Mid-Willamette runners are sure to record personal bests in droves this cross country season. But for these specific individuals, one can’t help but get excited at how much time these athletes might drop as they scamper their way toward conference championships in hopes of qualifying for the state meet in Eugene.
It only makes sense to start with the best. Canby’s MacKenzie Bigej is by far the highest-profiled runner in the area after finishing second overall at the OSAA 5A state championships last year. Her personal best of 17 minutes, 31.60 seconds, which she set at the Northwest Oregon Conference Championships last year, was faster than 33 boys in the varsity race.
And she didn’t even compete full-time, splitting the season with soccer. It’s unclear yet whether Bigej will follow the same routine this year, but another trip to the state meet might be all but certain.
Sticking with Canby, senior Andrew Dewar likely can’t help but feel great about his upcoming season. His personal best of 16:25.34 led him to a sixth-place finish at the NWOC Championships. Dewar, along with teammate Corbin Stoddart, should remain in the hunt for an automatic individual qualifier to the state meet. Stoddart, a junior, clocks in at a personal best of 16:39.20.
In Molalla, junior Otto Terry continues his upward trajectory in the Tri-Valley Conference. Terry ran a personal best of 17:07.70 at the conference championships last season, finishing seventh overall. With three finishers ahead of him graduating, Terry is in strong contention for a top-five finish this year. Sophomore Nick Wood should keep him in honest in practice, boasting a personal best of 17:32.70 and cracking the top-15 at the conference championships.
For the Molalla girls, three finishers in the top-10 at the conference championships is highly plausible. Although Annalyse Jenson was the girls lone state qualifier in 2023, it’s her twin Anika Jenson that holds the team’s fastest personal best at 19:12.80. Anika Jenson looks to bounce back this season after never quite brushing up against her personal best, which she set in 2022, during her sophomore year. Annalyse Jenson, meanwhile, holds a personal best of 19:51.40.
The twins will lead the charge, followed by junior Madison Clark, who finished 11th at the conference championships and has a personal best of 21:32.80.
Shifting to Newberg, all eyes will be on the development of junior Abigail Wheatley. Wheatley led the Tigers to a second-place finish at the Pacific Conference Championships and an automatic team bid to the 6A state championships last year. She ran her personal best of 18:56.90 at the conference championships, finishing third overall.
Moving to Woodburn, junior David Villanueva bolsters the Bulldogs. He’s finished 15th at his last two Mid-Willamette Conference Championships. He’s consistently improved his times over the years and owns a personal best of 16:53.50. If Villanueva can dig lower into the 16s, a top-10 finish at the conference championships this year may be waiting for him.
For the small-school outlook, Kennedy’s Yulissa Chavez Cortes will look to lead the Trojans to another district title. The senior finished sixth overall at last season’s district championships. Cracking 20 minutes would be rather difficult but perhaps in the cards, as she currently holds a personal best of 20:43.80.
Our last runner perhaps possesses the most upside. Any female runner in the 4A classification is likely hoping she stays away from the state meet again this season. Even though her personal best fell outside the top-30 last year, North Marion’s Callie Cutsforth has proven she doesn’t follow the traditional trends of distance running.
Cutsforth has only ran competitively the last three seasons. She truly burst onto the scene in May, winning the 1500-meter state title and taking second in the 800 meters during the track and field season. However, the sophomore was nearly as impressive during cross country season. Like Bigej, Cutsforth split her time with the soccer team, helping lead the Huskies to the 4A state title. She competed in just four races, registering her personal best of 20:40.70 at the Oregon West Conference Championships, finishing seventh overall.
It was good enough to secure an automatic individual qualifier to the state meet, which she ultimately passed on. While it’s yet to be determined how she handles this season, Cutsforth is sure to keep rewriting the record books at North Marion High School.
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