Seafoam Showdown, Cajun-themed dinner, auction Friday night

April 13, 2023 — Mapleton came to Florence for a rainy track meet with Siuslaw on April 6. Then, two days later Siuslaw sent their top athletes to an invitational in Coos Bay. The Viks fared well, with the boys taking the team title.

First, the Sailors and Vikings took the same field on April 6 for a meet between just these two neighbors and rivals. It was a rainy day at Hans Petersen Memorial Field but both teams overcame the moisture to compete well.

Best match-up between the two schools was in the sprints where Mapleton freshman Ramil Beers faced stiff competition against more experienced Viking runners.

In the 100m, Siuslaw senior Hunter Petterson edged Beers with a time of 11.90a, his first time racing the 100 this year.

In the 200m Beers ran great again, setting a personal record with a time of 26.25, but it was not enough to edge Siuslaw sophomore Ray Brito Xilot who won the race with a time of 24.16, also a PR.

Siuslaw senior Jonathon Rose swept the throwing events winning the discus (134’4) shot put (41' 5.5) and javelin (137’3).

Viking senior Kyle Hughes kept increasing his pole vaulting PR with a 14’1 vault.

The long jump was a “Sailor show” with four Sailors setting personal records in the event; junior Dom Stewart (13 '4.5), senior Tristan Stewart (13' 2.5), freshman Jacob Burcell (12’3.75) and Caleb Cody (12’3).

On the girl’s side freshman Ava Borgino set PRs when she won the 100 (14.73) and 200 (31.09). Sophomore Maya Wells won the 800 (2:42.23) and 1500 (5:32.63).

Two days later, Siuslaw athletes with proper qualifying marks were invited to the 21st annual  Prefontaine Rotary Invitational at Prefontaine Track at Marshfield High in Coos Bay. Teams from Oregon and California joined the Viks for the competition.

Highlights at the event for the Viks include the career high pole vault of Hughes who vaulted 14’3, the highest mark in 3A thus far this year.

“Kyle had a great day,” said Siuslaw head coach Chris Johnson. “He just incrementally continues to increase his PR.”

Johnson believes that PR could climb even higher.

“We’re kind of figuring things out with Kyle,” explained Coach Johnson. “Pole vault’s kind of weird because you can have a perfect jump and not make it because your pole is too small. It’s ever changing. We’ve got some new poles for Kyle and with some practice and good weather I think there’s a big bar coming for him. That was also the first time he’s beaten the whole Marshfield contingent so that’s exciting.”

Another impressive performance on the boys side was by freshman Will Johnson. He earned a pole vault PR with an 11’ vault and also, in just his second time competing in the event, he won the triple jump with an impressive 40’6. That is the second longest jump in the entire 3A classification this season.

“Will puts himself in rare company with that 40 foot jump and he’s just going to keep getting better,” said Coach Johnson. “He’s really naturally good at it while most people are not.”

The Siuslaw 4x400 relay team, that includes Ray Brito Xilot, Noel Hernandez, Hunter Petterson and Sam Ulrich won in dominating fashion with a time of 3:31.69, the fastest time in 3A this year.

Ulrich finished second in the 800 with the top time in 3A at 1:58.02.

“Sam got stuck in Washington D.C. on a school trip and didn’t get enough time to run as he liked,” said Coach Johnson. “He held serve, for sure. To run the time he did, just off this PR, this early in the season is promising.”

Though SHS’ John Rose finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 137’2, it was still the longest throw in 3A this year.

“John Rose had another good day against a really good field in the throws,” said Coach Johnson. “John’s getting more and more consistent each week.”

Those performances earned the Vikings a team title with 108.5 points. Next was Eureka (Calif.) with 81 then Crook County with 78.

The Viking girls did not have as many athletes representing them at the event but those that competed did well.

Sophomore Maya Wells finished third in the mile with a time of 5:49.1.

“That mark by Maya puts her eighth on the all time Siuslaw list and we don’t run the mile much so that’s kinda neat that she got to do that.”

Junior Corduroy Holbrook was third in the 800 with a time of 2:32.72.

Freshman Allison Hughes (11:24.84) finished second in the 3000 against some stiff competition.

“That was Allison’s 3000 debut and it was against some really good girls.The girl that won the race won the 3A 3000 state championship last year.”

The girls team finished ninth at the event with 32 points. Coquille won the event with 92.

“The girls team aren’t going to put up a bunch of points at a meet like that because we just don't have the numbers, but the ones that did go are definitely sticking their nose out there and competing well and the distance girls especially are able to bring home some high places,” said Coach Johnson.

Next up, tonight, is an important event for the Siuslaw track and field team.

Tonight, on Friday, April 14 join the Siuslaw Viking track and field team on Hans Petersen Memorial Field for their annual intrasquad meet and program fundraiser, the Seafoam Showdown.

First, at 4 p.m, an intrasquad track and field grudge match will be staged between teams selected by senior coaches Hughes, Peterson, Rose and Ulrich.

Then, immediately following the meet, join the team and coaches for a themed basket and dessert auction and Cajun-themed dinner prepared by recent Louisiana import and Siuslaw assistant track coach Dave Anderson.

Admission to the meet is $5. Admission with cajun-themed dinner is $10. Go to http://www.siuslaw.k12.or.us/.../siuslaw-on-line-ticketing to buy tickets.