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Solof prepares for national race By Kevin Goff Success has followed Ian Solof�s distance running career. The 29-year-old helped the Ashland High men�s cross country team to a state championship team in 1990. Three years later, Solof was a member of the University of Portland cross country squad ranked fourth in the nation. Now, as he embarks on his sixth year of assistant coaching for Portland�s track and cross country team�s, Solof prepares for the USA 12-kilometer Cross Country Nationals this weekend in Fort Vancouver, Wash. It is the first nationals race for Solof, who is a two-time winner of the Pear Blossom run and also competed in the Olympic Trials marathon last May in Pittsburgh. While Solof didn�t fare well in the Olympic Trials, he managed to bounce back and grab first in the 10K Seattle Open Classic last weekend. "That wasn�t my best performance," said Solof of the Olympic Trials. "It was pretty hot and humid and that made it a little tough coming from Portland�s mild weather conditions." Solof, along with other runners competing in the nationals, used the Seattle Open as a warm-up to this weekend�s big event. "The Seattle race kind of helps you sharpen up," said Solof, who finished in 30 minutes, 25 seconds. "It gives you good practice at running a harder pace and is a good form of training. "I�ve also been trying to do (run) around 100 or miles a week for about the last six weeks." Following his nationals race on Saturday, Solof plans to run either another marathon or track event. He�d also like to return to the Pear Blossom in April. "It�s a great event," said Solof, who took the men�s 10K race in 1990 and 2000. "It�s really well organized and a lot of fun to run in. Hopefully, I�ll do that again." Although a difficult task, another shot at the Olympics is still something on Solof�s mind. "You have to take small steps," said Solof. "I definitely want to qualify for the Olympic Trials, but right now my goals aren�t that lofty. I just want to run well this weekend." Along with his individual running success, Solof takes pride in coaching and plans to move that aspect of his life to the next level someday. "I don�t know if I�ll stay at Portland," said Solof. "I�d like to get more of a head-coaching position somewhere if the opportunity appears." While Solof can�t qualify for the Olympic Trials until 2002, he has plenty to keep him busy in the meantime. "I love coaching," he said. "It�s a year-round thing but I�d really like to stick with that. "The only way to learn more about coaching is doing it." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.