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Edwards, Grizz cruise to SOC title By GREG STILES ASHLAND -- It was neither a thing of beauty nor spectacular, but Ashland High's run to the Southern Oregon Conference girls cross country championship Saturday at Lithia Park blew away any lingering clouds of doubt. Despite a run of eight straight individual titles, the Grizzlies had failed to win an SOC championship or qualify for the state meet since 1994 -- the last of five straight conference crowns. Junior Paris Edwards won her third SOC championship to lead a parade of five Grizzlies in the top 12. The Grizzlies scored 38 points, and Crater finished second with 56 points to earn its first trip to the state meet since 1992. Nonetheless, Ashland coach Bob Julian wasn't smiling ear-to-ear. "It wasn't very pretty," he said. "In fact, it was a little scary. If we want to do something at state, we'll have to run in a tighter pack. It's just getting out and executing. "Coming off three bad district meets as a team, I think there was a ghost in the back of their minds. But that's by them now, and I expect we'll run well next week." Edwards cruised over the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 11.2 seconds -- 46 seconds ahead of Liz Lindgren of Klamath Union -- while South Medford's Sarah Eyman was third in 19:28.4. "I think everyone was running under a lot of pressure today," said Paris. "We haven't come out on top as we expected the past couple of years. I think we stayed in it mentally at least today. "It was a good learning experience and everyone will be ready next week." Ashland senior Anita Sindelar (19:58.8) finished fifth -- duplicating her 1998 performance. Jessica Stowell (20:47.2) was ninth and Drew Larson (21:09.5) made it official with a 12th-place finish. "We all knew what it would be like," said Sindelar. "I think it's awesome we're going to state after having a chance every year and not qualifying." Sindelar qualified for her third trip to state but has struggled with her confidence since winning the SOC championship in 1996 and then failing to qualify her sophomore season. "I've been slowly rebuilding my confidence," Sindelar said. Crater's confidence has soared this season. The Comets got a whiff of what they could do at the predistrict meet on the Lithia Park course Sept. 23. Saturday the Comets' second and third runners -- Jody Polyniak (20:12.6) and freshman Sam Kezer (20:35.1) -- turned in superb efforts to finish sixth and eighth. Crater's lead runner was Janelle Goeres (19.44.5), who placed fourth. "They've really worked hard and competed well," said Crater coach Lynn Carrigan. A 10-place gap between Klamath's No. 2 and No. 3 runners opened the door for Crater. Ultimately, it was a matter of the Comets' fourth and fifth runners -- Rachel Hernandez (21:30.8) and Ashley Gutches (22:16.6) -- matching up against Klamath Union and South Medford competitors in what proved to be a three-way battle for second. Hernandez moved up four spots to 16th. "They knew who they had to beat," Carrigan said of Hernandez and Gutches. Goeres set the pace for the Comets throughout the season. At district, she improved by 18 places from last year. "I was messed up with an underactive thyroid last year," Goeres said. "I didn't have any energy. The Lord's been really good to me, and I've been taking supplements." South Medford was hindered by the absence of No. 2 runner Noey Hilgendorf, who was sidelined with a foot injury. The Panthers finished fourth behind Klamath Union and failed to make it to the state meet for the first time since 1992. SOC District Results ASHLAND -- Here are the results from Saturday's Southern Oregon Conference District cross country meet at Lithia Park. The top two teams and top seven finishers advance to the Nov. 6 state meet in Eugene. BOYS TEAM SCORES -- Klamath Union 22, South Medford 85, Ashland 97, Roseburg 102, North Medford 118, Grants Pass 123, Crater 162, Eagle Point 224. INDIVIDUAL (5,000 Meters) -- 1, Ian Dobson, KU, 15:52.2; 2, Lauren Jespersen, KU, 16:21.5; 3, Perry Custance, SM, 16:23.1; 4, Jacob Gomez, KU, 16:33.9; 5, Chris Roberts, Ros, 16:36.4; 6, Robbie Nutter, SM, 16:44.8; 7, Jimmy Addison, KU, 16:48.1; 8, Evan Garich, KU, 16:53.9; 9, Jeremy McLean, GP, 17:03.8; 10, Asha Wolf, Ash, 17:15.0 11, Joel Sullivan, SM, 17:10.5; 12, John Bohlert, Ash, 17:15.0; 13, Phil Morton, KU, 17:15.8; 14, Nick Niemeyer, NM, 17:17.7; 15, Jon Osborne, KU, 17:31.3; 16, Nathan Singer, Ros, 17:36.2; 17, Eric Boucher, EP, 17:41.3; 18, Ben Anderson, NM, 17:43.5; 19, Nick Fikes, Ash, 17:47.1; 20, Brian Parmer, GP, 17:48.4. 21, Blake Longmore, Ros, 17:49.6; 22, Kyle Lundwall, SM, 17:51.1; 23, JJ Moses, Cra, 17:51.4; 24, Andrew Gilmore, Ash, 17:58.1; 25, Joel Dunn, Cra, 18:00.1; 26, Nick Dunn, NM, 18:02.8; 27, Troy Babbitt, NM, 18:08.5; 28, Douglas Narlesky, GP, 18:09.1; 29, David Powell, Ros, 18:12.6; 30, Nathan Gieth, GP, 18:13.9. 31, Danny Larson, Ros, 18:22.4; 32, Nate Hoxmeier, Ash, 18:22.9; 33, Nick Kulmac, NM, 18:23.8; 34, Andrew Ackles, Ash, 18:24.2; 35, Trevor Palmer, Cra, 18:24.6; 36, Bill Margeson, GP, 18:32.4; 37, James Lyberger, Ros, 18:32.9; 38, Justin Kuhnhausen, Cra, 18:42.4; 39, Nick Bonner, GP, 18:47.9; 40, Mana Martin, Ash, 18:48.3. 41, David Higley, Cra, 18:50.7; 42, John Morrel, NM, 18:55.2; 43, John Grimes, SM, 18:56.0; 44, Colin Janke, GP, 18:57.3; 45, Jeremy Kimmel, Ros, 18:59.7; 46, Andrew Ludlow, NM, 19:01.7; 47, Andy Kleinhesselink, SM, 19:12.0; 48, Tim Martinen, EP, 19:12.2; 49, Shawn Carrigan, Cra, 19:33.7; 50, Mike Moore, Cra, 19:40.2. 51, Alando Pacas, SM, 19:41.4; 52, Phil Sweet, EP, 20:00.1; 53, Justin Winner, EP, 20:44.3; 54, Jimmy Gomes, EP, 20:51.1; 55, Joey Welburn, EP, 22:28.4. GIRLS TEAM SCORES -- Ashland 38, Crater 56, Klamath Union 65, South Medford 71, Roseburg 128, Grants Pass 159, North Medford 170. INDIVIDUAL (5,000 Meters) -- 1, Paris Edwards, Ash, 18:11.2; 2, Liz Lindgren, KU, 18:57.5; 3, Sarah Eyman, SM, 19:28.4; 4, Janelle Goeres, Cra, 19:44.5; 5, Anita Sindelar, Ash, 19:58.8; 6, Jody Polyniak, Cra, 20:12.6; 7, Lydia Bales, KU, 20:22.4; 8, Sam Kezer, Cra, 20:35.1; 9, Jessica Stowell, Ash, 20:47.2; 10, Kelly Sullivan, SM, 21:01.4. 11, Kelly Bishop, Ash, 21:05.3; 12, Drew Larson, Ash, 21:09.5; 13, Melis Garner, Ros, 21:15.9; 14, Sarah Piazza, SM, 21:22.6; 15, Tonya Anders, SM, 21:29.0; 16, Rachel Hernandez, Cra, 21:30.8; 17, Allison Huntley, KU, 21:49.3; 18, Therese McCaffrey, Ash, 21:50.3; 19, Bethany Deblander, KU, 21:51.8; 20, Sarah Hendricks, KU, 21:52.4. 21, Tammy Chan, Ros, 22:08.7; 22, Ashley Gutches, Cra, 22:16.6; 23, Allison Nunnemaker, GP, 22:17.9; 24, Lori Norcraft, Ros, 22:29.1; 25, Sara Dalton, NM, 22:29.6; 26, Angela Carrigan, Cra, 22:30.5; 27, Allie Beers, Ros, 22:30.9; 28, Heather Zieser, GP, 22:31.8; 29, Esther Cole, SM, 22:34.7; 30, Gretchen Buetter, Ash, 22:43.8. 31, Erica Rode, Cra, 22:53.2; 32, Meghan Waggener, SM, 22:57.1; 33, Caryn Benke, NM, 23:07.3; 34, Hilary Pell, GP, 23:07.8; 35, Jessica Grimes, NM, 23:08.3; 36, Natalie Kailey, GP, 23:09.8; 37, Catrina Singley, NM, 23:18.7; 38, Katie Straw, GP, 23:23.2; 39, Kim Lugus, KU, 23:26.9; 40, Sharon Bywater, NM, 23:47.2. 41, Erin Kulmac, NM, 23:58.6; 42, Hogan Johnson, NM, 23:59.0; 43, Stacie Shepherd, Ros, 24:03.6; 44, Jennifer Lint, Ros, 24:14.7; 45, Jenny Barnes, Ros, 24:24.4; 46, Nicole McKenzie, GP, 24:57.2; 47, Amy Kennedy, GP, 25:08.1; 48, Kristin Wakkuri, KU, 26:28.9; 49, Kari Hagert, SM, 26:28.9. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.