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P/CLOUDY Temp: 48 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 1, 2002 Crater�s Perry Dickson, who had an appendectomy in early October, will compete for the Comets at this weekend�s state meet in Eugene. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli An unlikely setback Perry Dickson’s comeback from an appendectomy has been an inspiration to his Crater teammates By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — It was likely one of the few times in history a patient actually wished he’d contracted the flu. Simple illness would have been welcome relief to Crater High cross country runner Perry Dickson, a mainstay on the Comet team that last weekend became the first in school history to qualify for the state championships. In the basest sense, Dickson did not lead them. He finished well back, negotiating not only the course’s curves but obstacles both mental and physical. Then again, there was no mistaking his inspirational pace-setting little more than two weeks after undergoing an appendectomy. "I thought maybe I wouldn’t be able to come back," says Dickson, Crater’s valuable No. 2 or 3 runner all season. "But that was always the goal. I didn’t want to leave the team hanging. I don’t think giving up was ever anything that passed through my head." About a week after turning in the fastest time of his life in a meet Sept. 27 at the Jackson County Expo Park, Dickson, a senior team captain, saw his doctor to have "weird" stomach pangs checked out. "I thought I had the flu," he says. He was examined, then sent to the emergency room for a more detailed work-up, including blood and urine tests. Within three hours, he was in surgery to have his appendix removed. He remained hospitalized for two nights. "It was totally devastating," says Dickson, his despair magnified on the heels of his personal-best performance, itself the fruit of dedicated training through the summer and fall. Dickson had toured 5,000 meters in 16 minutes, 17 seconds during a Southern Oregon Conference meet, placing second. He beat his PR by a whopping 59 seconds. "I was looking to do some serious damage at districts," he says, noting that his mark was among the SOC’s best. Coach Justin Loftus was impressed with how hard Dickson had worked to better himself. "He was really motivated for this season and had really come on," says Loftus. "That made it real tough for him." Surgery was followed by idle time. Patients typically resume normal activity within a few days of a laparoscopic appendectomy, such as Dickson had. But it usually takes four to six weeks for a full recovery, during which time heavy lifting and strenuous activity should be avoided. "Seven days is not that bad of a deal for having an organ removed," says Dickson. Dickson was told not to try to run for a week, but he went out a couple days early. The jostling his stomach took proved excruciating, especially since he’d abandoned painkillers shortly after surgery. He gradually worked back to where he could run at district last weekend. The setback physically and the emotional stress of competing for the first time since surgery relegated him to 37th place and a time of 18:28.9. Nevertheless, Crater placed second and will compete in the Class 4A state meet Saturday at Lane Community College in Eugene. Dickson sites the team-oriented nature of the Comets and the emergence of their second-tier runners — Greg Dallaire, Sam Jacobson and Geoff Donaldson — as primary reasons for success. "They knew they had to move up with us, and they’ve been moving up all year," says Dickson, who shares the captainship with front-runner Jeremy Firestone. "We don’t have any superstars. We all run together. Even without me or if we didn’t have a couple of other guys, we still have the determination and skill to get to state." Teamwise, Loftus isn’t ruling out a top-five finish. Individually, Dickson yearns to get back up to the front of the Crater pack with Firestone, Chase Maloney and Isaac Stoutenbursh and return to the 16- minute range. "I expect him to go out and represent our team anyway he can," says Loftus. "That’s what I expect out of Perry, and I know that’s his No. 1 goal. He’s a leader for us." In more ways than one. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S