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Duke wins out in race for runner Edwards By Greg Stiles Colorado would've been a Rocky Mountain high. Stanford might have been at the head of the class. But when Ashland High distance star Paris Edwards signs a national letter of intent this week, it will be addressed to the Duke Blue Devils. "I love the Rockies, and running around the trails in Boulder (Colo.) would've been great," Edwards says. "I was pretty confident that I was going to go to Colorado or Stanford." Then in one whirlwind week, that all changed. "Duke had been one of my top three schools all along," Edwards says. "But I had problems getting ahold of them. They started showing more and more interest and wanted to talk to me before I made my final decision." On April 10, Ashland coach Bob Julian contacted Duke coaches on Edwards' behalf. "Within 24 hours, they were calling my house, the school and Paris' house," Julian says. "They had arranged a flight schedule for her to go out the next day." Not only that, but the Blue Devils were ready to deal when Edwards arrived after stopovers in Portland and Chicago. And after looking over Duke's vast campus area, she was ready for the transcontinental migration. "It's one of the highest financial offers they've given," Julian says. Edwards intends to study environmental law and policy. So a key selling point was the university's 7,900 acres of forest land - more than an acre apiece for the school's 6,000 undergraduates - traversed by 30 miles of trails. "I had eight hours of flight time to think about it," Edwards says. "I wanted a place that was strong academically, good athletically and a place where I'd be happy. "I absolutely loved it." NCAA rules prevent college coaches from commenting on recruits until after letters of intent have been returned. Duke has a unique husband and wife coaching tandem for its cross country and track and field teams in Norm and Jan Ogilvie. Edwards' top times would put her very much in the Blue Devils' mix next fall and spring. "She'd run No. 4 or 5," Julian says. "And that's a good thing for her. She won't be fighting up the ladder and maybe not competing as a freshman." Edwards' trail to Duke has been one of ups and downs. She's had dominating days and agonizing afternoons. She won the 1999 Class 4A state cross country championship but faltered badly in last May's state track 3,000-meter finals, fading from first to seventh over the final four laps. Afterward, she was taken to the hospital for tests. "We thought maybe she had mono," Julian says. "It turned out to be a virus, and she had a low iron level. Apparently, she had a virus for several weeks." Again last fall, Edwards was hit hard, not once but twice. Edwards owns the Ashland 1,500-meter record of 4:34.5. She took a shot at Sarah Brandy's 1995 3,000 school standard of 9:51 in last weekend's Centennial Invitational at Gresham. "There was no competition and the weather was cold and blustery," Julian says. "It's almost a concern Paris hasn't got tested at that distance." Nonetheless, Edwards is geared for a strong finish to her prep career. "I've developed a love for the sport in four years," Edwards says. "As a freshman it was more scary than fun. But over the years, I've gained a great respect for the sport." She considers training under Julian in cross country and track a key ingredient to her progress. "He's inspirational and his emphasis has been on having fun and enjoying the sport," Edwards says. "That's why Ashland has had so many good runners. There are a huge number who still run today. "People forget it's only high school, and they turn it into a professional career before they are 18. High school is a stepping stone - a big one, but a stepping stone." With recruiting pressure behind, Edwards' concentration will be on her final weeks of competition. Julian thinks past maladies will only serve to strengthen her. "She's weathered these physical problems, and that's caused her to be stronger physically and mentally," Julian says. "She's an outstanding individual and class act in every way. "After home meets, if there's one person on the course picking up trash and asking what needs to be done, that would be Paris Edwards," Julian says. "After she finishes, she runs the course backwards, cheering on her teammates and others." SOUTH MEDFORD SENIOR Abby Fowler has signed a letter of intent to play golf for Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fowler becomes the third Southern Oregon Conference senior to sign with an NCAA Division I school. North Medford's Tai Kinney is going to Minnesota and Grants Pass' Johnna Neely is headed for Oregon. Fowler was the medalist in the Klamath Basin Junior Championship and IIACJ state qualifier. She was eighth in the Peter Jacobsen Junior Challenge and second in the Max-Fli PGA qualifier. She was 18th in last spring's state tournament and owns a 77-stroke tournament average this spring. Fowler joined Sarah Sparks, of Kendallville, Ind., and Emily Shoplik, of Pittsburgh, as new coach Tony Kountz's first recruiting class. "This class is going to make us a heck of a lot more competitive," Kountz said in a release. "This is probably the best recruiting class Xavier has ever had in terms of scoring ability." She won with a meet-record time of 11:15.6, more than 20 seconds faster than her nearest competition. "Unless you're in a big meet like the Crater Classic, you end up running by yourself," Sawyer says. "Everyone's times drop in a meet like Crater," she says. "I like running with the boys because I'm real aggressive. I used to be a soccer player. The guys are faster and pull me along. It's more fun." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.