For Vikings runners, it's over hill, dale, dunes

Chris Johnson, Siuslaw cross country coach and athletic director

Siuslaw Vikings cross country coach Chris Johnson at least practices what he preaches.

Running is not a sport, it's a way of life.

Life continues next week with the annual Siuslaw Dune Camp — Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Honeyman, Tuesday at Sutton and Thursday the Siltcoos Lake Trail.

"Siuslaw Dune Camp is a great opportunity to get our feet a little wet before the official season starts," Johnson said.

The season starts in two weeks — Monday, Aug. 19 — and will be more than a few laps around the renovated track at Hans Petersen Field.

You also will have to watch out for runners on Kingwood and Oak and other town tributaries as the Vikings work out the summer kinks.

Not that summer was time off for the heart of the Vikings order, the seven boys and six girls who participated in the Steen's Mountain High Altitude Running Camp.

The week-long endurance test was capped by an uphill 5,000-meter run, with seniors Brendon Jensen and Hannah Rannow turning in the top boys and girls times for the Vikings.

The Lady Vikings were a strong third place among the eight scoring teams, while the Vikings boys were fifth of eight.

Meanwhile, Johnson is not taking a pass on life as a runner, teaming with some local runners in the upcoming annual (Mount) Hood to (Oregon) Coast relay run.

"We plan to dominate," Johnson said. "Ha!"

STEENS MOUNTAIN HIGH ALTITUDE
RUNNING CAMP UPHILL 5K
Boys (97 runners)
Finish—Athlete, year, time

15—Brendon Jensen, senior, 22:36.0
42—Kiger Johnson, senior, 24:08.2
48—Chad Hughes, sophomore, 24:28.4
52—Jared Northrop, senior, 24:51.3
63—Jacob Blankenship, freshman, 25:53.0
67—Kyle Hughes, freshman, 26:12.2
70—Sam Ulrich, freshman, 26:34.0
Team—Wilson 50, Sherwood 79, Sheldon 86, Joseph 95, Siuslaw 124, Burns 141, Bandon 144, Union 160

Girls (87 runners)
Finish—Athlete, year, time

11—Hannah Rannow, senior, 27:49.0
19—Brea Blankenship, junior, 28:56.9
30—Rylee Colton, sophomore, 29:55.3
43—Anne Wartnik, senior, 31:13.3
44—Gracie Freudenthal, junior, 31:14.0
61—Chloe Madden, senior, 34:10.3
Team—North Salem 39, Wilson 70, Siuslaw 73, Burns 109, Thermopolis (Wyo.) 116, Bandon 128, Union 156, Klamath Union 166

SIUSLAW 2019 SCHEDULE

Monday, Aug. 19 — First practice
Saturday, Sept. 7 — Spartan Invitational, Marist Catholic, Eugene
Saturday, Sept. 14 — Northwest Classic, Lane Community College, Eugene
Saturday, Sept. 28 — Nike Portland XC, Portland Meadows Race Track
Saturday, Oct. 5 — Woahink Lake XC Invitational, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12 — Paul Mariman Invitational, Philomath
Saturday, Oct. 19 — Warner Pacific XC Classic, Lents Park, Portland
Thursday, Oct. 24 — The Run for the Brownies, Florence Golf Links
Thursday, Oct. 31 — Sky-Em League championships, Lane Community College, Eugene
Saturday, Nov. 9 — OSAA 4A state championships, Lane Community College, Eugene

2019 VARSITY ROSTER (from athletic.net)
Boys (11)
Freshmen (3)
Jacob Blankenship
Kyle Hughes
Sam Ulrich
Sophomores (1)
Chad Hughes
Juniors (2)
Ryan Jennings
Jaxsen Jensen
Seniors (5)
Jonah Jarman
Brendon Jensen
Kiger Johnson
Isaiah Jones
Jared Northrop
Head coach: Chris Johnson
Assistant coaches: Rachelle Campbell, Steven Moser
Girls (8)
Freshmen (0)
None listed
Sophomores (2)
Rylee Colton
Masie Jones
Juniors (2)
Brea Blankenship
Gracie Freudenthal
Seniors (4)
Bryn Clement
Chloe Madden
Hannah Rannow
Anne Wartnik
Head coach: Chris Johnson
Assistant coaches: Amy Flora, Neil Wartnik, Rachelle Campbell