Exploding Whale Sports
September 14, 2017, 3:21am
The Siuslaw Vikings boys and girls cross country teams have served notice that they will be a force in the Far West League this season.
Both teams won titles at the North Bend Tugman Invitational on Wednesday at Tugman State Park.
And it was the young guns who came out firing.
Sophomore Brendon Jensen slashed more than a minute off his personal best to finish third overall in leading the Vikings boys to a 1-point win over Bandon, 49-50.
Jensen completed the 5,000-meter course in 17 minutes, 20.6 seconds. Bandon seniors Hunter Hutton (15:57.8) and Josh Snyder (16:05.9) were first and second.
Senior Isaac Griffes (17:29.7) was second for Siuslaw, while sophomores Kiger Johnson (17:48.9), Jared Northrop (PR 17:55.7) and Jonah Jarman (18:13.9) were 3-4-5.
Viking sophomore Hannah Rannow lowered her personal best by nearly 45 seconds to finish fourth overall in leading the Vikings girls to a 4-point win over South Umpqua, 45-49.
Rannow timed 20:36.5. Bandon senior Sailor Hutton won for the fourth time, clocking 19:15.8.
Also scoring for the Vikings were sophomore Anne Wartnik in a PR 21:46.4, freshman Brea Blankenship in 22:20.8, sophomore Chloe Madden in 22:31.7 and freshman Gracie Freudenthal in 23:10.0.
All six Far West League schools competed for the boys team title, while four schools had enough girls to compete for the team title. Douglas entered two girls while Brookings-Harbor had no entries.
The Tugman race was the Vikings' first race of the 2017 season. Siuslaw next will compete in the Northwest Classic, Saturday at Lane Community College in Eugene.
Results of the Tugman Invitational are online at https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/Results/Meet.aspx?Meet=131166#/183
BOYS ROSTER
Name, school year, personal best at 5,000 meters
GIRLS ROSTER
Name, school year, personal best at 5,000 meters
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