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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 Crater sophomore Greg Dallaire (82), shown here battling Roseburg�s Adam Wadsworth Saturday in the finals of the Southern Oregon Conference boys 800 meters in Ashland, has among the state�s best times in the 400 meters. Dallaire’s demanding double Crater sophomore takes on the grueling 400, 800 at state meet By DON HUNT Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — Few would argue that the two toughest events in track and field are the 400- and 800-meter runs. The former is a gut-wrenching sprint from start to finish, the latter a lung-burning gallop for roughly a half-mile. Few high school runners dare to run both events at a state meet, not only because each requires enormous energy but also because there is less than one hour between the two. But Crater High sophomore Greg Dallaire will follow in the footsteps of former Comet standout Bryan Berryhill and tackle the demanding double at the Class 4A state meet today and Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene. Advertisement Not only that, but Dallaire will also anchor the Comets’ 4x400 relay team. Dallaire qualified for the two individual events by running a lifetime best of 49.85 seconds to win the Southern Oregon Conference district 400, then charged from fifth place to second over the final 50 meters of the 800 to clock 2:00.62. Counting his three qualifying heats today, Dallaire potentially could run six events in two days — four 400s and a pair of 800s. "I’ve been running these two events all season, and I’m going to see what I can do at the state meet," says Dallaire, who uses a combination of speed, strength and a fierce desire to run down his competition. "I’ve worked for this, and I’m going to do all my events." Crater High distance coach Justin Loftus says part of the reason he’s allowing Dallaire to run both races is that the 400 — Dallaire’s forte — precedes the 800. He enters the state meet with the fifth-best time in the 400, and his personal record of 49.85 is only 1.35 seconds slower than the fastest runner. "It’s a matter of focusing on the 400 and not worrying about the 800 until the 800 is run," Loftus says. "I really don’t look at this as a big risk. The only risk is that he’ll be worn out Saturday from all his races Friday, but I don’t think that’s going to be a problem." Loftus says the reason it won’t be an issue is that Dallaire is one of the hardest workers he’s coached. He first joined Loftus for workouts last summer, then emerged as the No. 4 runner on the Crater cross country team that finished second at district. "He would put me into the ground during workouts last summer," says Loftus, who won district titles in the 800 and 1,500 for Ashland in 1989. "And anything we’ve thrown at him this spring, he’s done it willingly." Dallaire’s hard work paid dividends last Saturday in the district 800, when he surged past Ashland’s Jeff Olsen and Grants Pass’ Logan Sierra over the final 50 meters to take second and punch his ticket to state in that event. The top two finishers in each event advanced. "A lot of guys passed me with about 200 meters to go, but I passed them back," Dallaire says. "They hit the wall at the end, and I still had a kick." Dallaire’s demanding schedule this weekend conjures up memories of Berryhill, who in 1995 became the first Class 4A runner in 65 years to win the 400 and 800 at the state meet. Berryhill, who later won an NCAA championship in the 1,500 for Colorado State, duplicated the feat a year later. "I never saw him run, but people around here talk about him," Dallaire says. Dallaire could be a threat to win the 400 Saturday but isn’t expected to among the top finishers in the 800, where his lifetime best of 1:59.21 doesn’t compare to the faster runners. "I’ll probably be scrambling just to make it to the finals of the 800," Dallaire says. "We’ll see how it goes. If nothing else, it’ll be a learning experience." And, needless to say, a burdensome one. 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