Vikings boys, girls favored in district finals


Siuslaw's girls team has just the minimum five student-athletes needed to compete for district and state titles. (Becky Holbrook photo)

The Siuslaw Vikings boys and girls cross country teams remain the teams to beat entering Thursday's district championships in Eugene.

Athletic.net has the boys dominating a hypothetical meet, while the girls are big favorites to hold off host school Marist Catholic for the title.

"District is always a survive and advance mentality," Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson said. "Obviously, titles matter too, and we'd love to bring home some trophies."

The girls race at 4:30 p.m., the boys at 5:15.

Siuslaw is also favored to win both team titles next week at the 4A state championships in Tillamook.

Athletic.net has the Vikings boys scoring a near-perfect 16, followed by Marist Catholic with 53, Marshfield with 76, Junction City with 111 and Cottage Grove with 138.

Junior Chad Hughes, sophomores Samuel Ulrich and Kyle Hughes and senior Ryan Jennings are projected to be the first four runners to cross the finish line at the end of 5,000 meters. Senior Jaxson Jensen is projected to be sixth.

It will be a bigger challenge for Lady Vikings, who have the minimum five runners needed to score as a team.

Athletic.net has the Lady Vikings finishing with 28 points, Marist Catholic with 52, Junction City with 61 and Elmira with 80.

Junior Rylee Colton, seniors Brea Blankenship and Gracie Freudenthal and freshmen Jane Lacouture and Corduroy Holbrook are projected to finish 2-3-6-8-9.

All five Lady Vikings will need to be on the top of their games, and avoid injuries.

"It's too late for injuries," Johnson joked.

Success will have its price. 

The top seven boys and seven girls finishers are first-team all-Sky-Em League.

The champion boys and girls teams each receive a championship plaque and championship ribbons.

The head coach of the boys and girls championship teams is designated Coach of the Year and receives a plaque.

The Vikings may need to back up the van for their victory hauls.

MIDDLE SCHOOL VIKINGS

The Siuslaw Middle School girls won the team title and the Vikings boys were second win their 3,000-meter race at the Far West League District Cross Country Championships March 20 in Coos Bay.

Siuslaw had 55 points for the girls title, followed by Harbor Lights with 57, Coquille with 66, Marshfield with 80 and North Bend with 95.

The Marshfield boys won with 34 points, followed by Siuslaw with 49, Harbor Lights with 70, North Bend with 87 and Reedsport with 120.

The Lady Vikings't top five included eighth-grader Addison McNeill, sixth overall in 12:55.7; eighth-grader Macy McNeill, ninth in 13:07.9; seventh-grader Alison Hughes, 12th in 13:50.5; eighth-grader Maya Wells, 13th in 13:51.9, and seventh-grader Ava Borgnino, 17th in 14:14.5.

The Vikings boys' top five included seventh-grader Kale Jensen, fourth overall in 11:17.4; seventh-grader Camden Linton, sixth in 11:23.5; sixth-grader Blu Boehlje, 14th in 12:53.7; seventh-grader Elijah Jones, 15th in 12:56.5, and sixth-grader Asher Shervin, 19th in 13:22.7.