PREP XC: Potratz wins big at Skyline district

Oct. 28—VALLEY OF THE ROGUE — As Phoenix senior Kyla Potratz crossed the finish line Thursday afternoon, there was no question who the top cross-country runner in the Skyline Conference was once again.

This time, it was by more than a minute, too.

Potratz's strong senior campaign added another accolade to it at Valley of the Rogue State Park, as she captured the individual girls title for the second straight season at the Skyline Conference championship meet. Potratz's time of 19 minutes, 17.9 seconds was more than a minute faster than Klamath Union's Isabela Coffman (20:24.4) in second.

"I thought she ran fantastic," Phoenix head coach John Cornet said. "The race started in perfect conditions and she knew there was going to be a talented runner in Coffman that was going to be second. While Kyla knew she could run with her, she knew she could also put it away early."

True to her line of thinking, Potratz — who finished third at last year's Class 4A state championship meet — was able to pull away from Coffman after the first mile.

"There's a mile stretch along the river and Kyla opened it up," Cornet said. "She was finding a nice pace for her, pushing herself but not strenuously so."

Potratz's time was her best on a cross-country course this season, four seconds ahead of the 19:21.9 mark she posted at The Harrier Classic on Oct. 1.

"It really is a good sign that she was comfortable running at that speed," Cornet said. "She was running at a pretty quick speed, so if that's her default we're feeling pretty good going into state. As coaches, we're getting winded going from Point A to Point B trying to keep up with her.

"She has her eyes on the target and that is going for the state title."

Phoenix freshman Herminia Corona finished eighth in 21:46.1, while junior Brisa Bauer (23:51.8) was 16th and junior Ava Robinson (23:53.4) was 17th.

The Pirates placed third in the girls standings with 62 points behind Klamath Union (39) and Henley (47).

For the Phoenix boys, freshman Nathen Hammond (17:52.7) and junior Kael Feeley (17:57.1) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, while junior Orlando Contreras (18:05.9) was 10th.

Phoenix also finished third in the boys standings with 59 points, one point behind second-place Klamath Union. Hidden Valley won with 43 points.

Boys

TEAM SCORES: Hidden Valley 43, Klamath Union 58, Phoenix 59, Henley 85, Mazama 119.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Grant Bohannon, HV, 16:11.6; 2, Carter Harmon, KU, 16:14.4; 3, Bryce Worrell, Maz, 17:14.7; 4, Sam Iverson, Hen, 17:18.7; 5, Kyle Staten, HV, 17:20.7; 6, Luke Devault, Hen, 17:26.0; 7, Nathan Hammond, Pho, 17:52.7; 8, Kael Feeley, Pho, 17:57.1; 9, Damien Hunt-Plummer, KU, 17:59.9; 10, Orlando Contreras, Pho, 18:05.9.

11, Peter Moline, HV, 18:06.2; 12, Cody Rommes, HV, 18:06.9; 13, Bryce Peterson, KU, 18:11.2; 14, Caleb Christian, HV, 18:17.7; 15, Ethan Dobbins, Pho, 18:22.5; 16, Connor Olsen, KU, 18:25.0; 17, Ryan Hubbard, HV, 18:36.2; 18, Connor Carlson, KU, 18:46.3; 19, Matthew Hammond, Pho, 18:50.1; 20, John Potter, KU, 18:51.3.

Girls

TEAM SCORES: Klamath Union 39, Henley 47, Phoenix 62, Hidden Valley 79.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Kyla Potratz, Pho, 19:17.9; 2, Isabela Coffman, KU, 20:24.4; 3, Kiera Welch, Hen, 20:33.8; 4, Joey Clark, HV, 20:39.1; 5, Aubrey Syrnyk, KU, 20:53.4; 6, Madison France, Hen, 21:26.6; 7, Halle Mackay, Hen, 21:38.6; 8, Hermina Corona, Pho, 21:46.1; 9, Eleanor Rodriguez, KU, 22:01.4; 10, Natalie Sandeen, HV, 22:09.0.

