Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2012)
P R IN T : Sports Wednesday,0ct17,2012 Cougar men wash down storm Andrew Millbrooke Sports Editor The first rainy day of the fall term didn’t put a damper on the enthusiasm or the turnout as the Clackamas men’s team swept away the competition by convinc ingly winning the men’s portion of the Mike Hodges Cross Country Invitational Friday afternoon on CCC’s campus. Ten teams and over 100 runners came out on a grey, drizzly after noon to compete on Clackamas’ brand new, flat and fast cross coun try course. The meet is named after a former Clackamas cross country and track and field head coach who built the Cougar programs into a regional power in his time at CCC from 1986 to 2002. “This is the first time we’ve run collegiately out here and we got incredibly positive feedback on how everything went,” said CCC head coach Jarret Mantalas. “Coach after coach was talking about how nice it was and how fun it is to have a cross country only area.” Although the rain came down consistently throughout, the meet ran smoothly and many spectators showed up ready, in full rain gear. “Despite the rain, it’s perfect,” said Mantalas. “At least we didn’t have to race in 80-degree weather again.” In two of the previous three races this season they faced high temperatures and hot sun. The CCC men had the top five runners in the team scoring contest, as only three unattached entries were able to break them up. “As a whole, the major focus today was to get out up front, be aggressive and see what happens,” said Mantalas. Clackamas did just that, as they had six runners all within striking distance of each other early in die race. “We are exactly where we need to be as a team,” said Mantalas. Freshman Badane Sultessa led the men with a second place over all finish in 21:14.25 for the four- mile course. “Badane finally had a breakout as far as pushing it in the middle of $ 7 Tony Gil-Juarez the race,” said Mantalas. “I didn’t go all out early,” said Sultessa. “I tried to catch up at the end, but it didn’t happen.” Unattached runner Anteneh Woticha ran to a big early lead and then held on for victory in 21:09.86. Sultessa and unattached third place finisher Danny Mackey closed the gap on Woticha during the final mile, but were unable to catch him. Mantalas was very pleased with all of the men’s performances. “Tony Gil-Juarez had a fabulous race, running hard from the begin ning,” said Mantalas. Gil-Juarez said he loved the new course and that the rain helped the conditions. “I put in a couple brand new spikes, so I was able to claw through with no slipping,” said Gil-Juarez. “It couldn’t be more perfect weather. The rain helped keep it cool.” “We were looking at it as a workout, trying to pack it up top,” said freshman Gil-Juarez, who was CCC’s 2nd runner and 4th-overall in 21:24.91. “We came out successful and couldn’t be happier with the way things turned out.” Behind Gil- Juarez, Clackamas had three run ners fly through the line within 13 seconds of each other: Jon Obeso (21:49.05), AustinPeila (21:58.66), and Mark Medgin (22:02.35). “That was the most fabulous race I’ve seen out of Austin Peila,” said Mantalas, adding, “Mark Medgin moved his way through this race incredibly.” Zach Hibbs added some depth with a 13th place finish in 22:27.11. “Zach Hibbs ran incred ibly well, a very smart race,” said Mantalas. Chris Stash (23:26.16), Jordan Grimes (23:34.12) and Tyler Nizer (24:33.89) were the final Clackamas runners across the line. Clackamas scored the mini mum 15 points in winning, while six other teams fielded complete squads: Western Oregon (58), Green River CC (83), Willamette (113), SW Oregon CC (138), Mt. H ood CC (140) and Highline CC (164). Oregon State University brought its women’s team, while Clark CC and Central Oregon CC also brought runners. X-Country women run X-odus through rain pearing around a comer o f trees and bushes to continue along the uneven course. The wom Associate Sports Editor en’s 5,000-meter race around the cross country path began Wet and wild was