Outlaws race at Philomath

The Paul Mariman Invitational hosted by Philomath High School included many of the top 4A and 3A teams in Oregon on Saturday, October 8.

The competition was top-notch, but an unseasonably hot day combined with a long course made it impossible for personal records to be set.

The varsity girls race featured three of the four top-ranked 4A runners and two of the top six 3A/2A/1A girls.

Second ranked Adele Beckstead of Philomath led from start to finish, but was challenged throughout the race by Molalla’s Anika Jenson, ranked third. Danielle McLain of Bandon, ranked fourth among 3A girls and Kyla Potratz, ranked fourth among 4A runners, placed third and fourth respectively.

Sisters’ Ella Bartlett, ranked sixth among 3A/2A/1A runners finished fifth in 20:37. Beckstead crossed the line in a fine time of 19:36.

“Ella got to face a fine group of runners and held her own quite well,” said Coach Charlie Kanzig. “She was sort of stuck in no man’s land for most of the race, but kept a consistent pace and held off challengers in the final mile very well. I am not sure I have seen her look more confident.”

Philomath, the top ranked 4A girls team, won the meet handily.

Illness among the team kept the Outlaws from having five scorers. Brooke Duey raced to 17th place (21:54) among 122 finishers, and was followed by Nevaeh McAfee (23:55) and Delaney McAfee (26:16).

Sickness also knocked the boys’ leading runner Hayden Roth out of what would have been a great match-up for him, according to Kanzig.

“He would certainly have placed in the top 10 of a very strong field of boys. Hayden was bummed at missing this opportunity, but had no choice but to work on getting well,” said Kanzig.

Without Roth, the Outlaws still managed to take eighth place among eighteen teams behind the twentieth place finish by Cole Jervis (18:33) in a field of 149 finishers. Spencer Tisdel (19:25), John Berg (19:32), Ace Chew (20:11) and Eli Palanuk (22:04) completed the scoring for Sisters.

Philomath, ranked first among 4A teams, held off Siuslaw, the top 3A team for the team title. Valley Catholic, the second ranked 3A team, took third.

The Outlaws host their home meet on Thursday beginning at 3:45. Local residents who use the gravel path between Tollgate and the high school are advised that the path will largely be closed from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for the races.