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37 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 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 November 7, 2004 Bend’s Mattox zips to state title; Crater’s Nelson settles for seventh By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune EUGENE — For not knowing who Kimber Mattox was a week ago, Kendel Nelson has developed a high opinion of the Bend dynamo. "She’s my idol," said Nelson, a Crater senior, moments after her sophomore counterpart ran away with the Class 4A girls cross country championship Saturday at Lane Community College. Nelson was the top returning placer from last year’s meet, but a slew of talented runners this year helped push her back to seventh place, three spots behind where she finished in 2003. Mattox was well out front, followed by Claire Michel of Clackamas, then Jennifer Macias of Hermiston. Mattox’s time of 18 minutes, 19 seconds was the fourth-fastest for all divisions over the current course, which was adopted in 1994. Advertisement One of the better times occurred earlier in the day, when Holli Dieu of Coquille claimed the Class 3A title in 18:18. Michel was timed in 18:48 and Macias in 18:55. Nelson came on strong at the end and picked off another runner on the finishing stretch. Her time was 19:03. Although her standing from a year ago, when she ran 18:33, made Nelson conspicuous among the contenders, she didn’t put much stock in it. "I knew it would be tough," she said. "I tried to stay away from the rankings. I knew there were more fast times other than mine. It was going to be a fight no matter what." She hung with the front-runners early and was third, some 50 to 75 meters behind Mattox through the first mile. Mattox’s initial mile took 5:43. From there, the gap stretched. "Coming into the race, I was not expecting to win it," said Nelson, who aggravated a foot injury at district and felt it throughout Saturday’s race. She’ll begin therapy on it Monday. "If I expected it," she said of winning, "I wouldn’t get it. I still didn’t get it. I just told myself to be strong and make it through and finish." One reason for her admiration of Mattox is that the Bend runner is a two-sport participant in the fall. A day earlier, Mattox helped the Lava Bears defeat Milwaukie, 3-2, in a state soccer match that went to a shootout. A midfielder, she had one of the shootout goals. "I don’t know how she can do two things at once," marveled Nelson. Mattox wasn’t widely known, in part because she didn’t run at state last year. She turned her place over to a teammate who had finished eighth at district, one spot out of qualifying. "She deserved it," shrugged Mattox. However, Mattox gained attention last month when she ran 17:59 in the Puma Classic in Bend. On Saturday, she didn’t notice any ill effects from having played soccer the day before. "I just got lots of fluids and rest so I could have as much energy as I could today," she said. Her strategy was simply to stay with the lead pack. It wasn’t long before it was a pack of one. "I didn’t think I could get that kind of lead," said Mattox. In the team competition, Crater placed 12th with 262 points. Jesuit won with 68. Klamath Union was 10th with 249 points. Crater’s No. 2 finisher was Kristin Haga, who came in 67th in 20:45. In the Class 3A girls meet, the Phoenix girls placed 12th, one spot behind conference rival Mazama. The Pirates, led by freshman Anne Hagy’s 53rd place, scored 273 points to Mazama’s 271. Allegra Fety of Rogue River was 33rd in 21:25. In Class 2A/1A girls, Cascade Christian did not post a team score after a runner dropped out. The Challengers were led by junior Kate Hoskin, who placed 80th in 24:45. 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