Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend June 30, 2005 Stoutenburgh shines at national meet By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Isaac Stoutenburgh hasn’t set a personal record every time he’s stepped on the track this year. It just seems that way. The Crater High senior-to-be continued his running brilliance at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships last weekend in Carson, Calif. Competing in the junior division (19-and-under) that included several college runners, Stoutenburgh finished fifth out of 17 competitors in the 5,000- meters. His time of 14 minutes, 38 seconds was a lifetime best by a whopping 30 seconds. One day later, the 16-year-old blazed to a time of 3:53.9 in the 1,500, breaking the school record in that event for the fifth time this year. "He just keeps getting better," says Crater cross country coach Justin Loftus, who works out with Stoutenburgh and several other Comet runners five days a week. "He’s out there running against national caliber kids who are two and three years older, and he’s holding his own." Advertisement Stoutenburgh had to run a preliminary race in the 1,500 last Friday and was no lock to make the finals. But he snuck in as the 12th and final qualifier. Four hours later, he was on the starting line for the 5,000. Stoutenburgh began that race conservatively, but stayed in contact with the lead runners and took the lead on the sixth lap of the 12½ -lap race. "I was out there having fun," Stoutenburgh says. "I was the youngest runner in the field but I just ran my own race and didn’t get intimidated. I was able to keep my concentration." Stoutenburgh wasn’t able to keep his lead as a pack of six runners whisked past him with about two laps to go, but he passed two of them back to salvage fifth place. The top six finishers in the race earned high school All-American status. "I wasn’t sure how much energy I’d have left after running the 1,500 qualifier, but I actually felt pretty good in the 5,000," Stoutenburgh says. "I felt strong." A University of Colorado coach called Loftus after watching Stoutenburgh run the 5,000. The Buffaloes won the NCAA cross country title last fall. "You just don’t see very many 16-year-olds run 14:38," Loftus says. "Isaac is starting to get people’s attention. I think the scouts like not only the times he’s putting up but also the way he runs. He’s aggressive. He doesn’t back down from anyone." In the 1,500, Stoutenburgh was in third place until the final 150 meters when six other runners passed him by. Nonetheless, his time was the equivalent of a 4:10 mile. "Considering the caliber of guys I was going against, I wasn’t disappointed at all," Stoutenburgh says. "It’s a great learning experience just being in a race like that." Stoutenburgh had been training about 70 miles per week leading up to the junior national meet. This week, he went backpacking in the Rogue River Canyon and won’t train much at all for another two weeks. But he already has his eyes on the cross country season that begins in September. Stoutenburgh won the Southern Oregon Conference district title last fall and finished sixth at the Class 4A state meet. "He’s one of those non-stop runners you love to coach," Loftus says. "He’s had an unbelievable year but he won’t rest on his laurels. He’ll come back in the fall and take up where he left off." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail Stoutenburgh shines at national meet ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s