Viks cross country season off and running

Junior Braydon Linton (left) is not only one of the top runners on the Siuslaw cross country team, but he is also an important part of the Siuslaw soccer team. Junior Jane Lacouture (right) is one of the strong returning runners from last year’s state champion cross country team from Siuslaw. Photos by Zac Burtt/Siuslaw News

By: Zac Burtt/Siuslaw News

Updated: 8 months ago / Posted Sep 21, 2022

SHS boys win Fugate, both teams 2nd at Northwest Classic

Sept. 20, 2022 — The Siuslaw cross country teams were the last fall sport to kick off their season last week when they competed in two events.

On Sept. 13, the teams traveled to Bandon for the Fugate Farms Invite, a race in a cranberry bog.

In the boys race, Siuslaw claimed the 4^th-7^th spots as seniors Sam Ulrich (4^th, 16:56.44), Kyle Hughes (5^th, 16:58.42) and Jacob Blankenship (6^th, 17:15.05) and junior Brydon Linton (7^th, 17:24.69) were top finishers for Siuslaw.

The Viking boys would take the team title, besting second place Marshfield 30-48.

For the girls at Fugate, junior Corduroy Holbrook showed why she will be a leader for the SHS girls side when she finished third with a time of 20:48 even. Next for the Viking girls was a four-girl streak lead by freshman Allison Hughes, making an impressive showing in her first-ever high school cross country event, finishing 6^th in 21:26.94. She was followed by sophomore Maya Wells (7^th, 21:37.88) junior Jane Lacouture (8^th, 22:11.07) and sophomore Addison McNeill (9^th, 22:19.09). The girls finished second, just two points behind host school Bandon, 27-29.

Next for the Viks was the Northwest Classic on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Lane Community College in Eugene.

Both Siuslaw teams competed in the 4A/3A/2A/1A Division at the event, and both finished second just behind 4A Philomath, the boys by a closer margin, 45-61. The girls were a little farther behind finishing second by a score of 28-77.

Top finisher for the Siuslaw girls was again Holbrook. She was 12^th when she finished in 21:11.50. That was just ahead of teammate A. Hughes (13^th, 21:15.40). McNeill was next for the Viks in 23^rd place (22:00.40).

Ulrich and K. Hughes again led for the Viking boys. Ulrich was 7^th (16:51.90) and Hughes was 9^th (17:03.80).

Linton (12^th, 17:43.10) was next for Siuslaw followed by Blankenship (14^th, 17:46.40).

Next for the Siuslaw cross country teams is a meet this Friday. The Champs Invite at Cheadle Lake Park near Lebanon. First Viking race starts 4: 30 p.m.

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