PENDLETON CROSS COUNTRY FALL PREVIEW
By ANNIE FOWLER, CUJ Special Contributor
Two-time state qualifier Jack Reynolds leads the way for the Bucks
PENDLETON — Maddy Naughton is excited to get the season started.
The Pendleton cross country coach has a plethora of talent returning on the boys team, and the girls team, which was one point shy of qualifying for state, has three seniors and a group of promising freshmen.
“Summer conditioning was the best it has been in several years,” Naughton said. “We are not a high mileage program. It was more the quality of miles. We have 32-33 kids. We usually pick up a handful when school starts, so we could have up to 40 kids. We lost a few seniors, so we have some new blood.”
Junior Jack Reynolds, who went to state as an individual as a freshman, was key in helping the entire team qualify for the 4A state meet last year. It was the first time the Bucks went to state as a team since 2013 when they were at the 5A level.
Reynolds finished second at the Greater Oregon League district meet, with Khoda Brown sixth, Autry Robinson seventh, Eric Baisley 10th, and Mason Morioka 22nd. All five are back, and hungry for another trip to Eugene.
“That was Jack’s goal, to take the team with him,” Naughton said. “Of the kids that were varsity at the end of the year, everybody that went to state is back. We have a good influx of freshmen. We have at least four freshmen boys who have been out all summer with us.”
Senior Conner Oliver, junior Jefferson Steele, and sophomore Damien Vega also ran varsity for the Bucks last year, while freshman Samuel Watrud did his best to keep pace with the upperclassmen over the summer.
“His goal is to keep up with the varsity kids,” Naughton said of Watrud.
Reynolds was 29th at state as a freshman, and was 15th last year. The Bucks finished 12th in the team standings.
Naughton said the Bucks will have to put in the work to make a return trip to state.
“It will take work to get there,” she said. “La Grande is really strong, and Baker has some strong kids that are coming back. It should be a nice battle.”
On the girls side, the Bucks are led by senior Melissa Tune, who grabbed a trip to state last year, placing seventh at district with a personal best time of 21:14.40. She was 43rd at state.
Pendleton was third in the team standings at district with 49 points, one point back of second-place Baker.
“It was such a heartbreaker,” Naughton said. “Nobody had them going to state at the start of the season, but us. We knew what they could do. They surprised a few people.”
The Bucks return a strong core of runners in addition to Tune. Seniors Maddy Lieuallen and Bella Estrada are back, as are junior Evie Christiansen and sophomores Ella Holtz and Claire Harrison.
“We have several freshmen girls who will really impact varsity,” Naughton said. “The freshmen girls have been running with us all summer, and a distance girl from track (Evelyn Hayes) who did not run with us last year, is out.”
Freshmen Ella Tozar, Riley Adams and Rylee Jackson hope to crack the varsity lineup. Tozar and Adams ran middle school cross country last year.
“I am really excited about our prospects this year, and for years to come,” Naughton said. “These freshmen will make an impact.”
The Bucks will open the season Aug. 29, at the John Hascall Memorial 3k in Pilot Rock. On Sept. 7, they will lead off the Dress-Up Parade as part of a fundraiser for the Kyle Burnside Memorial Scholarship.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Naughton said. “It’s more of a team bonding event than a race.”
Pendleton cross country
- Aug. 29 Pendleton at John Hascall Memorial 3k, Pilot Rock 6:30 p.m.
- Sept. 20 Pendleton at Hawk Invite, Walla Walla TBD
- Sept. 21 Pendleton at Three Course Challenge, Seaside TBD
- Sept. 28 Pendleton at Bob Firman Invite, Eagle (Idaho) 8:45 a.m.
- Oct. 5 Pendleton at Big Cross Invite, Pasco 11:30 a.m.
- Oct. 10 Pendleton at Live Nation Invitational, Gorge Amphitheater 2 p.m.
- Oct. 17 Pendleton at Kyle Burnside Memorial Invite, Pendleton 3 p.m.
- Oct. 30 Pendleton at GOL District Championships, Baker TBD
