Document text
It's twinners take all at Skyline meet By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN VALLEY OF THE ROGUE STATE PARK -- Hidden Valley High's Steinert twins kept the race for the Skyline Conference girls cross country individual title in the family Saturday. Seniors and identical twins Emily and Alanna Steinert of the Mustangs ran like champions and posed double-trouble for the competition atop the Skyline girls scoreboard. Emily Steinert won the 5,000-meter race in 18:39.7 and Alanna was second in 19:11.5. But when all places had been determined and points tabulated, it was still top-ranked Rogue River that survived the onslaught of the Steinerts to record its fifth straight girls conference championship. The Chieftains, surviving with team depth, won the title with 40 points, followed by Hidden Valley with 65. In the boys race, Henley prevailed with 46 points, just two in front of surprising Phoenix, which edged out Rogue River for second place and earned the right to send its team to state with 48 points. Henley's Patrick McLain earned the boys individual title with a time of 16:02.8. Warren Clarida, the 1998 champion for Rogue River, and Nathan Love of the Chieftains earned trips to state as individuals. Clarida finished second in 16:21.7 and Love third in 16:28.7. While Emily Steinert easily tamed the course, Alanna had to outduel Rogue River's top runners, Selena Harman and Bobbi Wright, to place second. "It's the highlight of what we've done," said Emily Steinert. "Alanna and I had finished 1-2 in smaller meets, but never a major meet like district. "Even though we hadn't done it before, it was our goal today. Our coach (Howard Brodmerkle) told us we could beat Selena (Harman) if we ran well." Pat Steinert, mother of the twins, there to savor the moment. She said her daughters are competitive toward each other but also support each other, especially in big meets. "You have to remember, they are womb-mates," she said. Alanna Steinert's development has been slowed by injuries, but she has still managed to break the school record for the 5,000 twice, while her twin has broken it three times, including Saturday. "Alanna had a knee injury that set her back, but she's tough and bounced back," said Brodmerkle. "I think it's great they finished up here this way. I'm happy for them." Harman, the 1998 Skyline champion, battled tendinitis in her left foot and finished fourth in 19:32.9. Wright took third in 19:26.2. "Selena's hurting pretty bad," said Wright. "She came out and made the effort she did for the team. "It's too bad for her, but the main thing is we won the team title again. That's more important than what we do individually. A lot of people think cross country is an individual sport, but we feel the team thing is more important." "The six girls on our team are all my best friends." Next Saturday, the Rogue River girls, rated No. 1 among Oregon Class 3A schools, will go after their fourth straight state championship. "We're going up there (to Lane Community College in Eugene) to do it," said Rogue River coach Gary Anderson. "The girls expect to win another one. I don't think they will be happy unless we do it again based on what we've done before." Wright agreed with her coach. "I'm not real satisfied with what I did today," she said. "But Lindsay (Clarida) had a personal-best time and Erin (Gilkison) ran faster than expected. We're pretty tough as a complete team. "I think we're going to go up (to Eugene) and win it (state championship)," said Wright. "We won't take anything for granted, because we know it's tough to win. But we want to win another one." Harman's injury won't heal significantly by Saturday, but Anderson said she will again give it her best effort for the team. "She ran fine today, considering the pain she was in," he said. "Maybe she will get a break and it'll feel better next week. "If it does, Selena could win the race." In the boys race, Warren Clarida said he had trouble breathing on the hilly part of the course, approximately 2 miles from the finish. "It wasn't my day," he said. "I had trouble getting enough oxygen to run like I can. I don't know why. Now, I'll have to go to state as an individual. It's disappointing that our team isn't going. I'll try to make up for this at state." Meanwhile, the top six finishers for Phoenix will go to the state meet for the first time since 1996. Led by freshman Nathan May, the Pirates bunched six runners between seventh and 16th. Jake Mahon of Phoenix finished eighth in 17:29.6, Josh Harlan was ninth in 17:34.6, Lalo Flores placed 11th in 17:46.9 and Chad Kane of the Pirates was 12th in 17:52.5. Other Pirates not far back were Allen Gillette (15th, 18:08.6), David Stevens (16th, 18:18.6) and Tyler McPhee (22nd, 18:40.8). "We finished in three groups of two and the seventh guy (McPhee) wasn't too far behind," said Phoenix coach Bruce Timmerman. "This is a very young team that has continued to peak. I think you will see them run their best race next week at state." Skyline District Results VALLEY OF THE ROGUE STATE PARK -- Boys and Girls 5,000-meter results from Saturday's Skyline Conference district cross country meet. GIRLS TEAM SCORES -- Rogue River 40, Hidden Valley 65, Lakeview 78, Henley 78, Mazama 103, Phoenix 131, Illinois Valley incomplete. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS -- 1, Emily Steinert, HV, 18:39.7; 2, Alanna Steinert, HV, 19:11.5; 3, Bobbi Wright, RR, 19:26.2; 4, Selena Harman, RR, 19:32.9; 5, Elise Sabin, Lak, 19:36.; 6, Lauren Fety, RR, 19:38.8; 7, Stephanie DuBois, Maz, 19:43.3; 8, Ginger Grenier, HV, 19:59.6; 9, Lindsay Clarida, RR, 20::22.6; 10, Marci Hanson, Hen, 20:30.3; 11, Christine Glass, Hen, 20:39.7; 12, Kelcy Garner, Maz, 20:52.0; 13, Kristen Heath, Pho, 21:00.8; 14, Beth Otto, Lak,21:08.7; 15, Megan McDonald, Lak, 21:10.9; 16, Amanda Graham, Hen, nt; 17, Janalea Merritt, Maz, 21:51.2; 18, Erin Gilkison, RR, 22:02.6; 19, Carrie Knox, Hen, 22:09.2; 20, Kendra Kohler, Pho, 22:14.3; 21, Corri Recow, Lak. 22:14.6; 22, Jenna Mortenson, Hem, 22:38.3; 23, Hadley Otto, Lak, 22:45.4; 24, Carrie Osberg, Lak,22:47.0; 25, Jennifer Bain, HV, 22:52.2; 26, Kate Pellissier, RR, 23:00.1; 27, Tami Caldwell, Hen, 23:05.6; 28, Jessica Ellis, Lak, 23:36.4; 29, Cara Mattern, HV, 23:34.1; 30, Spring Aguire, Pho, 24:03.4; 31, Katie Adamson, Pho, 24:13.5; 32, Abigail Zwer, Maz, 24:24.3; 33, Helen Beaman, Hen, 24:35.8; 34, Lindsay Haines, HV, 25:21.5; 35, Christine McCollough, IV, 25:50.9; 36, Athena Jenkins, Maz, 26:11.4; 37, Megan Lochrie, Maz, 27:17,8; 38, Courtney Hill, Pho, 28:33.4; 39, Suzanne Powell, Maz, 29:02.5; 40, Lindsay Booth, HV, 29:07.0. BOYS TEAM SCORES -- Henley 46, Phoenix 48, Rogue River 71, Lakeview 79, Hidden Valley 136, Mazama 145, North Valley inc, Illinois Valley inc. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS -- 1, Patrick McLain, Hen, 16:02.8; Warren Clarida, RR, 16:21.8; 3, Nathan Love, RR, 16:28.7; 4, Nathan Harper, Hen, 16:34.3; 5, Jacob White, HV, 16:39.6; 6, Jabin Tangeman, NV, 17:08.0; 7, Nathan May, Pho, 17:09.7; 8, Jake Mahon, Pho, 17:29.6; 9, Josh Harlan, Hen, 17:34.6; 10, Chris Millisor, Lak, 17:42.8; 11, Lalo Flores, Pho, 17:46.9; 12, Chad Kane, Pho, 17:52.5; 13,Wes Garriott, Hen, 17:58.0; 14, Brian Powell, Hen, 17:59.5; 15, Andy Gillette, Pho, 18:08.6; 16, David Stevens, Pho, 18:18.6; 17, Josh Barleen, Hen, 18:22.8; 18, Corey Potter, Lak, 18:31.9; 19, Greg Anderson, RR, 18:34.1; 20, Daniel Patla, Lak, 18:38.0; 21, Bryson Williams, Hen,18:39.2; 22, Tyler McPhee, Pho, 18:40.8; 23, Chris Whittemore, Maz, 18:46.6; 24, Andrew Barella, RR, 19:05.0; 25, Chris Kehr, Hen, 19:14.5; 26, Steven Alspach, NV, 19:19.1; 27, Adrian Gerstmar, RR, 19:24.0; 28, Michael Cooler, Lak, 19:25.1; 29, David Libby, Maz, 19:26.4; 30, Richard Kyniston , Maz, 19:32.6; 31, Nick Minard, RR, 19:33.1; 32, Jerry Shearer, Maz, 19:41.1; 33, Cody Smith, NV, 19:42.2; 34, Ryan Eaton, HV, 19:50.6; 35, Ted Peckham, NV, 19:57.0; 36, Mike Riddle, HV, 19:58.4; 37, James Wood, NV, 20:00.0; 38, Ryan Kiely, Lak, 20:02.2; 39, Ryan Habgood, HV, 20:04.0; 40, Ryan Kinsman, Lak, 20:04.9; 41, Rich Carpenter, RR, 20:11.5; 42, Royse Haney, Maz, 20:48.0; 43, Erol Chandler, IV, 21:00.07; 44, Mike White, IV, 21:24.0; 45, Thomas Loder, Maz, 22:02.5; 46, Justin Rose, Maz, 22:53.3; 47, Donald Stafford, IV, 23:50.2; 48, Steve Hanley, IV, 24:20.4. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.