Document text
Tornado sprinters rev up for first SOC title since '77 North scored big points in the 100 meters as Emily Dunn (left) was third, Jennifer Abbott second and Keri Cain fourth behind Klamath Union's Sam Gilbert. By DON HUNT CENTRAL POINT -- The last time the North Medford High girls won a Southern Oregon Conference district track championship, Jimmy Carter was president, Elton John ruled the rock music world and M*A*S*H was the hottest show on television. Current Black Tornado coach Mark Hodges was a seventh-grader in Riverside, Calif., and members of his 2000 team had yet to be born. The North Medford girls ended 23 years of district doldrums Saturday at Crater High when they raced to the SOC title. Coincidently, their extraordinary 4 x 100-meter sprint relay team broke the district record that had been held by -- you guessed it -- that same Black Tornado squad that last won district in 1977. Of course, back then North Medford High was Medford High, when the city had just one high schoolinstead of two. "I knew we could get that (relay) record and I knew these girls could win it all -- it was just a matter of competing to their potential," said Hodges, who is in his first season as the Tornado coach. "What a day. You couldn't have scripted it any better." The North girls finished with 115 points to hold off Ashland (107), Roseburg (105) and surprising South Medford (100), which had a productive day of its own. Klamath Union (94), Grants Pass (38) and Eagle Point (36) rounded out the field. The quartet of senior Keri Cain, freshman Emily Dunn, sophomore Denali Tice and junior Jennifer Abbott sped around the track in 48.84 seconds to break the 4 x 100 relay district record by 6/100ths of a second. The time is also No. 1 in the state. "We took a disciplined approach," Hodges said of the short relay team. "We told each girl to concentrate on their takeoff mark and don't look back at the girl behind you. In other words, trust the incoming runner. "Our handoffs were OK, but they can definitely get better. We've got a better time in us and hopefully that will come next week at the state meet." Tice was added to the relay two weeks ago following an injury to Jamie MacLauchlan, but the Tornado didn't miss a beat. In fact, Tice had a great day as she won the 200 in a lifetime best of 25.78, took fourth in the triple jump (34-4) and ran a 60.3-second split in anchoring North Medford's 4 x 400 relay team to victory in 4:04.58. "I was really nervous right before the relay started, and even more nervous right before I got the baton," admitted Tice, who ran a blistering third leg. "But everything went great. It's so exciting to break the record." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA