Sylvia Eckman of Roseburg, right, pushes to lead Grants Pass senior Nettle Grey during the girls cross country race at the Southwest Conference championships in Talent Wednesday.

With an eye merely on qualifying for the upcoming Class 6A cross country state championships, several North Medford and South Medford runners used race strategy to do just that Wednesday at Colver Field in Talent.

North Medford and South Medford combined to qualify four boys and four girls to the Nov. 9 state championships in Eugene during the Southwest Conference meet Wednesday, with Black Tornado senior Elijah Zavala and South Medford senior Cyerra Mejia leading the charge among the locals in the boys and girls races, respectively.

The top two teams and top 14 individuals automatically advance to the state meet, so race positioning played a key role in the race plans.

“The nice thing is that it’s such a competitive conference,” said North Medford head coach Piet Voskes, “you know that even by finishing eighth or ninth in our conference meet that you’re going to run pretty well at the state meet.”

Zavala secured the top local finish by coming in fourth during the 5,000-meter boys race in 16 minutes, 16.97 seconds. Sheldon’s Malachi Schoenherr set the pace by earning the SWC title in 15:38.25, followed by South Eugene’s Yosuke Shibata (15:52.28), Sheldon’s Benjamin Kehrein (16:07.03) and Zavala.

“It was a good showing for him,” Voskes said. “It’s a tough conference but he ran smart. He was slotted fourth and finished fourth and just ran a smart race with just kind of an advancement strategy, so we’re pleased with his outcome.”

South Medford senior Devon Scott placed eighth in 16:49.92 and was followed moments later by sophomore teammate Ezra Dixon, who finished ninth in 16:50.37. Panthers seniors Gabriel Luksich also qualified for the state meet by finishing 14th (17:00.75).

South Eugene edged Sheldon by eight points to earn the SWC boys title, with South Medford finishing third and North Medford coming in fourth as a team.

On the girls side, Mejia placed seventh for the Panthers in 20:22.05 and North Medford sophomore Lily Zavala was eighth in 20:32.72.

“Lily allowed the first mile to kind of develop and knew that there would be a separation there,” said Voskes, “and wanted to just kind of slot herself in a spot where she could be aggressive the third mile and not have to worry too much about advancement.”

“She just kind of was able to run loosely but aggressively,” added the coach, “and she’s a pretty smart and savvy kid so she knew the first mile would probably dictate who the first 14 were, and by the first mile it was pretty obvious who they were.”

North Medford freshman Evlyn Crooks (12th, 20:40.96) and South Medford freshman Kahryn Fjarli (13th, 20:45.21) also qualified for the upcoming state meet.

The Panthers barely missed out on qualifying as a team, with South Eugene earning the SWC girls title with 35 points but Grants Pass edging South Medford for the No. 2 spot by two points.

Roseburg senior Sylvia Eckman won the girls crown in 19:16.16 ahead of Grants Pass senior Nettle Grey (19:28.24).

BOYS

TEAM SCORES: South Eugene 41, Sheldon 49, South Medford 67, North Medford 92, Roseburg 111, Grants Pass 154.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Malachi Schoenherr, She, 15:38.25; 2, Yosuke Shibata, SE, 15:52.28; 3, Benjamin Kehrein, She, 16:07.03; 4, Elijah Zavala, NM, 16:16.97; 5, Luca Feldhoff-Choi, SE, 16:40.90; 6, Hauke Kiley, SE, 16:42.81; 7, Joseph Latham, Ros, 16:46.78; 8, Devon Scott, SM, 16:49.92; 9, Ezra Dixon, SM, 16:50.37; 10, Ryan McCondochie, She, 16:51.80.

11, Trace Hoskins, GP, 16:56.92; 12, Tejas Sanghvi, SE, 16:59.27; 13, Lucas White, She, 17:00.75; 14, Gabriel Luksich, SM, 17:00.75; 15, Cole Hale, NM, 17:06.65; 16, Benjamin Ayala, SE, 17:11.91; 17, Mason Carroll, SM, 17:20.59; 18, Izak Hutchins, Ros, 17:20.69; 19, Eli Dixon, SM, 17:21.59; 20, Zane Messer, NM, 17:22.19.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES: South Eugene 35, Grants Pass 80, South Medford 82, Roseburg 87, North Medford 98, Sheldon 129.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Sylvia Eckman, Ros, 19:16.16; 2, Nettle Grey, GP, 19:18.24; 3, Elizabeth McCart, SE, 19:27.97; 4, Frances Blake, SE, 20:05.40; 5, Piper Richmond, Wil, 20:08.99; 6, Madison Zemper-Prill, SE, 20:09.54; 7, Cyerra Mejia, SM, 20:22.05; 8, Lily Zavala, NM, 20:32.72; 9, Jazlene Washington, She, 20:35.23; 10, Sylvia Czarnecki, She, 20:39.23.

11, Cora Ludwig, SE, 20:40.14; 12, Evlyn Crooks, NM, 20:40.96; 13, Kahryn Fjarli, SM, 20:45.21; 14, Julianne Bawden, SE, 21:12.52; 15, Olivia Allen, GP, 21:16.14; 16, Rylie McLaughlin, Ros, 21:23.73; 17, Briana Smith, Ros, 21:34.97; 18, Hannah Sykes, SM, 21:36.49; 19, Cate Brassell, SM, 21:36.72; 20, Taylor Weber, GP, 21:45.10.

SKYLINE CONFERENCE: At Talent, Phoenix senior William Pyeatt finished runner-up in the 5,000 meter conference championships at Colver Field with a time of 18:08 to help the Pirates place second overall in the boys team standings Tuesday.

Sophomore Cail Decker placed fifth (18:23) and the Pirates got back-to-back efforts from Lincoln Potochnick (11th, 19:13) and Trevor Gannaway (12th, 19:16) to help boost the state-qualifying effort at the 4A level.

Peter Moline of Hidden Valley won the district title in 17:18.

In the girls race, Phoenix sophomore Aleah Polansky placed seventh in 22:33 to pace the Pirates and qualify for the Class 4A state meet.

Hallie Pyfer of Klamath Union (20:02) earned the girls district title.

BOYS

TEAM SCORES: Klamath Union 40, Phoenix 44, Hidden Valley 63, Henley 96, Mazama 126.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Peter Moline, HV, 17:18; 2, William Pyeatt, Pho, 18:08; 3, Jonas Southwell, KU, 18:11; 4, Titus Simonsen, Hen, 18:16; 5, Cail Decker, Pho, 18:23; 6, Tristan Klecker, KU, 18:29; 7, Christopher Barajas, Maz, 18:34; 8, Callum Squibb, KU, 18:49; 9, Rowan Wiedel, HV, 18:57; 10, Jonny Higgins, KU, 19:03.

11, Lincoln Potochnick, Pho, 19:13; 12, Trevor Gannaway, Pho, 19:16; 13, John Potter, KU, 19:17; 14, William Acord, Pho, 19:24; 15, Kevin Yates, HV, 19:32; 16, Logan Brown, KU, 19:42; 17, Ryker Rasmussen, HV, 19:59; 18, Asher Larson, Hen, 20:08; 19, Sawyer Olsen, KU, 20:11; 20, Quin Davis, Pho, 20:15.

GIRLS

TEAM SCORES: Klamath Union 18, Henley 53, Hidden Valley 83, Phoenix 93.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Hallie Pyfer, KU, 20:02; 2, Olivia Mitchell, KU, 20:41; 3, Leona Higgins, KU, 20:43; 4, Allie Nelson, KU, 21:29; 5, Kiera Welch, Hen, 22:13; 6, Macie Schultz, Hen, 22:26; 7, Aleah Polansky, Pho, 22:33; 8, Eleanor Rodriguez, KU, 22:44; 9, Elsie Baumann, KU, 22:51; 10, Hazel Squibb, KU, 22:54.

