PREP CROSS COUNTRY

Comet boys try to make it four straight

Class 5A boys will provide much of the intrigue during state meet


Mail Tribune
November 06, 2009
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STATE MEET

WHEN, WHERE: Saturday, 10 a.m., Lane Community College in Eugene.
OF NOTE: The Crater boys and St. Mary's girls try to keep state title streaks alive, with Crater going for its fourth straight and St. Mary's its third. North Medford's Drew Jordan and Crater's Josh Elliott try to defend individual crowns.

Southern Oregon teams and individuals will attempt to re-establish their dominance at the cross country state championships Saturday at Lane Community College in Eugene.

All classifications will compete, beginning with the Class 3A/2A/1A girls at 10 a.m.

Among the local story lines:

  • Crater's boys team attempts to win its fourth straight title.
  • St. Mary's girls shoot for their third team crown in a row.
  • North Medford's Drew Jordan defends the 6A championship.
  • Crater's Josh Elliott tries to repeat as the 5A champ.
  • Rogue River's Cole Watson, at 3A, goes for his first cross country title.

Crater, under ninth-year coach Justin Loftus, can become only the third school to win at least four consecutive boys team championships. South Eugene had a string of eight straight end in 1979, and Reedsport won four straight, the last coming in 1963.

The Comets are ranked 18th in the nation and won their fourth straight Southern Sky Conference title last Saturday with a meager 24 points. They placed five runners among the top eight individuals, and all were within 37 seconds of each other.

"I was pretty happy with those guys staying together," said Loftus. "We've been really focused on the team this year."

At the same time, Elliott's individual pursuit this week has as much intrigue as any of the races.

The senior lost out to Ashland senior Wilder Schaaf at the district meet at Steens Sports Complex in Klamath Falls, and Schaaf boasts the top 5A mark in the state at 15:27.5.

Elliott is regarded as a big-meet performer, and he'll get the chance to prove it Saturday.

Ashland coach Bob Julian Jr. believes Wilder's emergence of late has leveled the playing field between the two rivals.

"Josh is definitely thinking he has a chance to get Wilder at the state meet since he's the defending champion," says Julian. "At the same time, Wilder knows he has a lot of speed and kick but was still able to run from the front (at district) and win on a very tough course.

"Josh has the advantage of being the chaser. He has the motivation of, 'Oh, I didn't beat him this time, I'll get him next time.' Wilder is confident because he took on the state champion and beat him. I think it canceled everything out."

While Elliott was winning state a year ago with a time of 15:44.4, which was 10 seconds faster than runner-up Jordan Ringe of Hermiston, Schaaf had a dismal day, placing 55th.

However, when both were sophomores, Schaaf placed seventh, nearly 20 seconds ahead of Elliott, who was 15th.

If one of the Rogue Valley runners doesn't win, it could be one of four others who, like Elliott, have times in the 15:40s.

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