Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2021)
2B | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS Champs from 1B meet, Saturday’s state meet was held at Marist High School — raising some con- cern that the competition wouldn’t feel like a state-lev- el championship meet. Not so, said Johnson. “This is the 26th state meet I've been to as a coach,” he said, “and I was at three as an athlete — and it felt exactly the same as any other state meet. And I know the kids felt the same way. So, we feel like we're just really fortunate, and it was a group effort.” According to Johnson, it took the cooperation of many to make the event work, with coaches and individuals from several schools putting their heads together. “We made some adjust- ments, made sure was actu- ally the right distance and did some cosmetic things to it so it felt more like a cham- pionship-caliber meet,” Johnson said. “All in all, I think it was it was great, it was a good course.” The event was quite suc- cessful, and the efforts put in by Johnson and the other schools involved were much appreciated by athletes and spectators alike. “Kids like to finish on the track in front of a bunch of people,” said Johnson. “So, it had a great feel. The coaches and athletes were super Fishing from 1B Alsea. The recent rain improved the conditions and the fishing picked up a bit. Overall, it continues to be slow and the run is winding down for the year excited and thankful to be there. I've never received more people coming to me, thanking me — coaches, athletes and parents — for helping put this thing together. So, that was really neat.” As far as the race, the teams’ results speak vol- umes. The girls finished with 81 points, coming out ahead of Sisters with 87, Baker with 89, and La Grande with 117. Siuslaw junior Rylee Colton finished fifth individually (19:34.7) and the only Lady Viking to finish in the top 10. Seniors Brea Blankenship and Gracie Freudenthal each finished in the top 20, in 13th (20:23.5) and 16th (20:43.1), respectively. Johnson also discussed how impressive the perfor- mance was of the two fresh- men on his girls team. “I had four freshmen run,” said Johnson. “That's the first time that those four kids have ever run in a cross country race at the high school level with more than 40 people in their whole race. So, it was a totally dif- ferent deal to have that dropped on [them], and the way those freshmen per- formed was just incredible.” Jane Lacouture (21:26.8) and Corduroy Holbrook (21:51.5) had the added pressure of knowing that there were only five girls, explained Johnson. “And if you don't have five girls fin- ish in a cross country meet, you're incomplete and you don't have a team score — so those five girls had that pressure on them all year long. Those are two pretty special kids for them to be able to withstand that pres- sure and then perform at the level that they did speaks volumes about their tough- ness.” Johnson added that every single girl on the team had their best race of the year. “Rylee really lead the way for us, but I really think Jane and Gracie did a lot of great work the last mile to help us catch Marist and stay ahead of Baker,” he said. With respect to the boys team, Siuslaw came in first with 70 points, followed by Philomath with 77, Sisters with 81 and Hidden Valley with 96. The boys had two runners finish in the top 10; Chad Hughes came in eighth with a time of 16:19.4, and Samuel Ulrich came finished ninth at 16:23.4. Coming in among the top 20 were Kyle Hughes in 15th (16:48.5) and Jaxson Jensen in 19th (16:59.7). Securing the win for the team to fin- ish fifth for Siuslaw was Brayden Linton (17:24.4). Also finishing for the Vikings were Dylan Jensen (17:45.2) and Jacob Blankenship (18:42.5). The boys were unfortu- nately without one of their usual top five finishers due to an injury. “We were without Ryan Jennings, which was just a killer,” said Johnson. “Poor kid got hurt the last week of the season, and we tried to kind of nurse it along — but he just couldn't walk with- out limping.” Jennings has two sports seasons left this year as a standout in track and wres- tling, “So, for him to run and then not be able to run as fast as he’d want to, and then to risk prolonging his injury when he can get back — it didn't make any sense,” Johnson said. According to Johnson, some encouragement and positive reinforcement in the middle of the race were able to help push the run- ners along to where they needed to be. “We were one point down at the two-mile mark, and at that point in time, other than Chad, we had kids that were right along with our kids the whole way,” said Johnson. “So, I just let them know, ‘You’ve got to beat those guys. If you beat those guys, we're going to win.’ And they were able to do it.” Johnson said Jaxson Jensen had a great race. “By far his best race of the year,” said Johnson. “He passed me at two miles and he's right with Philomath guys, and I said, ‘You have to beat those two.’ And he just nod- ded his head like ‘I got it. I'm going to do it.’ And he did. And what a way to fin- as we head into April. Although it has been a slow year there are still fish to be caught in the system through the month of March. The Alsea River remains open to steelhead fishing through April and then closes on April 30. Trout fishing in streams opens on May 22. The later returning wild broodstock fish are providing the majority of the catch now and typically peak in February and March. Introducing the INOGEN ONE – It’s oxygen therapy on your terms No more tanks to refi ll. No more deliveries. No more hassles with travel. The INOGEN ONE portable oxygen concentrator is designed to provide unparalleled freedom for oxygen therapy users. It’s small, lightweight, clinically proven for stationary and portable use, during the day and at night, and can go virtually anywhere — even on most airlines. Inogen accepts Medicare and many private insurances! “I knew that Joe Fulton at Philomath, Josh Nordell at Sisters, Suzy Cole at Baker and Connor Kasler at Hidden Valley — those pro- grams are dialed in and they were going to be ready to go,” he said of the competi- tion at state. While those teams may have been ready to go, Johnson’s Vikings were able to do the work necessary to take home the titles. After a monumental sea- son in cross country, Johnson’s runners will take to the track (and field) for Season Three (spring), with the opening meet set for April 20 at Siuslaw High School. Events begin at 3:30 p.m. On Siuslaw! Go Viks! 541-997-8474 3231 Hwy. 101 N, Florence copeland.doitbest.com NOW G HIRIN 5292 Harvard, Florence • 541-590-3831 (across the bridge, turn by Best Western Pier Point Inn) Since 1983 Insect & Pest Removal NOTICE We’re buying used cars, trucks and SUV’s. Any make or model, paid for or not. One solution for oxygen at home, away, and for travel ish a career.” Even with the pandemic, this year’s group of cross country runners seemed to have that something special needed to go all the way. “We've had some good teams and a bunch of league championships over the last few years,” admitted Johnson, “but we really hav- en't put together this kind of a race at a state meet. We've certainly run up to expecta- tions and beyond.” At last week’s district meet, Johnson said he thought there were some teams that had a hard time putting together [a team] and getting people to be consistent. That wouldn’t be the same at state. Trapping Mole/Gopher Dead Animal Removal Honey Bee Removal Crawl Space Cleaning Exclusion Work Fumigation of Antiques and Commodities. (541) 997-4027 Reclaim Your Freedom And Independence NOW! Please call today for quote. All quotes by appointment only. Call Inogen Today To Request Your FREE Info Kit 1-855-839-0752 © 2020 Inogen, Inc. All rights reserved. MKT-P0108 Let me Showcase your property. Johnston Motor Company Since 1939 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 Crystell Wise Broker, SRS, SRES 541 991-9487 28 Ocean Dunes Dr – Custom Cape Cod home with views of the 18th green. Great room with pass-thru fi replace from kitchen to den. 2 mas- ter suites and guest room with full bath, home theater and rec room. Lot 27 is included and is the last buildable lot in Ocean Dunes. $950,000. #3124-20557608 • HVAC A/C & Heating Duct Cleaning • Zonal Heater Cleaning Cadet Wall Heaters • Dryer Vent Cleaning • Gutter Cleaning • Screen Installation • Moss Removal & Treatment • And more... 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 Dan and Teresa Lofy, Owners And Watson “Open Daily” 541-902-9100 1252 Bay Street Florence, Or 97439 thewaterfrontdepot.com PETERSEN AUTO DETAIL would like to thank everyone that voted for us in our category. We appreciate being chosen 2020 BEST AUTO DETAILER! OTED V We Love Our Viks & Sailors! F BEST O E 541•999•6078 F LO E N C R SERVING FLORENCE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1994 GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE FIRE FACEBOOK.COM/PETERSENAUTODETAIL Greg Bishop BUD’S UPHOLSTERY Boat Tops & Cars Over 49 Years Experience • Complete auto & boat interiors • Canvas work Make Your Appointment Now! Cell 541-297-0392 Email: offi ce@coastpavement.com CCB# 205230 Asphalt Seal Coating Asphalt Repairs • Parking Lot Sweeping Parking Lot Striping • Crack Filling Bumper Blocks • ADA Compliance Call for a FREE ESTIMATE 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon.-Sat. 4981 Hwy. 101, Complex B (Intersection of Munsel Lake and Hwy. 101 N.-just north of Fred Meyer) 541-997-4856 WATER BIO BOARD UP 541-902-2256 “We’ll Seal You Later!” of Lane County (541) 345-0115 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES
