Banks girls distance running began to raise its statewide profile when Sophie Schoolmeester arrived as a freshman in 2022.
Schoolmeester won seven 3A individual track titles and had four top-five finishes in the 3A/2A/1A cross country meet, punctuating her career by leading the Braves to their first-ever state team titles in both sports as a senior.
Now that she has moved on to a career at the University of Washington, the Braves are striving to live up to that high standard as they climb to 4A in 2026-27.
“When Sophie started to get good, and other people started to come in, it really transformed what's possible,” said coach Kendall Schoolmeester, Sophie's mother. “The trickle-down effect has helped keep people motivated.”
Despite having only six runners on the team, Banks is more than holding its own this cross country season. The Braves won a tight battle with Scappoose to take the Cowapa League district title last week and are hopeful to contend in the OSAA 4A meet Saturday at Lane Community College.
“I always tell them, 'We're small but mighty,'” Kendall Schoolmeester said. “The improvement curve on some of the girls has just been incredible. They've all really been coming into their own just at the right time.”
Banks passed a big test at district by outscoring Scappoose 28-32. Schoolmeester was runner-up in 18:51.4 – behind Scappoose freshman Kate Kessi (17:54.6) – and the Braves did just enough to turn back the Indians with senior Lydia Shellman (third), junior Rachael Kelly (fourth), senior Maeza Wilson (seventh) and freshman Elena Taylor (12th).
“We knew it was going to be close,” Kendall Schoolmeester said. “It was emotionally so scary.”
Claiming another blue trophy will be a tall task for the Braves, who must deal with top teams such as Scappoose, La Grande and Philomath.
“I feel like we're an underdog, and I would rather be an underdog, but we have a chance,” Kendall Schoolmeester said. “There's so much unknown. On paper, we're totally an underdog. But I feel like we can come to fight.”
Molly Schoolmeester's best time this season is 17:57.3, ranking her third in 4A behind Kessi (17:19.9) and Philomath junior Cassidy Smart (17:45.5), the reigning 4A champion. She has taken nearly one minute off her time from last year, when she clocked 18:54.4 to finish fourth at the state meet.
“She's hungry,” Kendall Schoolmeester said. “She really wants to be great. She's definitely been spoiled in that her freshman year, her team wins cross country state and track state. That's just not normal. Of course, she's like, 'I want it again.'”
Molly has a different kind of running mentality than Sophie.
“Molly has started to enjoy the grind of training, but Sophie loves training,” Kendall Schoolmeester said. “Sophie would get pretty nervous for races, and Molly … last year she was just ready to crush souls in a race. She's more aggressive jumping into races, and Sophie was more aggressive in training.”
Running is a way of life in the Schoolmeester family. Kendall and her husband, Bret Schoolmeester, met as distance runners at the University of Colorado. Kendall's sister is Kara Goucher, an NCAA champion at Colorado and two-time Olympian. She is married to Adam Goucher, also an NCAA champion at Colorado and a former Olympian.
“To go back and see the running world with your kids again, it's wild,” Kendall Schoolmeester said. “It's something all of us can relate to.”
Lincoln boys take PIL
The top three teams in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll collided in the Portland Interscholastic League district meet Oct. 28 at Lents Park in Portland. Lincoln lived up to its No. 1 ranking by finishing first with 34 points, and No. 3 Franklin outscored No. 2 Grant 45-72 to take second place.
Franklin senior Felix Snyder won in 15:15.9, beating Lincoln seniors Jack Denton (15:17.5) and Malcolm Dimoff (15:23.0). Franklin senior Max Gallagher was fourth in 15:34.7.
Lincoln's other scorers were juniors Seth Kugel (eighth), Desmond Conser (10th) and Henry Tachouet (11th).
Summit edges Bend in IMC
Top-ranked Summit held off No. 2 Bend 41-47 to claim the 5A Intermountain Conference girls district title at Crooked River Park in Prineville on Oct. 29.
The Storm did not have a top-five finisher but won behind freshman Sage Jones (sixth), sophomore Kloey Drewsen (seventh), junior Cassidy Carmichael (eighth), freshman Elizabeth Rauber (ninth) and sophomore Lola Marshall (11th).
Caldera senior Maddie Carney, the reigning 5A champion, repeated her district title by finishing in 18:14.4. She beat Redmond sophomore Abigail Davis (18:49.6).
DyeStat rankings
Five Oregon teams made the latest DyeStat national rankings, which were released Oct. 29.
The boys list includes Summit at No. 2, Lincoln at No. 12 and Crater at No. 19. The girls rankings have Crater at No. 2 and Jesuit at No. 25.
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
