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North Bend runners take shot at some of region’s elite teams
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Thursday, September 27, 2007 | No comments posted.
North Bend knows its boys cross country team is the best on the South Coast and one of the best in the state. On Saturday, the Bulldogs will see how they stack up against some of the top programs in the entire Northwest.
The Bulldogs are competing in the Jim Danner Invitational, the featured race in the Nike Pre-Nationals running festival at Portland Meadows.
“I’m really excited,” said Travis Berrian, one of several seniors in North Bend’s varsity lineup. “If we do good here, we can go on to bigger meets.”
The Nike Pre-Nationals provides a chance for the Bulldogs to prove they are among the best in the region, which in turn could provide an opportunity for North Bend to run in the regional meet, the pathway to the Nike Team Nationals.
“We really want to make it to Nike Nationals,” said fellow senior Spenser Lynass.
The Nike Pre-Nationals includes a total of 18 races, ranging from the elite boys and girls Jim Danner competitions to the Division I races a step lower, which North Bend’s girls will compete in, all the way down to junior varsity races for all grade levels.
The Bulldogs never have participated in the festival, but coach Tracy Heley wanted to give this year’s team that opportunity.
“I really wanted that for them because they are a special group,” Heley said.
“It gives an opportunity for a group of kids who just have been very successful. I feel this is giving them just one more opportunity before they move on to their college experiences. And I think they’re ready for something more than what I’ve given them in the past.”
North Bend’s boys are the defending Class 4A state champions and return every runner from last year’s varsity squad. They are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and have dominated each of their meets this fall.
“I think it’s a good chance for both our boys and girls teams to see how they stack up with the elite teams in the Northwest,” Lynass said.
“This is going to give them some opportunities to run beyond our cross country season,” Heley said. “We hope they can do that.”
In addition to qualifying for the regional meet, the Jim Danner Invitational could also provide individuals a chance to qualify for the Foot Locker National Championships.
The Nike Pre-Nationals is not a new meet, though it has developed into what it is over the past several years, said Tim Tank, the cross country coach at Aloha High School, which hosts the meet.
The event went from a good statewide meet to a strong regional meet that this year will include representatives from nearly 100 schools in five different states.
“It is probably the most competitive meet in the Northwest and one of the most competitive meets on the West Coast,” Tank said.
Yet at the same time, it’s also a meet for runners all the way down to beginners.
“I think the neat thing in my opinion is that there is a place for everybody, whether you’re a competitive individual or a competitive team or a first-year runner,” he said.
The Jim Danner Invitational, named in honor of a former successful Aloha coach, includes elite fields featuring runners from several of those states.
The boys race Saturday will include 19 different teams from five states and British Columbia, Canada, plus individuals from two other schools.
The group includes Crater, ranked No. 4 in the Northwest by www.dyestat.com, the unofficial authority on cross country in the United States.
Other squads considered bubble teams for the regional rankings include North Bend and five Washington schools — Mount Spokane, Seattle Prep, Sehome, Snohomish and Tahoma. Other Oregon teams in the field are Lake Oswego and South Eugene, both Class 6A schools.
The girls field is more impressive, with 22 total schools, including five ranked in the top nine in the Northwest — Jesuit (No. 1); Boise, Idaho (No. 3); Snohomish (No. 5); Eastlake, Wash. (No. 6) and Sehome (No. 9). South Eugene and fellow Class 6A school Sunset are bubble teams, while two of California’s top five teams — Carondelet (No. 2) and Esperanza (No. 5) also will compete.
North Bend’s girls will compete against 16 other teams in the Division I race, including fellow Class 4A powers Phoenix and Molalla and other Oregon schools Aloha, Gresham, South Medford, West Linn and Westview.
Another school in the division is Mater Dei of California, famous for its football program.
Both North Bend teams finished second in their division on Saturday in the Seaside Three-Course Challenge, which included more than 100 high schools. The teams earlier swept titles in the North Bend Invitational, Bandon Invitational and Prefontaine Memorial Run.
Jessianne Heley, the emotional leader of the girls club, is excited that her team gets to compete Saturday, and hopes her teammates see they can improve even more.
“I’m hoping our people realize they need to move up a little bit,” she said.
Notes: The North Bend girls compete at 3:05 p.m., while the boys race at 4:15. Admission is $5, with children under 12 getting in free. Tank said the goal is to provide a fun environment on the long day. “We do try to provide a festive atmosphere,” he said. “There are a lot of give-aways and promotions for kids and spectators throughout the day.”
The Bulldogs are competing in the Jim Danner Invitational, the featured race in the Nike Pre-Nationals running festival at Portland Meadows.
“I’m really excited,” said Travis Berrian, one of several seniors in North Bend’s varsity lineup. “If we do good here, we can go on to bigger meets.”
The Nike Pre-Nationals provides a chance for the Bulldogs to prove they are among the best in the region, which in turn could provide an opportunity for North Bend to run in the regional meet, the pathway to the Nike Team Nationals.
“We really want to make it to Nike Nationals,” said fellow senior Spenser Lynass.
The Nike Pre-Nationals includes a total of 18 races, ranging from the elite boys and girls Jim Danner competitions to the Division I races a step lower, which North Bend’s girls will compete in, all the way down to junior varsity races for all grade levels.
The Bulldogs never have participated in the festival, but coach Tracy Heley wanted to give this year’s team that opportunity.
“I really wanted that for them because they are a special group,” Heley said.
“It gives an opportunity for a group of kids who just have been very successful. I feel this is giving them just one more opportunity before they move on to their college experiences. And I think they’re ready for something more than what I’ve given them in the past.”
North Bend’s boys are the defending Class 4A state champions and return every runner from last year’s varsity squad. They are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and have dominated each of their meets this fall.
“I think it’s a good chance for both our boys and girls teams to see how they stack up with the elite teams in the Northwest,” Lynass said.
“This is going to give them some opportunities to run beyond our cross country season,” Heley said. “We hope they can do that.”
In addition to qualifying for the regional meet, the Jim Danner Invitational could also provide individuals a chance to qualify for the Foot Locker National Championships.
The Nike Pre-Nationals is not a new meet, though it has developed into what it is over the past several years, said Tim Tank, the cross country coach at Aloha High School, which hosts the meet.
The event went from a good statewide meet to a strong regional meet that this year will include representatives from nearly 100 schools in five different states.
“It is probably the most competitive meet in the Northwest and one of the most competitive meets on the West Coast,” Tank said.
Yet at the same time, it’s also a meet for runners all the way down to beginners.
“I think the neat thing in my opinion is that there is a place for everybody, whether you’re a competitive individual or a competitive team or a first-year runner,” he said.
The Jim Danner Invitational, named in honor of a former successful Aloha coach, includes elite fields featuring runners from several of those states.
The boys race Saturday will include 19 different teams from five states and British Columbia, Canada, plus individuals from two other schools.
The group includes Crater, ranked No. 4 in the Northwest by www.dyestat.com, the unofficial authority on cross country in the United States.
Other squads considered bubble teams for the regional rankings include North Bend and five Washington schools — Mount Spokane, Seattle Prep, Sehome, Snohomish and Tahoma. Other Oregon teams in the field are Lake Oswego and South Eugene, both Class 6A schools.
The girls field is more impressive, with 22 total schools, including five ranked in the top nine in the Northwest — Jesuit (No. 1); Boise, Idaho (No. 3); Snohomish (No. 5); Eastlake, Wash. (No. 6) and Sehome (No. 9). South Eugene and fellow Class 6A school Sunset are bubble teams, while two of California’s top five teams — Carondelet (No. 2) and Esperanza (No. 5) also will compete.
North Bend’s girls will compete against 16 other teams in the Division I race, including fellow Class 4A powers Phoenix and Molalla and other Oregon schools Aloha, Gresham, South Medford, West Linn and Westview.
Another school in the division is Mater Dei of California, famous for its football program.
Both North Bend teams finished second in their division on Saturday in the Seaside Three-Course Challenge, which included more than 100 high schools. The teams earlier swept titles in the North Bend Invitational, Bandon Invitational and Prefontaine Memorial Run.
Jessianne Heley, the emotional leader of the girls club, is excited that her team gets to compete Saturday, and hopes her teammates see they can improve even more.
“I’m hoping our people realize they need to move up a little bit,” she said.
Notes: The North Bend girls compete at 3:05 p.m., while the boys race at 4:15. Admission is $5, with children under 12 getting in free. Tank said the goal is to provide a fun environment on the long day. “We do try to provide a festive atmosphere,” he said. “There are a lot of give-aways and promotions for kids and spectators throughout the day.”
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