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CLEAR Temp: 84 °F Wind: NW at 8 mph Tuesday, June 3, 2003 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 May 30, 2003 North’s Jordan steps up in class Junior distance runner is a contender today to claim the 3,000 meters By DON HUNT Mail Tribune North Medford High distance runner Danielle Jordan has made a successful transition from the Class 3A to the Class 4A level. Today and Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Jordan will attempt to put an exclamation point on her track season when she enters the 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs at the Class 4A state meet. With Jordan, sprinter Brittany Hodges and sprinter/hurdler/jumper Rosana Medina serving as the catalysts, the North Medford girls are hoping to bring home a state trophy for the first time in school history. The Black Tornado will need a top-four finish to achieve that goal. The Class 4A and 3A meets will be held concurrently on the Hayward Field track, beginning today at 10 a.m. and continuing Saturday at 10:30. Advertisement Jordan’s workload begins today when she’ll line up for the finals of the 3,000. The talented junior is expected to battle Tualatin’s Meghan Armstrong, Klamath Union’s Katie Leary and South Eugene’s Erin Gray for the title. Jordan, who finished second in the 3,000 and third in the 1,500 while competing for Class 3A Baker High last year, is eager to step onto the state’s biggest stage. Her best chance for victory will come in today’s 3,000, and North Medford distance coach Marnie Mason isn’t shy about revealing Jordan’s strategy. "Danielle’s weapon is her strength and her ability to put the hurt on throughout a race," Mason says. "The goal will be to take control of the race early, because even though Danielle has worked hard to improve her kick, there are other runners out there with better ones." Mason is most worried about Armstrong, the defending champion who outsprinted Jordan over the final 50 meters to win the 3,000 at the Centennial Invitational last month. Armstrong’s time of 10:08.4 that day has stood as the fastest clocking in the state this year, with Jordan’s 10:08.9 ranking second. Gray, meanwhile, has clocked 10:09.08 and Leary, who lost to Jordan at the Southern Oregon Conference district meet last week, has turned in a 10:09.5. Another runner to watch is Hood River’s Christy Paul, who took fourth in last year’s 3,000, but both she and Gray have sat out much of the spring with injuries. Jesuit’s Patricia Loughlin, who has run 10:14.5, is the darkhorse. "We don’t want it to come down to a kick, but if it does, Danielle will be much better prepared than she’s ever been," says Mason, noting that Jordan outkicked Leary at the SOC meet in the 3,000 to win in 10:21.92. Jordan’s chances aren’t as strong in the 1,500, but any points she can pick up could prove meaningful in the team race for the Tornado. North Medford’s other big point-getters could be Medina, who enters the meet with the third-fastest time in the 300 hurdles (45.96), and Hodges, who was fifth at the state meet last year in the 400 and eighth in the 200. Medina and Hodges also run the middle two legs of the Tornado’s 4x100 relay that has clocked 49.16, the third- fastest time in the state. Freshman Molly Brophy starts the relay and senior Emily Dunn anchors it. Other North Medford state qualifiers include Jenna Siebenlist in the 100 hurdles, Rachel Munyon in the discus and Brittany Lawson in the 4x400 relay. Hodges pulled a hamstring muscle during the district meet. Her coach and father — Mark Hodges — withdrew her from the state meet 200 but says she should be relatively healthy by Saturday. "We’re keeping our fingers crossed," he says. The Tornado boys qualified only four participants for the meet, but one of them, junior David Faaeteete, comes in with the third-best discus throw (167-6). The South Medford boys qualified six competitors in seven events, led by senior sprinter Jonathan Klenke, who will compete in the 100, 200, long jump and 4x100 relay. As for the South girls, Teri Silva could be in the hunt for the high jump title, along with Crater’s Erin Kinney and Roseburg’s Kristin Bitter. All three jumpers cleared 5-5 at the district meet. Eagle Point has a couple of potential champions in pole vaulters Robbie Johnston and Aubrey Harrington. Each accomplished district records last week, Johnston clearing 16 feet and Harrington making 11-9. At the Class 3A level, Phoenix’s Nathan May will attempt to defend his title in the 3,000 today and will also be a threat in the 1,500 on Saturday. North Valley’s Jeremiah Lewman has a good chance to win the 300 hurdles Saturday and Rogue River’s Shannon Jentzsch should be in the hunt in the girls pole vault. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times