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Rogue River first to win four titles in row By GREG L. STILES EUGENE -- The odds seemed stacked against the Rogue River Chieftains. Never mind that they were favored to win a record fourth-straight Class 3A state cross country championship Saturday afternoon at Lane Community College. A laundry list of injuries and potential pitfalls that might have buried many teams failed to deter the Chiefs, who persevered to journey where no other 3A girls team has gone before. Fortitude, as much as anything, propelled Rogue River as the Chiefs placed three runners in the top-10 on a balmy November day to claim a piece of history. "Let's see," said junior Bobbi Wright. "There was Selena Harman's tendinitis, Erin Gilkison's knees, Lindsey Clarida got sick this morning. We had six girls (compared to seven on the other 15 teams). And anything can happen when you're here." Rogue River scored 109 points to easily outdistance Estacada (144), The Dalles (155) and Hidden Valley (161) to clinch title No. 4. Crook County (1974-76), Philomath (1984-86 and 1988-90) and Henley (1993-95) had all won three straight crowns. "We always felt like this was going to be our day," said Rogue River coach Gary Anderson, pointing out that the Chiefs ended three of those other streaks with victories in 1977, 1991 and 1996. "I felt we were destined to be the first one to do it. I was very nervous. I told the girls that they didn't have to run PRs, there best race of the season or the race of their life. All they had to do was run a solid race and that we'd come out on top." Harman has battled tendinitis on the top of her left foot for three weeks. In last Saturday's Skyline Conference district meet at Valley of the Rogue Park, she suffered what may be a stress fracture. But Harman wasn't about to let a little thing like scorching pain derail her team. "My foot was hurting bad, but we were talking a record," Harman said. "I didn't want to go to the doctor. If it was a stress fracture, there's nothing that could've been done. I just tried to back off this week. I had to do it for my girls, there were five others out there. Some times everything's not quite fair. It all comes down to what you do in 20 minutes. We reaped what we've sowed." Harman led the Chieftain charge with a sixth-place finish, covering the mushy 5,000-meter course in 20 minutes, 18 seconds. "We've been trained by our coaches and parents to come out mentally tough," said Harman, who placed fourth last year. "Some of the other teams aren't ready for the crowds or pressure. The only way it could've been more perfect is if it would've rained." Close on Harman's heels was Wright, clocked in 20:20, who finished seventh for the second year in a row. Sophomore Lauren Fety improved from 22nd last year to 10th. "I've been looking forward to this," Fety said. "We were stressing big-time last night and today I was just out of my head." Clarida, who split duties between cross country and soccer this fall, joined Harman as a member of all four championship teams. "Stan Goodell (a former Rogue River coach) told me about a No. 1 runner from one of the teams here that broke her leg playing soccer," Clarida said. "I had played soccer since I was in first grade and had always dreamed of playing high school soccer. I'm just thankful that I made it through soccer season, because this cross country season was important to me." Hidden Valley senior twins Emily and Alanna Steinert finished third and eighth, respectively, to lead the Mustangs to fourth. The Mustangs had never made it to the state meet before last year, when they finished second. Class 3A Boys Three Skyline Conference runners placed in the top 10, led by Henley's Patrick McLain, who finished second to two-time champion Noel Paulson of Cascade. Paulson was clocked in 16:27 and McLain in 16:38. Hidden Valley junior Jacob White (16:57) was seventh, after finishing 14th last year. Warren Clarida (16:57) took eighth, after finishing sixth in 1998. "Actually, I'm really happy with how I finished," said Clarida, one of two Rogue River qualifiers. "It was a lot different today. I've been here four years and the last three years I had my team with me. In some ways, it was more difficult, but in others it was easier. There was no pressure, because I wasn't here running for anyone else." Wilsonville won its first state title with 112 points, La Pine was second with 135, Molalla third at 145 and Henley picked up fourth place -- its highest finish since the Hornets were fourth in 1987. Class 2A Boys St. Mary's junior Trevor Coolidge came up short in his bid to become the Crusaders' first state champion since Kelly Jensen in 1970. Junior Jacob Boyles of Lowell outran Coolidge in the final 400 meters to win in 16:48. Coolidge, fourth in 1998, was clocked in 17:05. "I was very happy because I dropped 23 or 24 seconds from last year," said Coolidge. Neah Kah Nie edged Oakridge, 47-48, for the team title. Enterprise was third with 116 and Catlin Gabel was fourth with 128. Class 2A Girls St. Mary's senior Martina Patella placed fourth and freshman Leah Sawyer was fifth as the Crusaders finished sixth behind Oakridge (57), Cayonville Christian Academy (85), Union (115) and Catlin Gabel (122). Patella was timed in 21:25 and Sawyer 21:31. "This is a great way to end my high school cross country career," said Patella, the 1997 champion who was hampered by illness last year. "I didn't want to go out too fast and used the first mile as a warm up. When I got to the first mile, it was like starting all over for me." Sawyer, who hadn't finished better than fourth place in any meet this year before winning the District 5 2A championship last week, continued her late-season surge. "All I wanted today was 10th," Sawyer said. "I didn't feel totally comfortable. But this will give me confidence." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.