11, Sandra Martin, Maz, 22:57; 12, Erin Moline, HV, 22:58; 13, Josie Ginestar, Hen, 23:01; 14, Joey Clark, HV, 23:19; 15, Randi Benson, Hen, 23:31; 16, Emma Martin, HV, 23:51; 17, Natania Marchessa, Hen, 23:52; 18, Kelsey Whitaker, Hen, 24:15; 19, Saige White, Hen, 24:19; 20, Lorelei Metcalf, HV, 24:30.

3A DISTRICT 4: At Eugene, St. Mary’s freshman Adley Damon placed sixth in the 3A/2A/1A girls race in 20:13.55 to qualify for the upcoming state meet on the same site Thursday at Lane Community College.

Cascade Christian senior Saige Griffin finished just outside the top-seven finishers and an automatic berth in the state meet by placing eighth in 20:28.42. St. Mary’s senior Bella Fortino finished ninth (20:40.32).

In the boys 5,000-meter race, Cascade Christian junior Nash Crisp claimed the final automatic berth to state by finishing seventh in 17:19.38, one spot ahead of junior teammate Isaac Young (eighth, 17:39.34).

Owen Kuhl was the top St. Mary’s boy after finishing 14th (18:30.36).

3A BOYS

TEAM SCORES: Siuslaw 24, Glide 75, Pleasant Hill 89, Cascade Christian 94, Douglas 110, St. Mary’s 132, Sutherlin 195, South Umpqua 218.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Clayton Wilson, Siu, 15:35.78; 2, Henry Stone, Siu, 16:46.75; 3, Gage Roper, PH, 17:13.30; 4, Bentley Nelson, Siu, 17:14.37; 5, Noah Eichenbusch, Gli, 17:14.55; 6, Ezra King, Siu, 17:16.50; 7, Nash Crisp, CC, 17:19.38; 8, Isaac Young, CC, 17:39.34; 9, Devon Jones, PH, 17:42.79; 10, Zach Sahr, Gli, 17:48.27.

11, Kale Jensen, Siu, 17:57.94; 12, Camden Linton, Siu, 17:58.03; 13, Sailor Jensen, Siu, 17:58.20; 14, Owen Kuhl, StM, 18:30.36; 15, Ty Hunter, Dou, 18:32.58; 16, Vedder Anderson, PH, 18:35.32; 17, Hudson Salas, Dou, 18:41.46; 18, Hans Lewis, Cre, 18:49.49; 19, Kyler Straube, CC, 19:04.26; 20, Jack Pace, Gli, 19:04.60.

3A/2A/1A GIRLS

TEAM SCORES: Siuslaw 58, Pleasant Hill 93, Coquille 105, Cascade Christian 116, St. Mary’s 118, Lakeview 125, Bandon 157, Oakland 186, Glide 188, Myrtle Point 235.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20): 1, Ella Henthorn, Coq, 18:57.24; 2, Alison Hughes, Siu, 19:45.83; 3, Emma Halblieb, Lak, 19:54.51; 4, Addison McNeill, Siu, 19:58.72; 5, Halle Goodman, Gli, 20:12.42; 6, Adley Damon, StM, 20:13.55; 7, Elizabeth Goeres, Lak, 20:14.42; 8, Saige Griffin, CC, 20:28.42; 9, Bella Fortino, StM, 20:40.32; 10, Nellie Smith, PH, 20:40.94.

11, Maya Wells, Siu, 20:40.97; 12, Giada Moore, Ban, 20:41.03; 13, Raena Crisp, CC, 20:41.84; 14, Faith Gertner, Coq, 20:52.49; 15, Madyson Winters, CC, 20:54.70; 16, Annaleigh Epperson, PH, 20:54.80; 17, Macy McNeill, Siu, 20:58.67; 18, Callie Sarnoski, Oak, 21:09.87; 19, Soleis Jones, PH, 21:42.76; 20, Ellie Horner, MP, 21:45.67.