Wednesday, July 7, 2021
A9
SPORTS
MOORE TO RUN AT
RANDOLPH COLLEGE
W
W
Ronald Bond/Wallowa County Chieftain
Brenden Moore, shown when he placed eighth in the 3,000 at the 2A/1A state track and fi eld meet in Union on May
22, 2021, has signed a letter of intent to run for Randolph College in Virginia.
weeks later.
He has more ability to improve
ahead of him too, as his PR in
the race is 17:43.6, which he ran
during the 2019 state cross-coun-
try meet prior to COVID.
On the track, he shaved off 40
seconds in fi ve weeks in the 3,000,
running a personal best 10:08.30
when he placed eighth at the state
track meet in Union in May.
“He was constantly looking at
my times and seeing my improve-
ment over my senior year,” Moore
said. “We talked a little bit more.
He said he would be happy if I
came out and ran for them.”
Moore was able to be part of two
state-championship cross-country
teams for Wallowa Valley, plac-
ing sixth on the squad — and 27th
overall — during the 2019 state
title race. In the spring of 2021, he
was 18th overall and fi fth on the
team that repeated as state champs.
“For me, it was honestly kind of
like a dream come true,” he said of
his cross-country career. “I decided
that cross-country was more my
sport. I stuck to it. It’s been quite
the experience. Just building with
the team and growing closer as the
years pass on.”
Part of the experience, he said,
was the way the team buckled
down and worked even harder to
win in 2019 after just missing out
on a state title in 2018 — and then
winning it again a year later.
“It was relieving to see your
hard work and our decision actu-
ally come through and put it on
top,” he said.
Moore said he has been inspired
by the recent success of former
Enterprise runner David Ribich,
who reached the fi nals in the 1,500
in the Olympic Trials in late June.
He said it is proof that a small-
town athlete can succeed.
“If you have the mindset to do
it, you can do it,” he said. “That is
the mentality he showed.”
His advice for future athletes
though? Enjoy the moment.
“Don’t focus too much on the
winning part, and focus more on
having fun, and (then on) winning
second,” he said. “High school
may be your last chance to play
sports. … You want to remem-
ber the good times you had during
those sports.”
CHIEF JOSEPH DAYS RANCH RODEO
Ellen Morris Bishop/Chief Joseph Days
Quail Run Ranch gets the job done in ranch team roping during the 2021 Chief Joseph Days Ranch Rodeo Saturday, July 3, 2021. Quail Run Ranch was the
top point-scoring team and won three events Saturday.
Quail Run Ranch dominates at CJD Ranch Rodeo
Chieftain staff
JOSEPH — Quail Run Ranch
was far and away the top team at the
Chief Joseph Days Ranch Rodeo,
which took place Saturday, July 3, at
the Harley Tucker Memorial Rodeo
Grounds.
Members of the team won
three of the four team events —
team branding, team sorting and
Rochelle
Danielson
Tourneys
resume
full tilt
By RONALD BOND
Wallowa County Chieftain
ALLOWA
—
Brenden
Moore
is going to get an
opportunity to run
at the collegiate level.
The recent Wallowa High
School graduate, who ran track
and cross-country and part of the
school’s co-op with Enterprise, has
signed his letter of intent to run for
Randolph College, an NCAA Divi-
sion III school based in Lynchburg,
Virginia.
Moore said he learned about the
East Coast school after receiving a
recruitment email.
“I called the coach one day, and
we talked about me coming out
and running for them and that is
where it is at,” he said.
As he did in high school, Moore
said he will run both track and
cross-country for coach Ryan Purr-
ington and the Wildcats.
He hopes to focus in track on the
3,000-meter run, but said he’s open
“to what my coach has planned for
me.”
Part of what appeals to him
about the 3,000 is that with it being
a longer race, it allows a better
opportunity for runners to set their
pace, as opposed to going all-out
immediately in a short race.
“(In the) 3,000 you have plenty
of laps to work off your splits and
improve those over time. It’s not as
crowded as well. Not many people
like to do 3,000,” he said. “It’s a
nice, low-key event, which makes
it feel more exciting.”
He said the improvement in his
numbers during his senior year
was part of the draw for Purr-
ington. Indeed, this spring, he
shaved more than two minutes off
his time in the 5K for cross-coun-
try, from a 20:09 during a March
8 meet in Nyssa down to 18:04.1
at the district meet not quite four
TEE
TIME
team roping. As a result, Quail
Run Ranch fi nished fi rst overall in
points. Hites Horses took second
overall in points, and was second in
team branding and team roping.
Temple Ranch took fi rst in the
fourth team event — team doctor-
ing, with the 5 S Ranch taking sec-
ond in the event. Circle P Ranch,
which was second in team sorting,
ended up third overall in points,
while Temple Ranch was fourth in
points.
In individual events, John Hill-
ock won fi rst place in calcutta. Diane
Daggett placed second, and Debbie
Warnock and Chris Yaw were third.
The Jim Probert Top Hand Award
was given to Casey Little, and Best
Cowgirl was Josey Ross.
The ranch rodeo, started in 2008,
is a non-PRCA event that serves as
a fundraiser for scholarships that
Chief Joseph Days Rodeo, Inc. pro-
vides annually to three local high
school seniors, according to the
CJD website. The winners of the
scholarships this year were Trace
Evans of Enterprise, Brianna Micka
of Joseph and Tristin Bales of Wal-
lowa. The event is an opportunity to
show some of the daily activities of
the working rancher.
ith a lifting of
COVID restrictions
this year, Alpine
Meadows is back on track
scheduling golf tournaments.
On the calendar coming
up is the Elks on July 17-18,
Joseph school fundraiser,
Aug. 14, the Gail Beck Ladies
Invitational, Aug. 10 and the
Rat Race, Labor Day week-
end Sept. 4-5.
Recently played in June,
the 8th Annual Triple Six Golf
Tournament brought in 44
entries. After meager inter-
est in tourneys in past years,
and no scheduled events last
year, it was a refreshing twist
to see so many golfers sign
up for what is a fun-fi lled
day in playing three diff er-
ent golf formats — Best Ball,
Scramble and Chapman — all
within 18 holes.
“Flight One had 12
two-person teams. Flight Two
had 10,” says Doug McKin-
nis, clubhouse manager. “Out-
of-towners — from down
Portland way — gave AMGC
high marks on course main-
tenance. Always nice to hear
kudos for our greens crew.”
And kudos to Doug for his
handling of the tournament.
So-to-speak, it was his fi rst
rodeo.
A score of 63 gave Dakota
Hull and Kyle Crawford the
big fi rst low gross win for
Flight One. Mel Jackson and
Mike Walker, second low
gross, shot 71. First low net
of 60.80 went to Tristan Beck
and Pat Lynn. Second low net
of 65.48 gave the Terry Lamb/
Dean Duquette duo a slight
edge over Dale Johnson/Bo
Patske who scored 65.80. Sec-
ond Flight winners were: fi rst
low gross, Richard Gates/
Chuck Schrade, with 77. Sec-
ond low gross, Ryan Collins/
Brandon Mahon, with 81.
First low net, Tanner Shelton/
Patrick Green, 65.52, and sec-
ond low net, John Lawrence/
Bill Williams, 65.60.
Dale Johnson took hon-
ors for Closest to the pin on
No. 1/10. His drive hit the
pin, bounced off and landed 2
feet, 11 inches from the hole.
KP on No. 4/13 was Brad
Graybeal.
Along with tournaments,
golfers are looking forward to
a return to normal — before
COVID — with more social
activities like Friday night
Scotch ball, like the café/bar
being open, like a place to
have lunch, and like order-
ing an Arnold Palmer (mix-
ture of ice tea and lemonade).
Instead of the play golf/go
home game, golfers need the
freedom of an open clubhouse
and patio for relaxation after
the game. Let’s bring back the
camaraderie, the high-fi ves
and hugs. It’s all a part of the
golf game and has been sorely
missed.
———
Rochelle Danielson of
Enterprise loves the game of
golf and has golfed for many
years at Alpine Meadows.
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