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Saxons, Vikings tune up before cross country districts
By Lee Clarkson
Special to the Statesman Journal
October 21, 2010

To most sports fans in the Mid-Willamette Valley, the Civil War refers only to events in which the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers tangle.

Wednesday at Bush’s Pasture Park, however, the cross country teams from South Salem and North Salem met in their own version of the Civil War, but with a much friendlier approach than their collegiate counterparts.

The fifth annual meet between the Saxons and Vikings provided a final tune-up before next week’s Central Valley Conference district meet, but it also extended a friendly rivalry between the Salem schools.

South Salem defeated North, 829 to 1196, to claim this year’s bragging rights. The Saxons hold the all-time edge at 3-2.

Make no mistake though: It is a friendly rivalry.

“We’ve always gotten along well with North,” South Salem head coach LisAnne Saxe said.

“It’s a great rivalry with South,” North Salem head coach Don Berger said. “We’re always just excited to go against those guys.”

The format of the meet is unique. Rather than splitting up the team score and running the boys’ and girls’ races separately, it was scored as one race.

After starting the girls first, the boys were sent on their way 2 1/2 minutes later in an attempt to chase down the front-runners.

Three Saxons girls were able to hold off the boys who were chasing them.

South freshman Vivian Hawkinson crossed the finish line first, completing the 4,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 13 seconds. Fellow Saxon Kellen Friedrich was four seconds back at 15:17 to place second, and teammate Courtney Hochstetler was third in 15:33.

Hawkinson enjoyed the format of the meet and the challenge of knowing she was being chased.

“It’s kinda fun to think if you get tired, you’re like ‘oh, I don’t want to get caught by a boy,’ ” Hawkinson said. “It pushes you to go faster.”

North Salem senior Sergio Olmos was the first boy finisher, but he placed fourth overall in 15:46. His official time converts to 13:16 taking into consideration the 2 1/2-minute gap between the boys’ and girls’ start times.

“I was just focusing on catching the South girls,” Olmos said. “They’re strong girls. They work hard and they’re really strong.”

Cody Franklin, another Vikings senior, finished fifth overall at 15:52 (13:22).

“We were hoping to chase down some of their girls,” Berger said. “They ran really tough. We had our hands full today.”

The meet’s low-key atmosphere was captured by what happened after the race — each team honored its graduating senior class in a shared ceremony, and the winning Saxons were served ice cream by the Vikings.

Could you see Jacquizz Rodgers scooping up treats for LaMichael James if the Beavers lost to the Ducks?

While fun was had, the race certainly had meaning as it was both schools’ last competition before the district meet next Wednesday. Both coaches are looking to compete well.

South Salem has its sights set high for both the boys and girls teams.

“Our girls are hoping to finish on top,” Saxe said. “Our boys … we’d love to see them in the top three.

“We’ve been really working on focusing on what it takes as a team to achieve those goals.”

On the other hand, the Vikings like their chances if they can come back from some injuries.

“We’re not totally healthy, so the first thing is we’ve got to rest up and get over our issues,” Berger said. “If we’re healthy, we’ll be tough.”

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