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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, December 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 26, 2004 Others to give chase to Crater standout Stoutenburgh has the best time in the state as district approaches By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Isaac Stoutenburgh will wear the Crater Comets uniform at the Southern Oregon Conference district cross country championships. But he’ll have a different logo on the back. A target. "Isaac made a huge statement last week, that he’s in the mix as a state title threat," says Ashland coach Bob Julian. "Right now, Isaac is the best runner in the state. He’s throwing down a challenge for my two guys. Their challenge is, the best guy in the state is right here in our conference, and how are you going to beat him?" The "statement" came in the form of Stoutenburgh’s win at the prestigious Jim Danner Invitational Oct. 16. The junior ran the fastest time Oregon, covering 5,000 meters in 15 minutes, 13 seconds. Advertisement Many took notice, including Ashland’s two guys, seniors David Morgan and Andy Wright. The three are expected to duel to the end over the course at Stewart Park, near Lost Creek Lake, on Saturday. The girls varsity race begins at noon, the boys at 12:45 p.m. The top two teams and top seven individuals advance to the state meet the following week in Eugene. There likely will be little drama surrounding the boys team championship. Crater, ranked third in the state, has six runners back from the squad that won its first district title last year and placed sixth at state. Ashland is ranked seventh among Class 4A teams and, should the third through fifth Grizzly runners fare well, figures to run a strong second to the Comets. Much of the attention will be on the individual competition, however, over a new course that could produce fast times and an exciting finish. Runners can be seen from many vantage points along the mostly flat, paved layout, and the final 150 meters is over a meadow with a straight shot toward the lake. Stoutenburgh, Morgan and Wright could well be the first three on that stretch. Prior to his swift time at the Danner, Stoutenburgh ran 15:35 a week earlier to place third at the Puma Classic in Bend, handily beating Morgan and Wright. But Morgan has done a 15:20 and Wright a 15:34, and neither was in top form at Bend, says Julian, because of a rigorous meet schedule leading up to that race. At the district meet last year, Stoutenburgh was second, finishing ahead of both Ashland runners. They in turn outperformed him at state by a matter of seconds. In analyzing the individual race, Crater coach Justin Loftus simply says, "He’s ready," when speaking of Stoutenburgh. The bigger goal for Crater is to take care of business — meaning defending its district title — then setting its sights on doing better at state than it did a year ago. "It’s new territory for our school," says Loftus of the title defense. "We go into every race with the idea it’s the most important. We have to keep doing that. We have to run our race and not worry about other teams. That’s the big thing. Last year we worried about where other teams were. This year, we’re focused on where we need to be." The Comets’ stupendous depth will be on display at district. Jake Keyser, who owns the state’s fastest time for sophomores at 15:46, could very well crash the Big Three’s party. Senior Geoff Donaldson (15:55) gives the Comets a third runner with a sub-16-minute time, and the other four — Greg Dallaire, Levi Jackson, Brandon Reavis and Caleb Jacobson — have run 17 or faster. "It’s been all about team this whole year," says Loftus. Ashland will need its Nos. 3 and 4 runners, Cameron Barleen and Spencer Bonney, to come through in order to stave off any challenges. "I have a lot of confidence in those guys," says Julian. "When it’s crunch time, they respond. That’s kind of a tradition with Ashland. When we have to, we tend to step it up to another level." In the pre-district meet over the same course in September, Crater scored 28 points, Ashland 88 and South Medford 92. South got top-20 finishes from Zach Harris (fourth), Scott Rowan (13th) and Nathan Kobinsky (18th). Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities