The Siuslaw Vikings boys cross country team will be defending its 4A state title Nov. 6 after a dominating performance in Thursday's Sky-Em district championships at Lane Community College in Eugene.

Siuslaw won with 29 points to 51 by Cottage Grove. The Vikings and Lions both qualified for state.

Siuslaw senior Chad Hughes was second in 16 minutes 42.1 seconds as six Vikings finished in the top 11.

Marshfield junior Alexander Garcia-Silver won the individual title in 16:25.4. Garcia-Silver advances to state as an individual qualifier.

Vikings junior Samuel Ulrich was third in 17:14.8, junior Kyle Hughes sixth in 17:25.1, sophomore Brayden Linton eighth in 17:58.8 and junior Jacob Blankenship 10th in 18:05.6.

Siuslaw sophomore Talan Ross was 11th in 18:12.1 and sophomore Dylan Jensen 18th in 18:55.6.

All but Ross were members of last spring's state championship team.

Marist was third in the team race Thursday with 71, followed by Marshfield with 77 and Junction City with 151. Elmira did not field a complete team.

VIKINGS, LIONS 1-2 IN FINAL POLL

Siuslaw and Cottage Grove not only were 1-2 in the Sky-Em district championships, they are 1-2 in the final OSAAtoday coaches poll, which was released Thursday.

The top 10: 1. Siuslaw (all 10 first-place votes) 100 points. 2. Cottage Grove 82. 3. Philomath 76. 4. Valley Catholic 68. 5. Klamath Union 55. 6. Marist 50. 7. Hidden Valley 31. 8. Marshfield 27. 9. Cascade 19. 10. Newport 17.