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52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, April 17, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 15, 2005 Clearing the hurdle Crater’s Adam Goff has grown into one of the top hurdlers in the Class 4A ranks this season By DON HUNT Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — As a sophomore, Adam Goff rarely won a dual meet in the 110-meter high hurdles. As a senior, he’s a contender to win the state title. "I’m not sure I’ve ever had a kid improve that much over a two-year span," says Hans Smith, now in his 21st season as Crater’s head coach. "Last year was a huge improvement over the previous year, and now he’s ratcheted things up a couple more notches. "It’s great to see, because he’s a hard worker and a good kid." Advertisement Goff ran in the shadows of Comets middle distance standouts Greg Dallaire, Geoff Donaldson and Isaac Stoutenburgh early this season, but he burst into the spotlight at the Roseburg Twilight meet last Friday. Goff blazed to a lifetime best of 14.8 seconds in his qualifying heat of the 110 hurdles — shaving 32/100ths of a second off his previous best of 15.12. Later in the day, he dusted a quality field in the finals when he clocked 15.38. "That qualifying heat was my first race of the day and my legs were fresh," says Goff, whose time ranks No. 2 in the state. "I ran a clean race." Goff, whose fastest time as a sophomore was 15.99, doesn’t possess the innate speed that Jason James brought to the track the past three seasons for Crater. James won back-to-back district titles in the 110 and 300 hurdles and finished second at the Class 4A state meet in the former and third in the latter in 2004. But Goff wastes little motion going over the barriers and seems to find another gear the last half of a race. "The main thing is to snap down your lead leg and pull the trail leg through," Goff says. "I feel like my form is decent, but I need work on my starts. I’m usually the last one out of the blocks." Goff ran his previous personal record of 15.12 during a qualifying heat of the Southern Oregon Conference district meet last May in Roseburg. Had he been able to match it in the finals, he would have punched his ticket to state. Instead, a stiff head wind slowed the runners and he ran 15.43. Since he failed to finish among the top two and failed to meet the qualifying time, he missed out on a trip to the state meet. "It’s frustrating to come that close and not make it, but it’s made me work even harder this year," Goff says. "When you’re a senior, there are no tomorrows (as a high school athlete)." Goff also runs the 300 hurdles and competes in the pole vault. He’s not as efficient in those events as he is in the short hurdles, but Smith thinks he can be. "In the intermediates, it’s just a matter of him getting into better shape and buying into the idea that he can be good at them," Smith says. "Anybody that can run 14.8 in the high hurdles can be a good intermediate hurdler." Goff’s best time in the longer event is a 41.5 clocking established last year. As for the vault, Goff soared over the bar at 13 feet at district last season to tie for third place at district. He’s only been able to clear 12 feet this spring, but is confident he’ll reach more lofty heights once he works out a couple flaws in his form. "I’ve got some kinks I’m working out at the top of my vault," he says. "My drive-in is solid and I’m elevating well. It’s just a matter of finishing at the top." Goff is looking forward to Saturday, when the Comets will host the 35th annual Crater Classic beginning at 10 a.m. Twenty-five schools will participate in one of the state’s premier prep track events. Last year, Goff overslept and was late to the meet. He still managed to take fifth in the 110 hurdles. Imagine what he might do Saturday with a fast start out of bed and the blocks. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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