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Jespersen returns with power
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| Klamath Union's Lauren Jespersen sprints toward the finish line ahead of teammate Kevin Pellegrino in the boys 1,500-meter run Saturday at the Southern Oregon Conference/District 6 track and field meet. |
Published May 25, 2003
Wins 1,500, leads 1-2 KU sweep in So. Oregon Conference
By PETER MARTINI
H&N Sports Writer
ASHLAND - Klamath Union senior Lauren Jespersen, who, next year, will be the third Pelican distance runner in four years to compete at Stanford, has seen limited action this track season because of a knee injury.
Saturday, Jespersen won the 1,500-meter race at the Southern Oregon Conference/District 6 track and field championships to qualify for the OSAA/U.S. Bank Class 4A state championships, which begin Friday in Eugene.
"I knew that none of the guys really wanted to take the lead," said Jespersen, who finished in four minutes, 0.94 seconds, and led from the outset.
"Nobody wanted to take control, and I didn't want it to be one of those races where there's a lot of hesitation, so I took control."
As a team, the KU boys finished fifth in the district with 68 points. South Medford won the district with 123 points.
The KU girls team finished third with 91.5 points, while North Medford won the district title with 167.5 points.
Jespersen's teammate, junior Kevin Pellegrino, finished second in the 1,500 at 4:02.21.
Pellegrino, who normally likes to make his final kick with about 500 meters to go, finally took second place with about 300 meters left.
"I got a little boxed in," Pellegrino said. "It was scary there for a little while."
Pellegrino said he appreciated the encouragement he received from Jespersen during the race.
"With about 200 to go, (Jespersen) turned and said 'I got it,' and he led me in," Pellegrino said.
Jespersen, who won the state championship last year in the 1,500, said he doesn't expect himself to duplicate the feat.
"The odds are against it," he said. "I decided a long time ago that this year wasn't going to be as good as last year.
"I've already dealt with that, and right now, I'm looking more long term."
Pellegrino said the pressure that comes with being a distance runner at KU doesn't compare to the pressure he puts on himself.
"It's not just me," Pellegrino said. "I think we all put more pressure on ourselves to succeed."
KU's boys 4x400 relay team, at 3:27.88, qualified for the state meet by finishing in second place, behind Crater's 3:27.73.
For the girls, Katie Leary won the 1,500 at 4:45.94. Danielle Jordan, who won the 3,000, finished second at 4:48.09.
The Pelicans' girls 4x100 relay team also qualified for state by placing second at 50.08.
KU junior Jenna Fay qualified for state in the pole vault by clearing 10 feet, six inches.
"I feel good about making state," Fay said. "I feel I'm at a point where I'm just about to break through at 10-9 or 11."
KU coach Mike Herron said he was pleased by the effort his team, which has many sophomores and freshmen, showed during the meet.
"It was a great weekend," he said. "We have lots of people going to state.
"Before the meet, I had a short list of the people I thought should make it to state. All of them, and then some, did so."
Results of the SSOC/District 6 meet will appear in Monday's Herald and News.
Wins 1,500, leads 1-2 KU sweep in So. Oregon Conference
By PETER MARTINI
H&N Sports Writer
ASHLAND - Klamath Union senior Lauren Jespersen, who, next year, will be the third Pelican distance runner in four years to compete at Stanford, has seen limited action this track season because of a knee injury.
Saturday, Jespersen won the 1,500-meter race at the Southern Oregon Conference/District 6 track and field championships to qualify for the OSAA/U.S. Bank Class 4A state championships, which begin Friday in Eugene.
"I knew that none of the guys really wanted to take the lead," said Jespersen, who finished in four minutes, 0.94 seconds, and led from the outset.
"Nobody wanted to take control, and I didn't want it to be one of those races where there's a lot of hesitation, so I took control."
As a team, the KU boys finished fifth in the district with 68 points. South Medford won the district with 123 points.
The KU girls team finished third with 91.5 points, while North Medford won the district title with 167.5 points.
Jespersen's teammate, junior Kevin Pellegrino, finished second in the 1,500 at 4:02.21.
Pellegrino, who normally likes to make his final kick with about 500 meters to go, finally took second place with about 300 meters left.
"I got a little boxed in," Pellegrino said. "It was scary there for a little while."
Pellegrino said he appreciated the encouragement he received from Jespersen during the race.
"With about 200 to go, (Jespersen) turned and said 'I got it,' and he led me in," Pellegrino said.
Jespersen, who won the state championship last year in the 1,500, said he doesn't expect himself to duplicate the feat.
"The odds are against it," he said. "I decided a long time ago that this year wasn't going to be as good as last year.
"I've already dealt with that, and right now, I'm looking more long term."
Pellegrino said the pressure that comes with being a distance runner at KU doesn't compare to the pressure he puts on himself.
"It's not just me," Pellegrino said. "I think we all put more pressure on ourselves to succeed."
KU's boys 4x400 relay team, at 3:27.88, qualified for the state meet by finishing in second place, behind Crater's 3:27.73.
For the girls, Katie Leary won the 1,500 at 4:45.94. Danielle Jordan, who won the 3,000, finished second at 4:48.09.
The Pelicans' girls 4x100 relay team also qualified for state by placing second at 50.08.
KU junior Jenna Fay qualified for state in the pole vault by clearing 10 feet, six inches.
"I feel good about making state," Fay said. "I feel I'm at a point where I'm just about to break through at 10-9 or 11."
KU coach Mike Herron said he was pleased by the effort his team, which has many sophomores and freshmen, showed during the meet.
"It was a great weekend," he said. "We have lots of people going to state.
"Before the meet, I had a short list of the people I thought should make it to state. All of them, and then some, did so."
Results of the SSOC/District 6 meet will appear in Monday's Herald and News.
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