Southern Sky Boys Midseason Report

Back when the OSAA was determining the State Cross Country meet qualifying I thought I read somewhere for a while they were considering the top two teams and top 5 individuals not on the top two teams advancing to state. Well the final qualifying was top 4 individuals not on another team, and I know that if they ever really considered top 5 situations like the one the Southern Sky is in was the reason they decided on 4. They did not want three teams from one conference going.

Southern Sky is made up of three fairly strong teams in both boys and girls , Ashland, Crater, and Klamath Union and two rebuilding teams. Eagle Point who has not had a XC program in few years and Mazama.

On the boys side Crater is the team to beat, Klamath Falls is currently 2nd and Klamath Falls is third. Most likely two full teams and 4 individuals from the third place team will go to state.... based on best times so far.

Crater is lead Jake Keyser, who not only is the favorite for the Southern Sky Championship but also one of the favorites for the 5A State Meet. He should win this without any question. Backing him up are a very talented group of young men who will probably go down fighting for the varsity sports. 4 are under 17 minutes, Ryan Santana, Zach Elliot, Curtis Yungen, and Jerrod Puckett. Another 4 are under 18 minutes in Casey Mundel, Josh Elliott, James Croft, and Wyatt Rice-Narusch, and still another 3 are under 19 minutes in Cameron Churchill, Nike Ferris, and Brad Arkens. Only three of these young men are Seniors, Keyser, Mundel, and Churchill. The rest return to the Crater squad next year.

Klamath Union returns State Qualifier from last year Chris Reed who continues to improve. His current best time is 16:12. He is backed up by 5 members of his team who are running under 18 minutes, Mason Aspera, Alex Peterson, Charles Warrington, Nick Anderson and Nick Wenner, and three members who are under 19 minutes, Austin Goebel, Kevin Hoffheins, and Steven Reed. Only Chris Reed is a senior.

What Ashland lacks in number they make up for in history. They have a history of taking small teams and improving vastly over the season and usually surprizing people. They are lead by Matt Minor who's best time is 16:26, 4 runners under 18 in Kevin Cook, Wilder Schaaf, and Paul Schwarzer, and 2 under 19 minutes in Cord Walsh and Josh Baker. Kevin Cook and Josh Baker are both seniors.

Season Top Ten times:

Jakob Keyser, Crater - 15:37 Nike Jim Danner
Ryan Santana, Crater - 16:07 Nike Jim Danner
Chris Reed, Klamath Union - 16:12 Bob Firman Invite
Matt Miner, Ashland - 16:27 Nike Jim Danner
Zach Elliott, Crater - 16:28 Nike Jim Danner
Curtis Yungen, Crater - 16:56 Nike Jim Danner
Jerrod Puckett, Crater - 16:58 Nike Jim Danner
Casey Mundel, Crater - 17:09 Nike Jim Danner
Mason Aspera, Klamath Union - 17:16 Bob Firman Invite
Alex Peterson, Klamath Unin - 17:18 Bob Firman Invite