B
S PORTS
Section B
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
South Lane County Sports and Recreation
Contact Sports, 942-3325 or e-mail sports@cgsentinel.com
Tri at the Grove turns another page
Fifth annual triathlon to
be held Saturday
BY MATT HOLLANDER
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
T
he Rolf Prima Tri at the Grove
is set for its fi fth-annual race on
Saturday, and by now it’s developed
quite a bit of history.
“We’re pretty excited about this be-
ing the fi fth-anniversary race,” said
race director Blair Bronson. “Any
event that can stick around this long
has to develop quite a following. Over
the years it has grown to attract a wid-
er spread of athletes and draw athletes
from wider distances, as well.”
Any story of Tri at the Grove would
be incomplete without mention of pro
triathlete Kate Bevilaqua. The course
record holder in the women’s Olympic
distance, Bevilaqua has fi nished fi rst
or second in every year that it has been
held.
“The location is so beautiful and
the atmosphere is just great,” she said.
“After the fi rst year, I’ve always had
the last weekend of July circled in my
calendar. It’s nice to have something
familiar to look forward to.”
Bevilaqua has been involved with
several memorable Tri at the Grove
fi nishes. She won the inaugural race
over MacKenzie Miller by a mere 23
seconds, and in 2012 and 2014 she
came in less than 22 seconds behind
winner Emily Cocks.
“It’s amazing how close these races
have been,” said Bevilaqua, 37. “The
course is quick, but it’s also deceiving.
Sometimes you can’t tell where you
are with your competition until the
second half of the run, so you always
have to be pushing yourself.”
As Stocks will not be competing on
Saturday, Bevilaqua would seem to be
the odds-on favorite to win her third
Tri at the Grove title. However, the
Olympic men’s race appears to be up
for grabs between several elite athletes
Please see Tri at the Grove, Page 2B
Corwin hired to lead
CGHS volleyball program
Former OIT head coach
is the second new hire in
as many years for Lions
BY MATT HOLLANDER
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
For the second consecutive year,
Cottage Grove High School has hired
a former college head coach to lead its
volleyball program.
Earlier this month the school an-
nounced that Oregon Institute of Tech-
nology coach Jason Corwin would take
over for Jill Colclasure, who resigned
in May after one season at the helm for
the Lions.
In 2014 under Colclasure, who pre-
viously coached at Greenville College
in Illinois, Cottage Grove went 5-15,
including a 3-7 mark against Sky-Em
opponents, and missed the playoffs.
Corwin compiled a 72-72 overall re-
cord as head coach of Oregon Institute
of Technology from 2010-14, includ-
ing a 29-61 mark in Cascade Colle-
giate Conference play. The Owls went
21-14 in 2014, Corwin’s best mark
Please see Corwin, Page 3B
McNary, May Long win Gold Rush 5K — fi rst since 2009
Road race re-welcomed by
more than 90 runners
BY MATT HOLLANDER
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
K
yle McNary was the runner-up at
the second annual Gold Rush 5k
in 2009. But he would have to wait six
years for his chance to move up the po-
dium after the event went on hiatus.
As the sun set over Cottage Grove on
Friday, more than 90 runners, including
McNary, gathered for the triumphant
return of the Gold Rush. This time, Mc-
Nary was the fi rst runner to complete
the 5K course, crossing the fi nish line
in 18:50 — a PR for the Cottage Grove
native.
“I love smaller events like this be-
cause they get people out running, and I
was sad when it stopped,” said McNary,
21.
For Madison May Long, the top fe-
male fi nisher, getting past the starting
line was the most challenging part of
her evening.
“This was just my second race ever,
but I was three minutes late for the start
of my fi rst race, so I kind of got to skip
all of the pre-race adrenaline,” she ex-
plained.
The 24-year-old Eugenian showed
no sign of nerves after the starting horn
blast, as she covered the race in 22:36.
“It wasn’t long ago that I could barely
run a mile without stopping. But now I
really like running, and I keep surprising
myself,” said May Long.
Event organizers weren’t sure what to
expect in bringing back the Gold Rush,
but its successful return has many opti-
mistic that it will be a yearly fi xture of
Bohemia Mining Days.
“I don’t care too much about num-
bers; I care about how it felt,” said Jim
Settelmeyer. “People brought friends
who cheered, and it really felt like a fun
community event.”
Settelmeyer added that a festive fi nish,
which included live music at the nearby
Brewstation and the glimmering lights
of the BMD carnival rides, undoubtedly
added to the excitement of the event.
Athletes of the Week: Kyle McNary and Madison May Long
photo by Jon Stinnett
Top: More than
90 runners lined
up for the Gold
Rush 5K on Fri-
day night. Kyle
McNary (bottom
left) and Madison
May Long (bot-
tom right) were
the top male and
female fi nshers.
The event was last
held in 2009.
Full Gold Rush results on 3B
Soccer scene thrives in the summer, too
LCUSA Summer 3-v-3 league
has been successful in its
inaugural season
BY MATT HOLLANDER
The Cottage Grove Sentinel
photo by Matt Hollander
Emma Walker tries to pass the ball to teammate Justin Guzeman (white shirt) as
Gabby Cortes (black shirt) defends the goal Saturday during a Lane County United
Soccer Academy’s 3-v-3 Coed REC League game.
Soccer in Cottage Grove doesn’t stop for anything
anymore; not even Bohemia Mining Days.
As the Grand Miners Parade made its way around
town Saturday morning, dozens of local players
could be found at Currin Field for Lane County
United Soccer Academy’s (LCUSA) 3-v-3 Coed
REC Summer League.
But based on the light-hearted atmosphere, gen-
erating year-round opportunities for play apparently
hasn’t created an intense culture of specialization.
“We’re having a lot of fun out here,” said LCUSA
director Micah Browning. “It just so happens that
I am also tricking them into becoming better play-
ers.”
The 3-v-3 format is an extension of LCUSA’s
popular winter futsal league, which was housed in
the Armory. Browning came up with the idea several
years ago while thinking of ways to keep players en-
gaged through the offseason.
CGS BMD
Miner’s Night
BY BEN DEATHERAGE
Despite the scorching weather, Cottage
Grove Speedway had some wonderful rac-
ing on Saturday, July 18. The historical 1/4-
mile clay oval hosted Bohemia Mining Days
Miner’s Night in honor of the local festival
— a tribute to Cottage Grove’s mining past.
Classes in action included the Clark Printing
Extreme Sprints, IMCA Modifi eds, IMCA
Sport Mods and Quality RV Repair Hornets.
Raquel Ivie from Eugene set the early pace
in the Extreme Sprints until she was passed
by Chelsea Blevins of Janesville, Calif. on lap
two.
Blevins blazed the trail until lap six, when
Orion Redmond made a move. Redmond, of
Roseburg, put some major distance on the rest
of the pack, and though he was slowed down
by a couple of cautions, Redmond received
the checkered fl ag.
Penngrove, Calif.’s Michael Kofoid closed
strong in second, while Patrick Dills from
Cottage Grove was third. Blevins was fourth,
Please see Speedway, Page 2B
Please see LCUSA 3-v-3, Page 2B
Join us
July 25th for
HERZ PRECISION PARTS $1000.00
TO WIN EXTREME SPRINTS
Late Models, Clark Printing Extreme Sprints, IMCA
SportMods, Quality RV Repair Hornets,
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