11, Grace Keyser, KU, 22:24.1; 12, Hayleigh Dukes, KU, 22:49.4; 13, Kelsey Whitaker, Hen, 23:16.9; 14, Hazel Squibb, KU, 23:36.8; 15, Kara Johnson, KU, 23:39.3; 16, Brisa Bauer, Pho, 23:51.8; 17, Ava Robinson, Pho, 23:53.4; 18, Natania Marchessault, Hen, 23:59.8; 19, Lorelei Metcalf, HV, 24:02.4; Dulce Dunham, Pho, 24:37.9.

3A/2A/1A DISTRICT 4 CHAMPIONSHIPS: At Eugene, St. Mary's senior Saniyah Ayala recorded one of her best times of the season to capture the girls individual title at Lane Community College.

Ayala finished in a time of 19:44.48, nearly five seconds ahead of second-place Danielle McLain (19:49.16) of Bandon.

Ayala's best time this season came on a track at the Crater Twilight. Her previous top time, 19:55.9, came in her fifth-place showing at the Max King Invite on Sept. 28.

On the boys side, St. Mary's senior Cody Arnold finished ninth in the 3A race with a time of 18:44.56. Sophomore Vincent Savage placed 15th (19:21.35) to help the Crusader boys qualify for next week's state championships with a runner-up team showing.

For Cascade Christian, freshman Noah Crisp (18:59.00) placed 12th, while sophomore Tayen Landers (19:34.85) and freshman Michael Ragan (19:57.02) finished back-to-back in 19th and 20th.

Siuslaw swept the team titles.

Boys

TEAM SCORES: Siuslaw 15, St. Mary's 78, Douglas 94, South Umpqua 95, Pleasant Hill 98, Brookings-Harbor 149.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Kyle Huges, Siu, 16:56.43; 2, Brayden Linton, Siu, 17:06.83; 3, Samuel Ulrich, Siu, 17:12.24; 4, Jacob Blankenship, Siu, 17:49.67; 5, Dylan Jensen, Siu, 18:05.49; 6, Noah Eichenbusch, Glide, 18:18.87; 7, Camden Linton, Siu, 18:29.40; 8, Vedder Anderson, PH, 18:29.94; 9, Cody Arnold, SM, 18:44.56; 10, Seth Rincon, Dou, 18:48.66.

11, Andrew Sexauer, SU, 18:52.27; 12, Nash Crisp, Cascade Christian, 18:59.60; 13, Kale Jensen, Siu, 19:18.56; 14, Carson Williamson, Creswell, 19:18.85; 15, Vincent Savage, SM, 19:21.35; 16, Jaden Peek, Cre, 19:25.17; 17, Daniel Murua, Lakeview, 19:27.01; 18, Josiah Long, Glide, 19:27.85; 19, Tayen Landers, Cascade Christian, 19:34.85; 20, Michael Ragan, Cascade Christian, 19:57.02.

Girls

TEAM SCORES: Siuslaw 28, Bandon 67, Pleasant Hill 101, Glide 142, North Douglas 155, St. Mary's 161, Cascade Christian 177, New Hope Christian 193, Lakeview 195, Myrtle Point 239.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Saniyah Ayala, SM, 19:44.48; 2, Danielle McLain, Ban, 19:49.16; 3, Alison Hughes, Siu, 20:43.07; 4, Corduroy Holbrook, Siu, 20:54.84; 5, Marley Petrey, Ban, 20:58.45; 6, Ada Millet, Coquille, 21:17.57; 7, Addison McNeill, Siu, 21:18.16; 8, Maya Wells, Siu, 21:19.13; 9, Adylin Holbrook, 21:32.80; 10, Elizabeth Goeres, Lak, 21:35.11.

11, Ellie Epperson, PH, 21:40.50; 12, Louisa Lamarre, Cascades Academy, 21:50.85; 13, Jane Lacouture, Siu, 21:51.42; 14, Callie Sarnoski, Oakland, 22:01.00; 15, Soleis Jones, PH, 22:10.31; 16, Abigail Jones, Siu, 22:10.33; 17, Ava Barnett, NHC, 22:13.65; 18, Pauline Ngigi, Glide, 22:13.74; 19, Mia Piscopo, ND, 22:16.61; 20, Natalie Hammond, Reedsport, 22:33.36.