Out of the Shadows

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Pear Blossom winner John Lucas crosses the finish line during the 32nd annual run in downtown Medford on Saturday.Jamie Lusch

April 13, 2008

By Tim Trower

Mail Tribune

John Lucas came into the Pear Blossom Run under the radar.

And as far ahead as he got, that kind of tracking device would have helped to keep tabs on the former Eagle Point High standout during the 10-mile run in west Medford on Saturday.

With much of the pre-race attention focused on four-time winner and course record-holder Max King, Lucas bolted out and was soon a lone blip on the screen. Running in splendid weather, he easily won the 32nd annual run in 50 minutes, 6 seconds.

King, a Central Point product and a former high school rival of Lucas', ran the final couple miles shoulder-to-shoulder with Damian Baldovino of Lakeview. The two had the same time of 52:01, with Baldovino placing second and King third.

Recent international competition and a cold left King in less-than-peak racing condition.

Baldovino, 41, meanwhile, broke the 40-44 age-group record by five seconds. It was formerly held by Leonard Hill.

Erik Skaggs of Ashland was fourth in 55:36, and Bob Julian Jr. of Medford was fifth in 52:40.

Both Lucas and King are Olympic Trials-caliber runners. Lucas placed 44th in the trials for the marathon — his specialty — in November. King has qualified for the 3,000-meter steeplechase trials this summer in Eugene.

"I didn't expect to receive much attention," said Lucas, who lives in Eugene and was competing in the Pear Blossom for the first time since his junior year of high school in 1998. "Max is still the king of the Pear Blossom, as far as I'm concerned. I know he was under the weather, and this was just a light workout for him. I wish him all the best in trying to make the Olympic team. I'll definitely be cheering for him."

In high school, Lucas generally got the better of King, but in recent years, "It's been all Max," he said, adding that the two have raced against each other about a half-dozen times in recent years.

Lucas, who ran collegiately for Oregon, hadn't done any racing since the marathon trials. He's mostly trained and played a little basketball, he said.

But he was heartened to learn that he'd be running against King in the Pear Blossom.

"I was relieved," said Lucas. "I thought we could run together and run faster times. That's just something that's hard to do when you're by yourself."

But Lucas' training and the recent wear-and-tear on King, who ran in the World Cross Country Championships in Great Britain two weeks ago, showed early.

Lucas has been doing threshold workouts, requiring maximum effort, he said, and his fitness was on display as he built about a 20-second lead through the first three miles out Jacksonville Highway and up Hanley Road.

He was comfortably in front at the turnaround and cruised home, although he didn't figure he had the race won until the final half-mile.

"I wasn't looking behind me too much," said the 27-year-old.

The race went about the way King expected. He started out a bit slowly, unsure of how he'd feel.

And when Lucas took off, King couldn't catch him.

"He was just too much for me to handle today," said King, whose course record is 49:29, set in 2005.

King reigned from 2003 to '06, setting records for consecutive and overall wins. He didn't run last year because of scheduling conflicts.

He admitted it was "a little bit" disappointing not to win again, but he plans to return next year — and hopes Lucas does the same.

"Heck yeah, I'll be back," said King. "I'll take it (title) back next year. Hopefully John will be back, too. I'd like to have a good race with him."

Lucas laughed when he heard King was ready for a rematch.

"I think I might (return)," he said. "Maybe next year we'll have to go after the record. I'd certainly like to do that."

Lucas doesn't have extensive racing plans. He likely will compete in the 25-kilometer national championships next month in Grand Rapids, Mich., then might train through the summer for the Chicago Marathon. It was in Chicago last fall that Lucas posted his Olympic Trials qualifying time of 2:18.50.

Regarding records, Baldovino credited King with helping him achieve the age-group mark.

Baldovino was laboring a bit when King caught him.

"He came by and said, 'Come on,'" said Baldovino. "That was a lot of help."

A mile later, he realized King was aware of his goal when his counterpart said, "You'll have to stay with me if you want that record."

They stayed together, but no one was going to catch Lucas.

Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail ttrower@mailtribune.com

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