The Siuslaw Vikings boys cross country team moved to No. 2 in the OSAAtoday coaches poll Thursday as it prepares to once again take on top-ranked Marist Catholic in Eugene.

The battleground is the Northwest Class on Saturday at Lane Community College, and features dozens of schools from around the state.

The Siuslaw boys moved from No. 4 in the coaches poll to a tie with Newport for No. 2 after a strong showing in last Saturday's Spartan Invite at Marist Catholic.

"We have to get a lot better," Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson said. "We'll see Philomath and Newport and Tillamook tomorrow. That will tell us more.

"Philomath was missing three kids who will run varsity. We never beat them last year and they added (freshman phenom) Brody Bushnell."

Bushnell placed third in 16 minutes, 54.8 seconds at the challenging Ultimook Race last weekend in Tillamook.

The Lady Vikings, missing two of their top five runners, retained their No. 2 ranking in the girls poll, with Marist Catholic No. 1.

The Northwest Class will crown champions in two varsity races Saturday, one for 4A/3A/2A/1A and one for 6A and 5A.

The top six 4A girls teams and the top four 4A boys teams are entered, with the varsity girls racing at 11 a.m. and the boys at 11:40 a.m.

The varsity 6A/5A girls race is at 1:40 p.m., the boys at 2:20 p.m.

The race is sponsored by Steen's Mountain Running Camp, which is providing individual and team awards at the conclusion of each race.

The girls' cross country polls are online at http://www.osaa.org/today/article/1010/view?title=Girls+cross+country+coaches+polls%3A+Sept.+12

The boys' cross country polls are online at http://www.osaa.org/today/article/1011/view?title=Boys+cross+country+coaches+polls%3A+Sept.+12

OSAAtoday coaches' polls
(First-place votes), [last week's rankings], points
Boys
  1. Marist Catholic (10) [1] 109
  2. tie, Siuslaw [4] 84
      and Newport (1) [2] 84
  4. Philomath [3] 70
  5. Hidden Valley [nr] 50
  6. Baker [nr] 46
  7. Klamath Falls [9] 40
  8. Junction City [nr] 26
  9. Phoenix [nr] 15
10. Valley Catholic [8] 13
Others receiving significant votes: Marshfield 12, Sisters, 12.
Girls
  1. Marist Catholic (8) [1] 89
  2. Siuslaw (1) [2] 83
  3. Tillamook [3] 76
  4. Philomath [4] 64
  5. Klamath Union [nr] 62
  6. Phoenix [7] 36
  7. Valley Catholic [10] 30
  8. Stayton [8] 29
  9, tie, Sisters [5] 17
and Baker [nr] 17
Others receiving significant votes: none

NOTES

Other coaches' polls leaders for boys were Jesuit in 6A, Ashland in 5A, Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa in 3A, St. Stephen's in 2A/1A. …

In girls, it's Summit in 6A, Hood River Valley in 5A and Enterprise/Joseph/Wallowa in 3A/2A/1A. …

Course maps are online at www.lanetitans.net

Siuslaw Middle School is one of 17 schools with teams racing in the 3,000-meter boys (10:30 a.m.) and girls (10 a.m.) championships. …

Concessions and T-shirts will be available 30 minutes prior to the start of the middle school races. …