Vikings will be getting a sneak peak at state


Siuslaw cross country coach Chris Johnson

Saturday's Paul Mariman Invitational cross country meet Saturday at Philomath is not the state championships, but it's at least a fine preview.

That became apparent Thursday when OSAAtoday released its every-other-week coaches' polls.

The top five Class 4A boys teams and three of the top four Class 4A girls teams are entered.

The Siuslaw Vikings are rated No. 4 in the boys' poll, No. 2 in the girls'.

"It's going to be an old-fashioned showdown," Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson said. "I suspect we'll have some personal records on Saturday, but it's hard to predict because you never know what the conditions will be like."

Two of the top five boys teams are from the Sky-Em League — Siuslaw and top-ranked Marist.

Three of the boys teams are from the Oregon West Conference — Philomath, Sisters and Newport.

"That means that one of (the Oregon West) schools won't make the dance (state)," Johnson said. "There is a flaw in how we qualify teams in cross country.

"We need an at-large bid added, by a panel of experts, after the district meets are concluded."

On the girls' side, Marist and Siuslaw are 1-2, while host Philomath is No. 4. Not entered Saturday are No. 3 Tillamook and No. 5 Stayton. The only other top 10 school entered is No. 7 Sisters.

The top seven boys for the Vikings are Brendon Jensen (season best 16:27.2), Samuel Ulrich (17:17.1), Jaxson Jensen (17:28.6), Kiger Johnson (17:30.4), Chad Hughes (17:49.1), Kyle Hughes (17:49.6) and Jared Northrop (17:54.9).

The top seven Lady Vikings are Hannah Rannow (18:57.1), Brea Blankenship (20:42.1), Rylee Colton (20:45.6), Anne Wartnik (21:14.9), Gracie Freudenthal (22:01.4), Chloe Madden (22:15.0) and Bryn Clement (23:54.5).

The girls varsity race is 2 p.m., the boys 2:30 p.m.

The girls junior varsity race is 1 p.m., the boys 1:30 p.m.

The girls middle school race is noon, the boys 12:30 p.m.

Siuslaw has two more meets before district championships, the Warner Pacific Classic at Lents Park in Portland on Saturday, Oct. 19, and The Run for the Brownies at the Florence Golf Links on Thursday, Oct. 24.

The Sky-Em League Championships are Thursday, Oct. 31, and the state championships Saturday, Nov. 9, both at Lane Community College in Eugene.