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Top athletes to compete in Classic By KRIS HENRY The Crater Rotary Classic track and field meet is usually good for a few top marks, and Saturday's edition at Crater High doesn't figure to be any different. Three different meet marks were set last year and more marks could fall Saturday as 29 individuals with top-six state marks are set to do battle in various events. "Every year kids come in and compete well," said Crater coach Hans Smith. "That's what we're looking for again this year. The track field is great. We'll just see if the weather helps out in some of the events." Field events begin at 9:45 a.m. and running events at 11:45 a.m. About 900 kids from 23 schools will compete at the Classic, with six athletes looking to defend their titles. Scott Toney of Crater won the shot put last year, South Medford's Perry Custance won the 800 and Klamath Union's Ian Dobson won 1,500. "(Scott Toney) is primed and ready to defend his championship," Smith said of his senior thrower. Other returning winners include Tyler May of Siuslaw (discus), Josh Carlson of Oregon City (javelin) and Marshfield's Trevor Woods (pole vault). Carlson holds a state-best mark of 213 feet, 2 inches in the javelin, while Woods set a meet mark last year by going 15-4. The 800 might pose the best chance for a photo finish, with the state's top three runners in KU's Evan Garich, Custance and Marshfield's Nick Ballard. Marshfield's J.R. Benavidez, ranked No. 1 in the 400 (47.4) and No. 2 in the 300 hurdles (38.7), is scheduled to compete. Other high-ranked boys expected to appear include Myrtle Point's Caleb Krantz, No. 2 in the pole vault, and a trio of Bend athletes: Bret Holts, No. 2 in the 3,000; Brendan Quinn, No. 3 in the 300 hurdles; and Joel Lelachuer, No. 4 in the pole vault. Second-ranked Marshfield and third-ranked Bend are also set to do battle in the boys long relay. South Medford's Janette Martin and Kristin Russell each set meet marks last year in the 400 and pole vault, respectively. With both Panthers out of the mix due to graduation, Klamath Union's Sam Gilbert and Sara Schaaf appear poised to make a big splash Saturday in the girls meet. Gilbert finished second last year in the 100 while Schaaf was second in the 200 and 400. Both have already posted strong state numbers this season. Gilbert is ranked third in the 100 at 12.3, while Schaaf is sixth in the 800 (2:22.7) and seventh in the 200 (26.2). South Medford's Heather Frigaard shares the No. 1 ranking in the state in the 100 hurdles at 15.4 and will try to improve on that mark. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA