Central Catholic 2006 Boys XC Preview

Despite the graduation of two time state cross country champion Kenny Klotz and a record setting team performance at the State Meet, this year’s Ram squad has, amazingly, hopes for an even greater season in 2006. Returning nine of last year’s top ten runners – only Klotz graduated from that group – and adding a few more talented athletes, the CC harriers hope to defend their State Team Championship and make a return trip to the Nike Team Nationals; if invited to NTN they’ll be looking to improve upon their 11th place showing there. No doubt they’ll be led by their seven seniors, all of whom have aspirations to continue their running careers in college.

In addition to the team title in 2005, Klotz individual victory was the fourth consecutive for a Ram harrier. The Rams have every expectation of continuing this streak and have a plethora of runners angling for the top spot. Senior LUKE WILTSHIRE was 9th at last year’s state meet, after finishing 33rd and 24th as a frosh and soph. With the 6A/5A split (Oregon is moving to from a four to a six class system, and some of the traditionally strong 4A squads will be in 5A; Central Catholic will be in 6A.), Luke is the #1 returning runner in 6A, and there can be no questioning his desire to be the state champ in 2006. He had a strong track season and looks already to be in excellent shape for the long fall campaign; if anyone should be considered the favorite for the individual title, it’s Luke Wiltshire – particularly in light of the competitive streak he’s shown in the three previous state meets.

Right behind Luke in 10th place at last year’s state meet was TAYLOR MORGAN, in his first full xc season. Junior-to-be Morgan had a phenomenal spring, breaking the Oregon sophomore record in the 800m with his state runner-up 1:52.33. He also ran 4:00 for 1500m and capped his season with a 3rd place finish at the Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) in the 2000m steeplechase. Like Luke, Taylor believes that the state title is rightfully in his future.

The 3rd best returner in 6A is senior NICK TURNER, entering his second year of xc. Last fall he began the season hoping to crack the top seven and ended it as a Second Team All-State runner, having finished 13th over the Lane Community College layout. How good might he be this year? No one knows that answer, but suffice to say he ought to be pretty competitive. The guess here is that, like his teammates above, he’d like to be the state champ.

Nipping at Nick’s heels a year ago was super-frosh SAMOT TURINA with a phenomenal 16th place effort at state. A month later he was 2nd at the Junior Olympic Nationals and continued on to have a fine track season with a 9:10 clocking for 3000m. A year older and stronger, Samot is the #5 returner in 6A, and he, too, has designs on the top spot of the podium.

Senior KEVIN O’MALLEY was 56th a year ago at the state meet. After a great winter of training he was the team’s most improved distance runner in the spring, clocking 4:12/1500m and 9:01/3000m on the oval. Despite a bout with mono at the end of the spring, he looks to be fully recovered and is currently training at a very high level. He could be as good as any of the guys mentioned above!

Struggling with a stress fracture at the close of last fall, senior SAM WOTIPKA has never looked better than he does this summer. Sam is one of the team’s clear leaders and possesses great talent. As a soph he ran 1:58, 4:04, and 9:13, and his summer training indicates that he can run with any one of the above athletes. He looks this fall to fulfill his great potential in cross country.

Another senior, TAYLOR BERGMANN, made the most of his opportunity during Wotipka’s absence late last fall, running as the seventh man at the Nike Team Nationals. That opportunity has strengthened Taylor’s resolve, and his training over the past eight months has been very strong and consistent. He ran 4:17/1500m in the spring, and has continued to make great improvement with a steady summer of training. He is a two time MHC JV XC Champion; one of his goals this year is to make sure that he’s not in the running for a 3rd JV crown.

Still another senior is DAVID BELTRAMO. In his sophomore year he ran 4:14 and 2:02 in the first week of the track season before being sidelined by a stress fracture; in cross country he saved his best race for last with an outstanding 38th place effort at the state meet. As a junior he struggled with a variety of ailments but gained great momentum with a PR 1:59.5 carry for the NON 3rd place 4 x 800m team. That single race has motivated him to re-dedicate himself, and he looks to return to the form of his sophomore year.

Our final senior is another incredibly dedicated athlete, DAVID LANEY. Laney came to CC as a fine age group runner, but struggled to find his niche until the middle of his junior year. He ran a fine 9:32 for 3000m in the spring, but a more indicative reflection of his form came in the manner of his training; for the first time he was able to train consistently with the top group, and, this summer, he has emerged as a leader in many workouts. He may well be the team’s most conscientious runner, and he appears poised to make a great leap this fall.

The aforementioned nine runners give the Rams great optimism for 2006, but the list does not end there. Two junior transfers could have an impact for CC this fall and certainly will be part of the Rams’ future. JOEL TURKHEIMER comes to Portland from Bainbridge Island, WA and could be a major contributor. As a soph he finished 23rd in the Washington State 3A Cross Country meet; this summer he has established himself in the top group and may be a very pleasant surprise for the Rams. ZACH MARX has moved to Portland from Southern California (Santiago HS, Corona) having run 4:24/1600m and 9:39/3200m as a sophomore. His few workouts with the team this summer show exceptional promise as well.

Incoming frosh MUSA AHMED arrives at Central with a fine pedigree: his brother Zuber was the 2005 Oregon State Champ at 1500m and 3000m. Musa has had great success as an age group runner (9:39/3000m in the 6th grade) and, despite some injury problems over the last couple of years, has already established himself as a runner of great ability during summer workouts.

Juniors AARON PECORA and AUSTIN JONES both have the ability to be solid varsity runners a year from now; Pecora has improved by leaps and bounds in his two years as a distance runner, and he seems to get better on a weekly basis. Jones ran track for the first time this past spring and will make his debut over hill and dale this season. He possesses both the physical and mental talents to be very successful in this endeavor.

Sophomores CONOR CAMPBELL and CONOR ROLAND both have found their niche as distance runners and had fine freshman track seasons. Campbell won the MHC Freshman 1500m while Roland was the 800m champ in the same meet. There is no doubt that each of the Conors will contribute before their days are done at Central Catholic.

Freshmen PETER SLAUSON and CURRAN CARLILE began running with the Ram men last winter and have easily adapted to the rigors of high school running. Both have high expectations and, along with fellow frosh EVERETT STILLEY and GABE LATHROP, have already begun training with the team this summer; all four appear to have some great gifts as distance men and could be part of an outstanding freshman class.

Despite the excitement these individuals bring, team goals are the focus of this group. The outstanding leadership of previous classes has created a team dynamic that is a pleasure to observe; only seven young men will be able to compete at the District, State, and (hopefully) NTN meets, but team members understand and appreciate their own opportunities to contribute – as well as the contributions of their teammates.

The #1 goal of this year’s group is to defend their 2005 State Title. Many believe that defending is more difficult than winning the first time, and that seems to be the case this year at the 6A level. On paper the Rams are likely the favorite, but, given that races are not run on paper, there can be no doubt that there will be a handful of squads looking to wrest the blue trophy from the men of Central. Leading the contenders is perennial power – and archrival - Jesuit. Last year’s predominantly sophomore group had a fine track season, led by Brian Manning (JR), Sam Larson (SR), and Peter Maag (JR) – all of whom ran below 9:00 for 3000m in the spring.. A year older and stronger – and coached by the legendary Tom Rothenberger – this group will certainly put up a great fight at the State Meet in November.

Another outstanding group is Lincoln HS of Portland. As a team they narrowly missed a state meet berth a year ago, but with everyone healthy they would appear to be a lock to qualify and a good bet to make the podium in 2006. They have a deep group with Aaron Anderson, Joe Carpenter, Matt Parker, Nathan Mathabane, and Adrian Unkeles – all of whom put up fine marks last spring – and are coached by the renowned Dave Bailey.

Other long time powers appear to have a few holes to fill, but if previous years are any indication, both Jeff Hess’ South Eugene squad and Tom Millbrooke’s Canby team will be tough. Both groups have some fine returning runners and typically rise to the occasion at the end of the year as well.

Major meets for the Rams this year will be the Bob Firman Invitational in Boise (Eagle Island State Park) on September 23rd and the Jim Danner Invitational (Blue Lake Park, Gresham) on October 7th. The team will open with the Mount Hood Conference Relays at Sandy HS this year (a 4 x one mile relay) on Sept 6th and then the whole squad will race at Wilsonville Memorial Park on Saturday the 9th. Our full schedule is below – and can be accessed at http://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/School.aspx?SchoolID=227 as well.

wed 6 September mhc relays
sat 9 September wilsonville invite
wed 20 September mhc meet @ barlow hs
sat 23 September bob firman invite (eagle island park – boise)
wed 27 September mhc meet @ lents park
sat 30 September bryant park invite (albany)
wed 4 October mhc/pil crossover @ grant hs
sat 7 October danner invite (blue lake park – gresham)
wed 11 October mhc meet @ fernhill (CC hosts)
sat 14 October concordia invite (fernhill park)
wed 18 October mhc meet @ reynold hs
wed 25 October mhc district meet (sandy high school)
sat 4 November osaa state meet (lane comm college – eugene)
sun 18 November nike border clash (nike campus – beaverton)
sat 2 December nike team nationals (portland meadows racetrack)
sat 9 December footlocker nationals (balboa park – san diego)

Please be aware that we may not run a full squad at all of these meets.

Hope to see you somewhere along the way!