local Sports Sept. 28: Grizz harriers capture second at local meet

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--> --> Sept. 28: Grizz harriers capture second at local meet By Sarah Petersen Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland High cross country team was off and running at the four-way meet between Klamath Union, Grants Pass and Crater Thursday afternoon at Lithia Park. The Pelicans took top honors while the Grizzlies checked in with a second place finish. "We did pretty well today even though I held out some of my best runners," head coach Bob Julian Jr. said. "I was really pleased with how both the boys and girls finished. Even though we didn't beat KU today, I think we have to have them a little worried because we were pretty close to them on both sides. Plus we didn't have a full team on either side." The Grizzly boys wove their way through the trees in a pack trying to stay together in the beginning of the race. Then halfway through senior Garrett Steinbroner broke away and took aim at leading Pelican runners. But the breakaway came a little too late. Lauren Jespersen from KU took home first place honors with a time of 16 minutes 41 seconds. Ashland High junior Chris Faudree came away with a fourth place finish in 17:06. Junior Jeff Olsen finished in 17:52, Steinbroner's effort netted an 18:12, junior Kyle Novak and senior Nate Hoxmeier were not far behind at 18:17 and 18:33, respectively. "I felt OK today," Faudree said. "This meet was important to see where we fit in with some of the other teams from the conference. As a team we ran pretty well, we stayed together." On the girls side Katie Leary of Klamath Union dashed to a first place finish with a time of 21:00. Grizz freshman Claire Chavez captured the fourth-place ribbon in a time of 22:14. Ashland junior Therese McCaffrey was right on Chavez's heels for fourth place in 22:16. Other Grizz finishers on the girls side were junior Mariah Mayfield (22:34) and freshman Rihana Patterson (22:41). "Our focus today was to stay together as a team," Chavez said. "I felt really good today and I am pleased with how I finished. I've never done this well and I stayed with my teammates the entire time." The Grizzlies will travel to Portland on Saturday to compete in the Northwest Classic. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing