Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
The Huskies have some 45 boys out this year for track, but Snow says he doesn’t really know what he’s got.
“It’s the same deal — a lot of new faces and I don’t know where they’re going to fit in,” he said. “It kind of remains to be seen.”
The Huskies also lack exceptional speed at the shorter distances, but Snow says he has enough fast runners to make them competitive as a team.
“We have a lot of guys in the 54-55-second range in the 400, who are probably going to be 200/400-type people,” he said.
The top performer returning from last year is Tim Faulconer, who ran 53.77 in the district prelims of the 400, but he may be pushed by Ole Bond, whose specialty is the 200, and by Ramiro Santana (56.36 in the 400), who “really came on” as a freshman and had a solid cross-country season last fall.
Snow said he’s seen dedication from the sprinters.
“They get done with their workout, then they go out and do a two- to three-mile run,” he said.
In the distance races, Peter VanDerlip and Jess Keys are back from last year’s track and the 2005 cross-country teams. Snow said he expects VanDerlip, who placed ninth in the district in cross-country last fall, missing a trip to the state meet by a second, to be the leader at the 3,000 distance.
But Keys has been running all winter and “if he puts in the miles, he could fill some big holes for us,” Snow said.
The Huskies lack a good high hurdler as the season begins and with Patel gone, they’ll be looking for a new leader in the jumps. He said Robert Callagan could contribute in the high jump.
“We have some kids out there with jumping talent,” Snow said. “We have four or five basketball players out there. We’re kind of wide open in the jumps.” That includes the pole vault, where, Snow said, vaulters have been working diligently under new jumps coach Chroninger, but it will take time to determine how things will play out.
In the throws, Alex Brown is back and appears healthy. Brown, a senior who finished third in the district last year after suffering through shoulder injuries the last part of the season, looks healthy again, Snow said.
“He’s a student of the javelin,” the coach said. “He loves the javelin. If he could add another 20 feet from last year, he’ll be in with the top kids at our level. He’s looking good in practice right now, a lot smoother. He’ll be a leader in the javelin.”
Others expected to contribute in the throws are Nathan Whitfield and Marcus DeLong, he said.
Newcomers Brandon Weist and Cody Shipp, along with Isaac Villareal, who was racked with injuries last year, are expected to fill some holes.
If they’re a senior, we want to find an event or two where they’ll be successful, Snow said of the fresh talent. If they’re a sophomore or junior, they can try some different things.
Overall, the league looks hard to call, Snow said.
“Each team in the league has its own strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “Sisters has lot of speed and Molalla could put something together. Stayton graduated a lot of kids last year,” but two-time district cross-country champion and last 2005 3A state champion Jared Swehosky is expected to score some points for the Eagles in the 1500, 3000 and the mile relay.
The boys roster, as of Monday, included Robert Callagan, Jess Keys, Jason Long, Nikki Smith, Jake Smith, Peter VanDerlip, Jake Villareal, Nic Wirth, Bud Daniels, Kyle Dauley, Casey Hanscam, Josh Johnson, Brandon McKendree, Cole Row, Kris Schaefer, Nick Stockton, Brandon Weist, Nick Wohlbach, Cory Yeack, Ole Bond, Brandon Elliott, Anthony Ertsgaard, Tim Faulconer, Land Florek, Ramiro Santana, Cody Shipp, Kevin Yeung, Alex Brown, Mike Bruner, Mark Callagan, Marcus DeLong, Phil DeLong, Kelsey Fisher, Robert Fox, Josh Gibbons, Kyle Holmes, Steven Parker, Shawn Richardson, Caid Sanders, Casey Topp,Cameron Vasseur and Nathan Whitfield.
Track
Schedule may be subject to change. If in doubt, check weekly schedule in The New Era.
Thursday, March 16 Marist, Junction City at Marist 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 23 At Pleasant Hill 3 p.m.
Friday, March 31 SHHS Heptathlon/Decathlon 11 a.m.
Saturday, April 1 SHHS Heptathlon/Decathlon 11 a.m.
Saturday, April 8 At Junction City Invitational 10 a.m.
Tuesday, April 11 Home vs. Stayton, Sisters, Cascade 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 18 At North Marion 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25 Home vs. Cascade, Molalla 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 29 At Meet of Champions, Willamette U. 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 2 North Marion, Sisters at Sisters 4 p.m.
Friday, May 12 Twilight Meet at Stayton 2:30 p.m.
Monday, May 15 JV Districts at Cascade 3 p.m.
Friday,. May 19 Districts at Stayton TBA
Saturday, May 20 Districts at Stayton TBA
Friday, May 26 State Meet at U of O 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, May 27 State Meet at U of O 10 a.m.