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Photo by Allie Nelson

It is now a four-peat. For the fourth year in a row, the Klamath Union girls cross country team hoisted up the crown as the 4A-5 Skyline Conference champions. KU boys cross country did not disappoint and were winners of the team crown as well.

KU girls’ cross country licked the pot clean as seven of 10 runners in the top 10 at the conference championships were from Klamath Union.

The top female runner, once again, belonged to Klamath Union as sophomore Hallie Pyfer won the event and finished the race at 20:02. Teammates Olivia Mitchell and Leona Higgins were neck and neck of each other just before the finish line.

Mitchell was able to secure second place at 20:14, with Higgins ending just two seconds behind her.

Allie Nelson came in fourth place at 21:29. Eleanor Rodriguez (22:44), Elsie Baumann (22:51) and Hazel Squibb (22:54) finished in eighth, ninth and 10th place, respectively.

For the KU boys’ team, Jonas Southwell was the top runner with his third-place time of 18:11. Tristan Klecker was in sixth place for KU at 18:29. Callum Squibb was in seventh place with his time of 18:49, and Jonny Higgins was in 10th place at 19:03.

It was a different year, of sorts, for KU girls cross country. Two of the team’s top runners, Mitchell and Nelson, faced injuries in a season where they had their hands full playing girls soccer and cross country for Klamath Union.

As a result, the two runners had to miss cross country meets and some of the team’s training had to be done individually, rather than in full groups.

With so many of the top female runners in the conference coming from Klamath Union, there was bound to be friendly competition.

The school’s top distance runner, Isabela Coffman, graduated, meaning a void presented itself in leadership and camaraderie.

Higgins, a junior, and the younger Pyfer, pushed each other during practices, knowing they were capable of helping the program not let go of its conference title.

“I was discouraged. There were people younger than me running faster. I thought I had to be faster but I had my teammates and coaches saying I am where I need to be. My improvement is still an improvement and to not compare,” Higgins said. “I was envious Hallie was faster and younger but I was accepting and grateful she is on our team. She pushed me through a lot of hard workouts.”

Higgins had in mind she wanted to run under 19 minutes, 30 seconds, something she accomplished this season.

The Pelicans will now run for the second time this year at the track and field at Lane Community College, the site of the OSAA Class 4A state championships Saturday, Nov. 9.

Higgins knows Lane like the back of her hand, being a Eugene native and running cross country at South Eugene High School when she was a freshman.

“I feel cross country doesn’t get a lot of recognition. To be one of the best teams in our area is empowering. We lost two seniors who were fast so we were a bit scared but had some new people move, the freshman came up and we were able to get our team to a better spot than it was last year,” Higgins said. “I grew up running at Lane and I really like it. It is special to me when we go there for the Northwest Classic and for state; it makes me feel at home.”

One point away

One point separated KU boys cross country from the state meet a year ago.

Klamath Union runners had to get used to competing away from home as only one meet was held in Klamath Falls this year.

Southwell knew of his team’s potential during an event at Lane earlier in the season when Klamath Union beat rivals Phoenix and Hidden Valley.

“We all ran a personal record in that event. Right there, I realized our team could go to state and win the Skyline Conference championship. To miss state by one point was tough. I talked to the coaches to see how we could get better. It gave me an extra boost. Practicing how we should pushed us to state.”

Southwell is optimistic before the state championships as his team is ranked No. 7. Southwell has credited the team’s success to several new runners, including Callum Squibb.

“This season has gone great because of our teammates and coaches. They are strict but they help us out. Callum beat my freshman personal record. He does workouts with us and is humble. I love watching him grow and it makes you proud to watch him and grow with him.”