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Edwards, KU boys look to dominate By Kris Henry All streaks are destined to be broken. Just don�t expect that to happen Saturday at the Southern Oregon Conference district cross country meet � where an athlete�s domination is seemingly only halted by graduation. Since 1973, five girls have claimed individual SOC titles in three successive years. In that same span, there have been seven multiple boys champions. In the team race, there have been five repeat titlists in girls and seven in boys � including streaks by Ashland of six straight seasons in boys and five straight in girls. Repetition is the name of the game, and that shouldn�t change Saturday�s at Jackson County Expo. The varsity girls race starts at noon, followed by the varsity boys at 12:45 p.m. Ashland�s Paris Edwards will go in search of history as the first girl to win four district titles, while the Klamath Union boys team is a safe bet to nab its fourth straight team title. "I think we�re all going to the meet not even acknowledging Klamath Union because they�re so far ahead of us," says Ashland coach Bob Julian. The defending state champion Pelican boys are led by Lauren Jesperson, Jacob Gomez and Jimmy Addison. One member of that trio should pick up where Ian Dobson � who won the last three district titles � left off. Jesperson and Gomez have run 1-2 all season for KU, with Jesperson maintaining the advantage. "Lauren�s secret weapon has been his speed," says KU coach Marnie Mason-Johnson. "When it comes down to the last 100, that�s when he�s really gotten Jake." With Addison coming on strong and the Pelicans getting solid marks from Phil Morton and Kevin Pellegrino, the sky is the limit for KU. "Our goal all throughout the season was just to close the gaps," says Mason-Johnson. "To be right around 50 seconds between 1 and 5 is going to be key for our success at the state meet." Standouts expected to fight their way through the flock of Pelicans include Shaun Olson and Chris McLean of South Medford, Chris Faudree of Ashland, Roseburg�s Chris Roberts and Colin Janke of Grants Pass. The girls race sets up nicely as a preview for the state meet, considering Edwards edged KU�s Liz Lindgren for the title in last year�s district and state meets. "Paris is looking great," says Julian. "She�s got a little bit of a cold, but seems to be getting over that and seems to be running strong." With Lindgren hot on her heels for the past few years, Julian knows Edwards isn�t necessarily a shoo-in for her fourth straight district title. "She�s got to be on her best game, and she has to be ready to compete, which I think she will be," says the coach. Sara Schaaf and Katie Leary of KU should help make things interesting at the front of the pack for the Pelicans, while Ashland�s Kendall Clark, Sarah Piazza of South and Crater�s Sam Kezer should also contend. For Schaaf, Saturday�s race will be her final one for KU. She is a standout on the Pelican girls soccer team and has chosen to focus on the soccer playoffs. Despite an expected tight battle between Ashland, KU and South for the team title, the girls district will be the "Paris and Liz" show. "I would never take anything away from Paris," says Mason-Johnson, who was a three-time district champ at KU from 1982-84. "She�s a gutty runner, has a lot of speed and has been in some big races. At the same time I know some of the little things that Liz has been doing to prepare for this season." Those little things may be the key for Lindgren to finally see something other than Edwards� backside. "Liz has been chasing Paris for four years, and I�m sure Liz would love to finally get her," says Julian. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.