine Outlaws ran personal bests.

“That’s what you hope to see at this point in the season,” said Coach Charlie Kanzig. “The JV runners really competed well.”

Mae Roth (25:58) established a personal best in the junior varsity girls race and Dulce Dunham ran a season best.

The team travels to Philomath for the Paul Mariman Invitational on October 9, which features only 4A, 3A, and 2A teams.