District meet is next for Outlaws track and field

The high-powered Wally Ciochetti Invitational at Cottage Grove Friday May 12 concluded the regular season for the Outlaws’ track and field season with the District Championships set for May 18-19 at Siuslaw High School in Florence.

The field of teams included some of the top 4A and 3A squads providing the Outlaws with the high level of competition expected at the district, and potentially, state meets.

The Outlaw girls team performed well, finishing fourth in the team standings with 55 points behind Philomath (136), Henley (73) and North Valley (62).

Lilly Sundstrom had a breakout meet with personal best in both hurdles races. She placed third in the 100 meters (17.03) and second in the 300 hurdles (49.77) and sixth in the long jump to lead the Outlaws individually.

“The amazing thing is that Lilly ran that time despite being in the fast heat,” said Coach Dennis Dempsey. “Her hard work in practice is paying off.”

Sundstrom wasn’t the only hurdler to make the podium as freshman Brooke Duey set a new personal best in the 300 hurdles of 50.32 to place sixth. The pair is now ranked seventh and ninth respectively in the 3A ranks.

Ella Bartlett completed an impressive double, finishing third in both the 1,500, with a personal best of 5;03.65, and the 800 (2:32.66). Bartlett ranks fourth among 3A girls in the 1,500 and third in the 3,000 heading into district.

“We worked on race strategy this week and she executed the plan to perfection,” said distance coach Sarah Thorsett. “Both races came down to the wire.”

Mae Roth led three Outlaw pole vaulters in reaching the podium. She placed third (8 feet 6 inches) while Kate Singleton and Kathryn Buller cleared 8 feet to place sixth and seventh respectively.

Gracie Vohs scored in two individual events, placing fourth in the 400 with a new personal best of 1:01.68 and eighth in the 200 (27,84). She anchored the third place 4x400 relay team that included Brooke Duey, Ila Reid, and Delaney McAfee, which established a season best of 4:17.58. Sisters leads the 3A ranks in the event.

Philomath, the top 4A relay team, won the race in 4:11.61, while Henley edged the Outlaws by .19 seconds for second.

For the boys, the focus was tuning up for district rather than the team score, as the squad mustered just five points to finish in 14th place.

Host Cottage Grove won the meet with 95 points, followed by Philomath (88), Henley (82) and Crook County (79) as the top four.

Corbin Fredland picked up three for the Outlaws in the 300 hurdles where he placed sixth in a new personal best of 43.16. He teamed with Taine Martin, Spencer Tisdel, and Charlie Moen in the 4 x 400 to place seventh in 3:47.17, which completed the scoring for Sisters.

Martin cleared 12 feet in the pole vault for the first time in an event that resulted in a state leading 15 foot clearance for Jonathan Parks of 4A Marshfield. Two other vaulters cleared 14 feet 6 inches, including Kyle Hughes, who leads the 3A ranks with a season best of 14 feet 11.25 inches. Martin moved up to sixth in the rankings among 3A vaulters.

The Special District 4 Meet determines the team champions for the district and serves as the qualifying meet for State. The top two finishers in each event move on to Hayward Field in Eugene May 25 and 26 for the OSAA Championships. Athletes can also qualify by meeting time and distance standards set by the OSAA in addition to “wild card” entries.

Special District 4 includes Creswell, Glide, Sutherlin, Elmira, Pleasant Hill, La Pine, Siuslaw and Sisters.