Kennedy High School returns all five runners from the 2016 cross country squad that won a district title by 42 points, and veteran coach Steve Ritchie thinks the squad is capable of improving on its fourth-place finish at state.
Leading the way for the Trojans is senior Kaylin Cantu, a three-time district champion who was third at state a season ago. Right behind her is junior Alejandra Lopez, second in the district and fifth at state. Clarissa Traeger (sixth at district), Azaris Velazquez (eighth at district) and Nati Ortiz (ninth at district) also return, but Ritchie noted that other top state contenders in the 3A-2A-1A level, Catlin Gabel, Union, Enterprise and Oak Hill, also return many of their top runners.
“The top echelon of 3A-2A-1A is the best I have seen in my two decades of coaching at Kennedy,” Ritchie said.
The Trojans lost their top two boys runners from a year ago, Noe Jines and Brendon Rendon, but sophomores Luke Hall and Nick Riedman return after finishing in the top 10 at districts as freshmen. Also in the mix are juniors Nick Spicklemeir (32nd at districts in 2016) and Carlos Saravia, a junior hurdler on Ritchie’s track squad who is trying cross country for the first time. The Kennedy boys will be looking to make it to state for the 18th time in 19 years.
On the schedule: The Trojans and Silverton host the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational Sept. 13 at Silver Falls State Park. The district meet is Oct. 26, with state on Nov. 4.
Silverton, meanwhile, is coming off its first boys district title in 25 years. Haile Stutzman, Will Sisley, Will Wright and Matthew Stravens are back, but coach Erik Cross said a repeat title will be a challenge because of the depth in the Mid-Willamette Conference. Newcomers Charlie Petrik, David Reaves III and Clay Martinson will add depth.
Junior Jori Paradis, who came within two spots of qualifying for state in her first cross country season, returns for the Foxes girls, along with Addie Schmitz, Eleasha Zitzelberger and Justice McBride. Cross also has promising freshmen Anne Hurley, Kaity McElfresh and Mya Kuzmin and seniors Rowan Lieggi and Brooke McCarty on hand to try to get the Foxes to the state meet for the first time since 1996.
On the schedule: Cross and the Foxes co-host the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational Sept. 13 at Silver Falls State Park. The Mid-Willamette district meet is Oct. 25, with state on Nov. 4.
Softball: Silverton 2017 graduate Alex Molloy helped lead her club team to second place in a national tournament held July 31-Aug. 6 at Wallace Marine Park in Salem. Molloy was 4-0 pitching for the All-American Mizuno 18A Gold squad that finished second to the Carolina Cardinals from Rural Hall, N. C. This is the third season Molloy has played for All-American Mizuno, which is based in Redding, Calif.
Previously Molloy participated on a Pioneer Little League that won a District 7 10U title, won a 12U state title with the Oregon Panthers and a 14U state title with the Oregon Titans. Her Silverton High team made the state Class 5A semifinals in 2015 and this past season. She was a three-time all-Mid-Willamette Conference first-team pitcher. She will play college softball at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.
Tower run: A total of 65 individuals participated on the first Tunnel 2 Towers 5-kilometer event in Mount Angel. The event is part of a national series that honors first-responders and 9-11. Joseph Hiller, 20, of St. Paul won the race in 20:41.9. Carlos Saravia, 16, of Aurora was second in 20:50. Nicole Guyer, 34, of Silverton finished 10th overall in 29:57.9 and was the top woman runner. “It was a good turnout for the first year,” said organizer Amanda Beyer, who added that organizers are considering a move to May next year to avoid the fire season.
Oktoberfest run: The annual 5K, 10K and half-marathon runs in conjunction with Oktoberfest are set for Saturday, Sept. 16 at Humpert Park in Mount Angel. The 13.1-mile half-marathon starts at 8 a.m., with the 5K and 10K set for 9 a.m. Registration costs $30, with prices going up to $35 on Sept. 14. Fees include a beer glass and a beer token for Oktoberfest’s Prostgarten. For information go to www.oktoberfestroadrace.com.
All-star baseball: Foxes junior to be Hunter Runion participated in the Pacific Northwest Regional all-star competition in Kent, Wash. Runion, a pitcher and outfielder played on the Oregon all-stars, who competed against Washington and Colorado teams as well as a mixed squad.
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