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CLOUDY Temp: 57 °F Wind: SE at 13 mph Tuesday, April 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 13, 2003 Runners charge out of the chute at the start of the 27th annual Pear Blossom Run on Saturday. More than 900 runners took part in the 10-mile run. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven The Crater High graduate takes the lead at the midway point and never looks back for his first Pear Blossom victory in three attempts By KEVIN GOFF Mail Tribune A bum wheel turned into defending champion Damian Baldovino’s Achilles heel during the 27th annual Pear Blossom run on Saturday. The 36-year-old defending champion came up lame halfway through the 10-mile race, opening the door for some new blood on victory lane. Former Crater High and Cornell University star Max King grabbed the lead midway through the race and never relinquished it en route to his first victory in three attempts. The 23-year-old finished in 51 minutes, 27 seconds, while Baldovino was the runner-up in 53:13. Ashland’s Bob Julian took third in 55:28, while Portland’s Joe Dudman grabbed fourth in 55:44 and Justin Loftus, of Ashland, took fifth at 55:54. Missing from the run was the 1995 and 1998 champion Tim Julian, who sat out due to an injured toe. "This is great," said King, who graduated from Cornell last spring and now resides in Bend. "I’m not in great shape so I was shooting for 55 (minute mark). I couldn’t believe it when I saw my time." A good start and a comfortable lead quickly dissipated when Baldovino, a member of the Nike Portland team, tweaked his Achilles. "It’s been hurting for about two months," said Baldovino of his injury. "I felt pretty good the first half, but then coming down the hill I could feel it acting up. "I wanted to do well, I mean, I didn’t know if I could win the thing, but when my leg started bothering me, I let up a little." King was more than happy to grab the spotlight. Despite limited training, he made his third Pear Blossom Run a charm. Baldovino, who won last year’s race with a time of 51:43, held a 30-second lead at the 3-mile mark, but started to fade at the halfway point. A two-second advantage soon turned into a deficit that the former Medford High standout and current Lakeview resident couldn’t make up. "I passed him at about the 5½ -mile mark and I could see him (Baldovino) starting to fade," said King. "I could tell something was bothering him." King’s previous top finish was seventh during his senior year at Crater High. Following graduation from college, King’s training has slowed and his interests turned elsewhere. Adventure racing, which is a 24-hour competition that features rafting and mountain biking among other things, has turned into the Bend resident’s latest vice. "It’s a lot of fun," said King of his latest venture. "I haven’t been in a (running) competition since July because I’ve been enjoying the adventure racing so much. "It’s really a rush." King’s rap sheet shows that Saturday’s victory is no fluke. He was a letterwinner in swimming, track and cross country while at Crater and the record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at Cornell, where he was also named the school’s Air Force ROTC male athlete of the week at the Heptagonal Championship and made the all-Ivy League first team. Baldovino claimed his first Pear Blossom title last year and hopes to take some time to rest his injury. "I’m hoping to get back up to 100 miles within the next three months," said Baldovino of his weekly training. "Something like this, I might just have to take a break. "It’s not worth tearing something." King plans a return in 2004 for a chance at a repeat win. "I love this race," he said. "The competition is pretty good, it’s in my hometown and it’s a nice, low-key event." It’s not adventure racing, but the taste of victory is all the same. Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4480 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S