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Boys race could be a battle at SOC meet By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Wonder what's going to happen at the Class 4A boys state cross country championships? The Southern Oregon Conference meet is Saturday at Medford's Bear Creek Park. Defending SOC champion Ian Dobson of Klamath Union and Eagle Point senior John Lucas are expected to wage a spirited battle. Lucas defeated Dobson to win the State of Jefferson race three weeks ago. "In my opinion, those two boys are the best runners in the state," says Ashland coach Bob Julian. "This could be a preview of what's to come at the state meet." The meet begins with the girls 5,000-meter race at noon on the Medford American Little League baseball fields, adjacent to Bear Creek Park. The boys race the same distance on the same course at 12:45. Boys state champion Klamath Union is favored to successfully defend its SOC championship. In the girls competition, Ashland, Klamath Union and South Medford are expected to battle for the team title. Ashland sophomore Paris Edwards is the defending SOC girls champion. The top two teams and top five individuals qualify for state in both the boys and girls meets Saturday, Nov. 7, in Eugene. In the boys race, Lucas and Dobson will likely get a challenge from South Medford senior Perry Custance. "Custance is having a real good year," says South Medford coach Bill Rowan. "He's more of a middle-distance runner who's running cross country. But he's doing real well. "We've been battling team illness more than anything this year. Next year, I'd like to have a team doctor with us full time. When you get the sniffles in this sport, it pretty much lays you out. You can't run very fast if you can't breathe." The Ashland and South boys figure to battle for state team berths. "Klamath Union will be tough, but we're running pretty well, and I think we can run with them," says Julian. "Our main goal is just to get in the top two, so we can get them all to state." With Custance leading the way, Rowan has the same idea in mind for South Medford in the boys race. Edwards, 16, who as a freshman finished second to Bend's Abby McCallister last year at state, has added extra strength, speed and maturity, Julian says. "She's going for the win here and for the win at state," says Julian. "There are two new girls that will challenge her at state, but McCallister isn't running as well this year." Edwards fell in the final 100 meters at state last year as she tried to chase down McCallister. But she got up and finished second on a bleeding, bruised leg. The South girls team, which finished second in the pre-district meet in September at Bear Creek Park, will try to parlay its team balance into a top-two finish. South Medford's girls team is led by Sarah Eyman, Erica Schwendener and Janette Martin. North Medford's Kim Harris is expected to challenge for a position in the top five and a berth in the state meet as an individual. Ashland, the defending girls champion, will be led by Edwards and Anita Sindelar, who won the SOC and finished sixth at state two years ago. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford,