By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SILVER FALLS, Ore.– Kali Ellis has had a challenging start to her senior year.
The Wilsonville Night Race to start, The Ultimook Race this past weekend, and now the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational on Wednesday.
The three-time 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 Runner-Up, who has also finished in the Top 20 in the State Cross Country Race through her first three years running for Western Christian, spoke towards how last year just came together as she embarks on her senior season as a Pioneer distance runner.
“At the end of the season, everything just came together exactly like I wanted it for sure,” Ellis said, who finished 33rd in the Silver Falls race on Wednesday. “This race (Wednesday) really just makes mentally tougher and helps with building extra muscle by packing in all the hard training in the early season and the Summer, it all just prepares you for District and State.”
Ellis has been focused on strength training and is hopeful that it’ll help her this season in staying healthy as she chases that elusive District Title at the end of October.
“I’ve definitely been working on my strength and getting stronger. I think it’s going to help prevent any little injury from happening and just making me stronger,” said Ellis.
On the boys’ side, the Western Christian Boys Cross Country team returns two from their 2024 3A/2A/1A Special District 2 District Championship winning squad in Peter Denney and Troy Bradley. Denney finished 24th in the Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational race with Bradley finished 72nd in the field of 145 runners on Wednesday as the new look Pios Boys Cross Country team looks to defend their District Title next month.
“We’re going to try our best and work as a team. We’re going to keep going and keep training hard. We have the same coaches, so we’re going to do our absolute best and see what comes out of it,” said Denney. “It’s days like these when you get stronger, and you put it out on those last races where you hopefully feel like you’re stronger and see your times improve.”
Denney said.
“We’re doing our best to encourage everyone and stay connected as a team. All the captains, really. We’re sticking together and making everyone feel included as we work hard as a team.”
Western Christian, both their girls and boys teams will be at the Ash Creek Festival this weekend before taking part in the Northwest Classic and Champs Invite to close out the month of September.
The District Meet will be on October 29 at Cheadle Lake Park in Lebanon.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
