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CLEAR Temp: 69 °F Wind: NW at 7 mph Monday, June 3, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend May 24, 2002 North’s Medina has eyes on 300-meter intermediate hurdles crown By DON HUNT Mail Tribune North Medford’s Rosana Medina heads to the Class 4A state track meet in Eugene this weekend with little experience in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. It’s a concern, Black Tornado coach Mark Hodges admits, but also a cause for excitement. That’s because in spite of Medina’s inexperience, she sped to a time of 45.18 seconds to win the Southern Oregon Conference district meet last Saturday. The clocking moved Medina within 3/10ths of a second of the school record. More importantly, it gave her the second-fasting time in the state this season. Only Sunset’s Dani Maier (44.89) has run faster. The state meet begin at 10:30 a.m. today and picks up at 10 a.m. Saturday with the first running event — the 4x100 relay — set for 1 p.m. "The neat thing about Rosana is we know she can run a lot faster," Hodges says. "She’s still developing as a hurdler and learning the rhythm of the race. "She’s basically still a rookie in this event." Medina began running the 300 hurdles last season but a stress fracture in her leg knocked her from the event. She came back strong this year, quickly establishing herself as one of the state’s best. But she lost two chances to run against stiff competition when she false-started in a dual meet against South Medford and then became ill prior to the Grants Pass Rotary meet. Hodges says Medina has run the 300 hurdles only seven times this spring, and that includes the qualifying round and finals at last Saturday’s district meet. Not surprisingly, Medina’s form is far from perfect. She has yet to clear all eight hurdles of a race with the same lead leg, and her center of gravity isn’t as low as Hodges would like. But Medina has something Hodges can’t coach — pure speed — and her work ethic is as strong as her talent. "We keep telling her that if she keeps her head, runs her race and keeps going forward that she’s going to be fine," Hodges says. "In the hurdles, you don’t have to run a perfect race to be successful, because other people are usually having their own little problems." Another advantage Medina has is that unlike many hurdlers, she’s also a 400-meter runner. She finished second in that event as a freshman at the district meet and runs a leg on North Medford’s 4x400 relay that has clocked the second-fastest time in the state this season. Medina will participate on the Tornado’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads at the state meet in addition to running the hurdles. "The 300 hurdles are almost a breeze compared to the 400," says Medina, who is also the North Medford school record-holder in the long jump at 17 feet, 4 inches. "Some people say the two equal out, but not to me. I feel fresher after running the hurdles than the 400." Medina will be joined at state by sprinters Emily Dunn, who qualified in the 100 and both relays, and Brittany Hodges, who will have a busy weekend with four events — the 200, 400 and both relays. Jamie Meager and Jenna Siebenlist will run a leg on the short and long relays, respectively. The South Medford girls, meanwhile, hope to parlay their district championship performance into a similar effort at state. Hurdler Heather Frigaard, high jumper/triple jumper Teri Silva, shot putter Hope Berkey and freshman sprinter Kaylyn Knutson, who sent shockwaves through the local track scene by winning the 100 and 200 at district, represent South’s top hopes at state. Panthers coach Bill Rowan believes his team has a shot at a top-four finish and the trophy that goes with it. "We’re capable," he says, "and we seem to be peaking at just the right time." All told, the Panthers qualified nine competitors in 11 events. Defending champion Benson Tech, buoyed by a wealth of top-caliber sprinters, is expected to dominate the girls meet for the second straight year. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S