12 Nov Resilience: Archers 2021 High School Cross Country
RESILIENCE
That’s the word that the 2021 Archers cross country team chose for their theme this season. It is, perhaps, an obvious choice for a team emerging from a COVID-shortened fall 2020 season and a modified spring 2021 season that saw runners in masks. It’s been 24 months since the Archers men and women qualified for the 2019 State championships and the men came away with St. Stephen’s first team title. It has required resilience to maintain focus during 2020, distance learning, and finally a near-normal summer and autumn of training in 2021.
On October 29, the Archers teams toed the line at the 1A/2A/3A District 1 championships in Sherwood. The Archers men were seeking their third straight team title and their second straight individual title. The Archers women were seeking to recreate the magic of 2019 when they qualified for their first state berth. The women competed first, but again their resilience was tested. Junior Emilie S. was caught up in a starting line collision and went down hard. While she tried to shake off the pain to compete, upon the restart, it was obvious that it would be a long 5k for her. Meanwhile, Olyvia O. realized she needed to finish in the top 5 individual spots to qualify for State as the team berth was in jeopardy. The 9th grade trio of Macy M., Ryah O., and Hayden L. filled the intermediate scoring spots. Olyvia entered the second mile in 7th and by the time the lead pack emerged for the final 1k, Olyvia was battling for 5th. As they hit the track for the final 100m, Olyvia surged past the 5th place runner to finish 4th, securing her State championship spot. Unfortunately, the Archers women finished 4th in the team standings – just missing a berth to state. Sophomore Amelie O. and senior Karly S. rounded out the team as they celebrated Olyvia and mourned the missed opportunity. The future does indeed look bright for the Archers women’s running program.
The men went to the district line looking for the title spot. They had a clean start and Colin F. took command of the race, followed closely by juniors Gabriel M. and Justus J. When the race finished, Colin had won the individual District title, Gabe and Justus finished 3rd and 4th overall, and the men’s team secured their third straight District title. The six men (Colin, Gabriel, Justus, juniors Jonathan A. and Nathan W., and first year Ben W.) would go to State for the third straight year to vie for the statewide title that they had earned in 2019.
But resilience would again be tested. On Monday of the ensuing week, COVID-related conditions wiped out half of the men’s team. This took the Archers out of the team competition; heartbreak as two years of work, sweat, waiting, and hoping were wiped out. Thankful, though, for the opportunity, the team focused on the challenge ahead and continued the final week of training before the State Championships in Eugene.
REWARD
At the OSAA State meet in Eugene on November 6, the Archers cross country team was represented by seniors Olyvia O. and Colin F. and juniors Gabriel M. and Jonathan A. In a downpour and gusty winds, Olyvia started in the 1A/2A/3A women’s championship 5k. She ran in a pack for most of the race, around the 20th and 21st spots, but had made up significant ground when the runners hit the track at Lane Community College for the 300m finish. In the final 80m, coming around the final turn, Olyvia went wide and passed three runners, finishing her high school XC career in 16th place, holding the school record and the highest-ever District and State finishing spots.
By the time the men started, the sun was shining – Oregon weather at its best and most fickle. Colin jumped to the lead followed by a well-known in-District rival from Knappa. Colin ran the first mile in 4:59, closely pursued by the Knappa runner. But at the 1.75 mile mark, Colin decided to drop the hammer, pushing hard coming out of a steep bowl on the course. His opponent was unable to respond and Colin’s lead widened over the remaining distance. Meanwhile, Gabriel was fighting for a podium spot (top 10 finishers). He ran in 16th spot for most of the race but with 600m to go had moved to 9th.
Colin came to the track finish in the sight of the supportive crowd. All in attendance knew that these meets were no longer to be taken for granted, these qualifying spots and the ability for healthy competition were never guaranteed. With a thankful point to the sky as he finished, Colin completed his SSA XC career with the top individual title for Oregon’s 1A/2A men. This was SSA’s second individual title (Seth B. in 2019). Gabe also came to the track in a good position but a couple of runners swept past him on the final turn. Gabriel finished 11th overall, just one spot off the podium, but he should hold his head high. In 2019 as a first-year runner, Gabe finished way back in the pack as 7th runner. On this day, he moved into the elite among the state.
RETROSPECTIVE
The raw emotions of the up-and-down preceding two years and the extremes of celebration and disappointment of the Districts-to-State meet are still a challenge to process. But the school community should be immensely proud of the Archers who made it to the finish line and can now enter a (short) period of resting and recuperation. The team is looking forward to the opportunities in spring track and the return to summer training for XC next July. “We control the things we can control, and we trust God for the rest.” This team mantra is being put to the test daily, but we know God is faithful.
