XC runners ready for Districts

If last week's results at the Bigfoot Classic at Alderbrook Golf Course are any indication, the Outlaws cross-country teams are ready for action at the Special District 2 Championships set for Wednesday, October 30, at Cheadle Lake Park in Lebanon.

The girls team, behind Brooke Duey's runner-up finish, placed second in the meet among seven complete 3A/2A/1A teams with 57 points. Banks, considered one of the top teams in the state, won the meet with 32 points.

Duey ran a personal best of 19:28, while teammate Josie Ryan cracked the top 10 in eighth place in her best time of the year of 20:29.

Althea Crabtree (22:46), and Mae Roth (22:51) also turned in lifetime best, along with Helena Welty (23:26) and Annalycia Erdekian (24:32).

The boys team also had a flurry of personal bests on the way to fourth place among 16 complete teams. Banks, ranked second in the 3A coaches' poll, literally ran away with the team title with just 34 points. Neah-Kah-Nie, also ranked, placed second with 67 points, followed by 4A Molalla (121) and Sisters (122).

Photo by Charlie Kanzig

George Roberts led the Outlaws to a strong finish at last week's Bigfoot Classic in Tillamook.

George Roberts led the charge, finishing tenth in 16:45. John Berg came through next in seventeenth (17:35), followed closely by Zack Kemp (17:40). Ben Hayner (18:29) and Tyson Kemp (18:43) completed the scoring for Sisters.

The team ran without Spencer Tisdel who missed the meet due to illness.

"As coaches we saw the kids really compete, across the board," said head coach Charlie Kanzig. "They pushed each other and truly raced, which is what we are looking for going into Districts."

The team is scheduled to compete in the Special District 2 Championships at Cheadle Lake Park Wednesday, October 30 to vie for advancement to the OSAA State Championships scheduled for November 9 in Eugene.

The top two teams automatically qualify for state along with the top seven individuals. The boys' team, coming off two years as District champions in the Special District 3, that includes teams from the eastern part of the state, should be in the hunt, according to Kanzig.

"We can only control our own effort, but if we run well we have a shot," he said.

Like the boys' team, the girls have qualified for state nearly every year for the past many years, but have their work cut out for them in what has become a very competitive district.

"Last year District 2 was very weak, but this season the depth has increased tremendously," said Kanzig. "Central Linn and Taft are vastly improved from last year and Santiam Christian also poses a threat among the fourteen schools with complete teams in the district."

In addition to the automatic qualifiers, four at-large teams will be selected by committee following the completion of the four special districts.

"If we aren't in the top two we will have to wait until Sunday, November 3, to know if we have been selected," said Kanzig.

Action for the meet at Cheadle Lake Park begins at 3:45 p.m. for the girls race. The boys follow at 4:30.