the name with some runners battling the o f the game Friday afternoon, ' cold weather while keeping up as Clackamas Community with the pack. College hosted the Mike Hodges As the race wore on, many Invitational. Chains of runners who had been chilly, started to strewn about the trail, appeared warm up and enjoy the run in the to advance effortlessly through rain. “I like running in the rain,” the deluge of mist and rain. Said Clackamas’ Randi Chance Onlookers and passersby as she smiled and looked up adorned rain gear and umbrellas. toward the misty sky. There was a playful mood in the “I run better in the rain,” said air, with excitement for the first Grace Viuhkola, Clackamas’ top rain of fall and the opportunity runner. “I don’t sweat, so it’s to run in the rain: The country- nice, the rain cools me down.” crossers stormed the trail, taking This year, the ladies of on the elements and traversing Clackamas have a strong team the terrain, in a dazzling display bond. “We had a team camp at o f skill, willpower and stamina. the beginning of the season that “Runners set!” the orders really broke the ice and helped from the megaphone declared, the team feel more like a fam and the race literally began with ily,” said Chance. a bang as the starter pistol was “We have a really close-knit fired. A stampede of athletes team this year,” said Viuhkola. sped down the open field, disap “Everyone cheers each other David Beasley Grace Viuhkola Ze BS CM A r~~. co »#—» — o cxggl <Z> « CD -Q CD O WEDNESDAY-W/17 • Soccer; CCC at lane Eugene 1 pm • NBA: Denver at Portland, 7 p.m. THURSDAY-W/18 • intramural Soccer: '2 2 p m ,n Ifte field next to Hwy. 213. • College FB: H tDAY -10/19 | SATURDAY-10/20 SUNDAY-10/21 • Volleyball: Oregon at CCC, 7 p m in Randall Gym (Sponsor Night} • MLS: Portland Timbers Umpqua at CCC, 1p.m. in ' Randall Gym. (Diggih" Pink)“ at Vancouver, 4 p.m. • Soccer: cccat : 1 p.m. at Portland Meadows • Flag Football Fridays: 11:30- Chemeketa, Salem, Noon • NFL: 1:30p.m. in the field next to Hwy. 213 at Oregon State, 7:30 p.m. • College FB: Utah yesterday and ran it faster.” Mantalas seemed pleased with her progress. “Randi ran almost the same time here on a signifi cantly harder course as she did at the Willamette Invite,” said Mantalas. Joanna Feeney was CCC’s next finisher in 28th with a time of 22:28. Zaira Sanchez ran the first cross country race of her life, finishing 38th in 24:20. “It was a little bit of a shock er for her,” said Mantalas. “But, she battled and fought tough. She’s a hurdler at heart, not real ly a true cross country runner, but she’s starting to show it.” Running long.distances, non stop, for extended periods of time, is- no small feat. Friday was a stunning display of will power. With excitement build ing for this season’s upcom ing NWAACC championships on Nov. 10,' there’s no better time to be paying attention to the fantastic runners of team Clackamas. MONDAY-10/22 • Volleyball: SW Oregon Ducks at ASU. in Tempe, Arizona at 6 p.m. Seattle at San Francisco, 5:20 p.m. on and it makes us a stronger team.” The women had to overcome the obstacle o f having their most successful runner, Cia Bywater, sitting out due to a foot injury. The girls shined in true Cougar cross country fashion. Viuhkola finished 12th overall with a time of 20:58, despite battling a chest cold. “It was hard for us as a team without Cia running,” said Viuhkola. “We are looking at this race and the next at Lane, as good preparation for NWAACC Championships in a month.” “Grace has really stepped up in the last couple weeks and shown she can be a leader on this team,” said head coach Jarret Mantalas. “She battled really hard and fought during the race.” Chance finished second for Clackamas with a great time of 22 minutes even. “I thought I , could have run faster,” Chance admitted. “I ran the course ' • Horse Racing: • NBA: Portland Trail Blazers Fan Fest, 5 p.m. Rose Garden • CCC W eight Room Hours: downstairs in Randall, 8:30-10 a m. and 1-6 p.m: J TUES0AY-10/23 • CCC Weight Room Hours: downstairs in Randall, f 2-8 p.m.
