The Jesuit girls high school cross country team from Portland will be going for their 9th-straight big-school Oregon state championship this year and they spent the past week training in Central Oregon. I caught up with (they weren’t running at the time – otherwise I wouldn’t have caught up with them) seniors to be Annamarie Maag, Payton Schutte and Shannon Mahoney while they were in C.O.

Maag is the two-time defending Class 6A state champion and her teammate Schutte is the second-fastest XC runner in the entire state. Mahoney is the 5th fastest senior in 6A based on last year’s state meet. While they were here the girls and their Jesuit teammates enjoyed runs on the Deschutes river trail, a loop through Drake Park, a hike up Smith Rock and lots of other C.O. activities including floating the river.

“It’s nice to switch it up and do something different,” said Schutte, who noted that they log a lot of miles running in the same places in the Portland area.

Jesuit, under coach Tom Rothenberger, has its sites set on more than just another state title. They will be looking for big post-state success, including a strong showing at the Nike Team Nationals at Portland Meadows racetrack. Expect another monster year from the Crusaders!

Annamarie Maag

Payton Schutte

Shannon Mahoney