Eagle girls capture second tier at District Track

By Cliff Richardson

FINN ROCK: Everyone going in understood the strength of the Triangle Lake Boys and Girls Track and Field teams. The Lakers held true to form, winning both the Boys and Girls Team First Place Trophies, last Saturday, May 16th.

The 1A Special District 5 Championship Track Meet was held at the exceptional Aaron and Marie Jones Community Track venue. The McKenzie Community Track Committee and its dedicated volunteers pulled off another outstanding event.

The Lakers Boys edged the Mapleton Sailors Boys by a score of 129 to 124 points, to secure the Championship. The Triangle Lake Girls team dominated the rest of the District teams, posting a score of 159 points.

None of that necessarily came as a surprise to McKenzie Head Coach Duane Aanestad when pre-viewing the form charts earlier in the week. The obvious, pending question in the first year coach’s mind was where his Eagle girls team would place. Could they finish as high as second in the meet’s team standings or would one or two of the teams from the southern part of the District show up and finish strong at the top? The answer, as always, would have to wait and be proven on the track and to Coach Aanestad’s pleasure, the McKenzie Girls rose to the challenge in dramatic fashion, finishing the District Meet with an impressive 90 points, good for second place in the final team standings on the afternoon.

Alsea and Mapleton tied for third with 56 points, Lowell finished in fifth with 55 pts., followed by Days Creek with 53.5 pts., Eddyville with 33 pts., Glendale with 29 pts., Siletz Valley with 22 pts., and Mohawk with 9.5 pts. Five Eagle girls qualified for the OSAA State Championships next week by finishing either first or second in their individual event. Both of the McKenzie Relay teams also qualified and will make the trip to Hayward Field. The weather for meet was pleasantly mild, a fine day for competition. The Eagle girls were anything but mild, setting several personal records on their Quest for Hayward. And the answer to that Coach Aanestad’s fore-mentioned question? You betcha’, second place!

Image above: Photo Courtesy Kaila Hiddleston. McKenzie Eagles relay team members, from left - Miyanna Hayes, Idgie Glynn, Naomi Satchell, and Katey Totten - placed second in the 4 x 100 meter event.