The "Run-Down": Warner Pacific Classic @ Lents Park

We went on down to Lents Park in SE Portland in search of a bright orange course, but it was like someone took a big black sharpie and colored in a black hole at the bottom of the course! The weather was threatening to rain all day long; the rain did not come, but it was the prior day’s deluge that created 80 meters of soupy mud each runner had to negotiate three times in 5K – not exactly what we were looking for on this day. It was obvious that the course needed to be downgraded from “Orange” to “Black” so we could boast about having 15 P.R.’s rather than just two.

Our van full of Future Varsity Boys took off hours prior to the rest of the team to compete in the JV Bronze race, as well as catch a glimpse of Panther Graduate Amelia Pullen as she won her second collegiate race. Since Amelia was not close to her P.R. we saw that writing on the wall that stellar times were not on tap for today. Junior Ted West (19:01.8) was the top Panther in his race, capturing third place, less than two seconds off his “Any Course” P.R. from two years ago. Sophomore Jacob Streuli (19:29.6) heroically edge out a fine freshman “White Buffalo” from Madras High School at the finish to claim fourth place. The supporting cast of freshmen Nolan Johnson (20:36.6) and John Costa (21:44.0) joined forces with Senior Derek Lawton (21:05.3) to pace the team to a solid sixth place of 21 teams. Sophomores Hayden Brown (22:16.4/100th) and Fischer Lees (22:45.3/117th) both managed to place in the upper half of 235 runners… barely!

Shortly after the Future Varsity boys wrapped things up, the bus arrived with the rest of the team. Then the Future Varsity girls found their way to the starting line, and all three of these freshmen found themselves at the finish line in “Black Course” record time. Lauren Filipczak (24:40.9) was less than 15 seconds away from her “Orange Course” P.R. and was more than a minute under her “Black Course” P.R. Laura Wagner was 38 seconds under her “Black Course” best time, while Ava Rana broke 30 minutes for the first time ever on any course… by one whole second!

Our Varsity girls were next in line to compete. Missing “Super Sophomore” Savea Mansfield, the Panthers finished near the back of the tightly packed group of eleven teams that scored in the 300’s. With Savea, we would have jumped down to the 200’s and placed in the upper half of the 21 teams. Freshman Sydnee Boothby broke 20 minutes for the first time on a “Black Course” and junior Meryl Keeler smiled big time after besting Hockinson’s third runner by nearly 10 seconds. Freshman Daya Sathyaraj and senior Clara Best acted like Siamese twins the first 90% of the race. Daya made the first break toward the finish line about 3/4ths the way through the race. She caught one more runner than Clara did, even though Clara exceptional speed allowed her to blitz past several in the final few hundred meters, which provided the best Panther highlights in that race.

Finally, the Varsity Boys had their chance. It was apparent that the course was getting sloppier throughout the day, and times were getting slower, relatively speaking. Freshman Trey Keyser (17:47.4) was the other Panther that posted an “Any Course” P.R. for the day. Hats off to him, his senior brother Jackson, and junior Jonathan Wells as they all three edged out runners from other teams by less than one second so we could beat the Hawks of Hockinson by a mere point!!! Jackson’s effort was exceptional as he catapulted ahead of three of the Columbia River runners that beat him the week before. Freshman Blake Mattern posted a “Black Course” P.R. (only 2 seconds off his lifetime best) and solidified a varsity spot for here on out. Senior Hayden Stinchfield and junior Sam Lewis also notched “Black Course” P.R.’s for the day.

Now we are doubly eager to jump on an “Orange Course” and see how fast we really are. That should happen next Thursday at Lewisville Park for our All-League meet.

Coach Terry L. Howard

Line scores:

Varsity Boys - Silver		5000 M
Jackson	36^th	17:20.4
Trey	64^th	17:47.4	P.R. Any
Hayden S.	90^th	18:05.6	P.R. Black
Jonathan	100^th	18:15.2
Blake M.	146^th	18:50.0	P.R. Black
Caden	148^th	18:58.3
Sam	155^th	19:04.3	P.R. Black
	of 204

Future Varsity - Bronze
Ted	3^rd	19:01.8	P.R. Black
Jacob	4^th	19:29.6	P.R. Black
Nolan	32^nd	20:36.6	P.R. Black
Derek	51^st	21:05.3
John	83^rd	21:44.0
Hayden B.	100^th	22:16.4	P.R. Black
Fischer	117^th	22:45.3	P.R. Black
	of 235

Varsity Girls - Silver		5000 M
Sydnee	8^th	19:53.1	P.R. Black
Meryl	64^th	21:41.0	P.R. Black
Daya	114^th	23:32.5	P.R. Black
Clara	116^th	23:35.5
Kaylee	147^th	26:18.4
Violet	151^st	27:03.9
	of 159

Future Varsity - Silver
Lauren	40^th	24:40.9	P.R. Black
Ava	133^rd	29:59.0	P.R. Black
Laura	137^th	30:24.2	P.R. Black
	of 154