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SOU's Davis aims for national title MT file photo Matt Davis owns lifetime bests of 47.6 in the 400 and 21.35 in the 200. By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ASHLAND -- It's been a long run to satisfaction and success for Southern Oregon University senior sprinter Mat Davis. Davis, 23, a former North Medford High football player and track and field star, has soared into contending position for an NAIA national title in the 400 meters this spring. He's ranked No. 1 in the nation among NAIA 400 runners with his 48.65 time at the Oregon Preview meet three weeks ago. The national meet qualifying time is 48.5, which SOU coach Dale Fisher expects Davis to meet soon. Davis, who will challenge NCAA Division I runners Sunday for the second time in a meet this season in the Stanford Invitational at Palo Alto, Calif., says he's focused on making a run at an NAIA national championship in the 400 meters and a top-six finish in the 200. "I'd like to be a national champion and two-time All-American," he says. "That's the way I want my college career to end. "I'm finally happy with where I'm at as a sprinter," says Davis. Davis finished second in the field of eight runners at the Oregon Preview meet. He was the only NAIA runner in the field. His career-best best time in the 200 is 21.35 seconds, which he set as a sophomore for Murray State two years ago prior to his transfer to SOU. His best 400 time is 47.6, which he ran for SOU last season. Davis, a mature, powerful sprinter, says he's developed confidence as his times have dropped and his success has soared. "I was wondering if it ever was going to happen," says Davis, of his success. "I can hold my own against those Division I guys now. "It doesn't bother me at all to run against them. I actually look at it as a challenge." Ironically, Davis and his fiance, former South Medford High 400-meter state champion Janette Martin, who is a freshman runner for Oregon's women's team, both finished second in their respective 400 races in the Oregon Preview meet. "It was pretty satisfying for both of us to get second," says Davis. "My teammates were giving me some grief about it, but I liked it. "Janette is a great runner and a great athlete. She's a better athlete than I am." Davis says the couple plans to be married in December. "I'm moving to Eugene after I graduate from Southern Oregon (in June)," he says. "I plan to keep running up there and be in some open meets." He says he's hoping to run the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time (45.7 seconds) and get a chance to make the team. "It would be an honor to just run against great runners like Michael Johnson (the 1996 Olympic 400-meter gold medalist)," he says. "I'd like to have a chance to compare myself against them." With the tough competition at Stanford, he hopes to run a fast time. "I'd like to run a PR (personal record time) and qualify for the national meet right there," says Davis. "I'm feeling good and I have a lot of confidence." "Matt's well on his way to qualifying for the national meet and doing great things," says Fisher. "I believe he has to be the favorite at the national meet in the 400. "He's doing a lot of strength and volume work right now. When we start him doing his speed work, his times will come down quickly." Davis signed a letter of intent to play football for Oregon State following his senior year at North Medford High in 1995. He spent two seasons in coach Jerry Pettibone's OSU program, but transferred to Murray State after Pettibone was fired and replaced by Mike Riley. Davis says he felt unwanted and unappreciated by Riley. "He speaks with a forked tongue," says Davis. "He wasn't honest. He turned and ran from Oregon State. "If coach Pettibone had been given the support and the money Riley got, he would have turned the program around." But Davis, who lives near Pettibone in Jacksonville, says his frustrations at Oregon State have been replaced by satisfaction at Southern Oregon. "I have some great coaches at Southern Oregon," says Davis. "Dale Fisher has helped me develop confidence, and Mike Jones and I have looked at a lot of film and worked on my technique. "It's all worked out good for me," says Davis. "I loved Jerry Pettibone like a father, and I would have stayed if he had been the coach. But if I had stayed at Oregon State, I might not have met Janette (Martin). So I can say I'm very happy with how things turned out." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA