![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
West Linn Cross Country star, Roman Ollar, senior, places second at Sandelie Golf Course Classic race
Roman and Grayson Ollar, senior brothers, place second and fourth respectively out of 274 racers from 40 schools
Terry Sullivan, assistant cross country coach
Roman Ollar (left), senior, competes at the State Championship race last year barely ahead of Ahmed Muhumed, junior. Ollar placed second behind Reilly Bloomer, now graduated, from South Eugene who sprinted past at the end.
At the Sandelie Golf Course Classic race Roman Ollar, senior, set his personal record (PR) of 15:01.0 minutes in the five kilometer (3.1 mile) race. He finished 4.20 seconds behind the winner, Ahmed Muhumed, junior, from West Salem. Twin brother, Grayson Ollar, senior, came in fourth place with a new PR of 15:14.9 minutes.
“I felt disappointed [about coming in second] at first,” Roman Ollar, senior, said. “But I was excited when I saw my time.”
West Linn placed eighth overall with a score of 255. Lincoln placed first followed by Jesuit and Wilson with scores of 100, 135, and 164, respectively. Due to the flat and well kept terrain, Sandelie is known as a fast race where many runners set new PR’s.
“I PR’d by about 25 seconds,” Grayson Ollar, senior, said. “I thought that it was a great race.”
Varsity runner John Wetzsteon, freshman, surprised many team members when he placed fourth for West Linn and 112th overall. He also set a PR of 16:57.0, close to 50 seconds faster than his previous record.
“I’m satisfied that I met my goal of getting under 17 minutes,” Wetzsteon said. “[My future goals are to] win districts as a team and come in the top few teams for state.” [Personally, Wetzsteon wants to stay under 17 minutes for the remaining races.]
The varsity team is currently preparing for the upcoming district race at Clackamas Community College Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Your donation will support the student journalists of West Linn High School. Your contribution will allow us to continue to produce quality content by purchasing equipment, software, and continuing to host our website on School Newspapers Online (SNO).
While most of West Linn High School spent their summers sleeping in until noon, Connor Whitbey, junior, was awake at 5a.m. every morning for his job. Working...
