Championship run.

Byline: STEVE MIMS The Register-Guard

OAKRIDGE - RON HEBERT wants to coach cross country for another five years, which would give him 40 seasons at Oakridge.

He just hopes it doesn't take that long to win his first boys state title.

"I've waited a long time and come close a few times," said Hebert, who arrived at Oakridge in 1968. "It would mean a lot for these kids and for me to get that win as a team. It would get the monkey off my back."

A boys title is about all that has eluded Hebert, who has guided the Warriors to six girls cross country titles.

"It seems like we've had bad luck when it comes to getting that top spot for the boys," Hebert said. "Whenever I get a good team, the rest of the state is strong that same year."

The Warriors say they were the victims of a bad break at last year's Class 2A state meet when they finished tied for first place with Stanfield at 97 points but were declared the runner-up based on the place of their sixth finisher.

The day after the meet, Hebert received a videotape of the finish that showed an Oakridge runner falling at the finish line, and then the runner got back in line at the wrong spot. If he had been placed correctly, the Warriors would have won, but by the time Hebert saw the video, it was too late to appeal.

"This year we will have a parent film the finish so we can see it right away," Hebert said.

With five of seven runners off last year's state team returning, the Warriors are ranked as the No. 1 2A boys team in the state. Oakridge's girls are also ranked No. 1 after finishing third at state last year, and the Warriors feature defending champion Shalene Fine.

Oakridge's girls have had a top-three finish at state in each of the past five seasons, while the boys have joined them in three of those years. With his program thriving, Hebert continues to enjoy coaching in his fifth decade.

"I've been running age-group races for about 40 years," said Hebert, who recently turned 60. "It's like a guy who likes to golf wants to be the golf coach. I'm the guy who runs and wants to be the running coach. I'm now getting sons and daughters of kids I coached 25 years ago."

While many 2A schools struggle to have enough runners to field a team, that usually isn't a concern at Oakridge.

"Schools always ask how we have so many runners, and I'm not really sure how it happens," Hebert said.

The school tradition helps recruit some runners who get started in junior high. That was the case for Austin Bowles and Jed Moffitt, the top two boys on this year's team, who both started in the seventh grade.

"We'll usually get four or five runners out in junior high, and that is a good number," Hebert said. "You turn them on to cross country slowly, and by the time they are freshmen, they are ready to go. At this level, you only need two or three really good runners."

Bowles, a senior, and Moffitt, a junior, fit that role for the Warriors this year, as they have been finishing 1-2 in either order during most of Oakridge's races this season. On Thursday, Bowles was fourth and Moffitt fifth at the Creswell Invitational, which featured many of the state's top 3A runners.

Those two are among the favorites at the District 4 meet, which Oakridge hosts Thursday at Circle Bar Golf Course at 1 p.m.

"Those two are real close and they go out and run together in the summer and on weekends," Hebert said. "If one has a good day and one has a bad day, they are good friends so it doesn't bother them if the other one wins."

Bowles and Moffitt are each contenders to become the first Oakridge boy to win a 2A individual title at the state meet, which is Nov. 2 at Lane Community College.

"I just try to beat him and he tries to beat me," Bowles said. "I think that is why we keep dropping our times."

Bowles and Moffitt ran with each other last year at the state meet before Moffitt pulled away during the final 300 meters to place fourth, while Bowles was sixth.

"We started out pretty fast, but it was really hot that day," Bowles said. "We ran together the whole race, but he took off once we got to the track."

Andrew Perri, who placed 28th at state as a freshman last year, and freshman Brad Taylor have had numerous top-10 finishes this year, and each was among the top 16 at the Creswell Invitational.

"I would say I've never had four boys running this well before," Hebert said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime team."

Andy Ornberg and Joe Altemus also return off last year's team, which finished second at state for the third time in five years. The finish was also close in 1999, as the Warriors totaled 48 points, just one point back of champion Neah-Kah-Nie.

Enterprise, which placed third last year despite having no seniors, is ranked No. 2 in state, followed by Knappa.

The girls team had its two-year run as state champions snapped when it finished third last season. Oakridge's 84 points put it 11 behind champion Union.

Shalene Fine became the second Oakridge girl to win the state championship, finishing in 19 minutes, 46 seconds. That was 13 seconds ahead of runner-up Neoma Palmer of Catlin Gabel.

"I was told that I was one of the fastest runners in the race," Fine said. "When I started the race I was going to run with the girls ahead of me. When I got up there, they weren't going very fast, so I just wanted to take off and see if they would follow me."

Fine was second to teammate Anna Skordahl as a freshman and then placed 15th at state as a sophomore.

"She surprised a couple of girls last year," Hebert said. "She got a good jump on them and ran a great time."

Fine is the fifth member of her family to run for Hebert, and three of her brothers also wrestled for Hebert, who coached that sport at Oakridge for 25 years.

"Running is a family tradition for her," Hebert said. "She started out as a sprinter in junior high, and I looked at her and thought she could be the state 1,500-meter champion. She turned out to be the 1,500 champion and a cross country champion."

Fine won the state 1,500 title last year. She will attempt to defend that title after she tries to defend her cross country title.

"I've got two more weeks until state, but I am getting to where I want to be," Fine said. "I'm going to try and go under 19 minutes. I expect a lot from myself because I have worked hard."

Fine has followed the same training schedule as she did last year, and her strategy will be similar, too.

"I want to stay with the leaders or stay ahead of them, but hopefully not behind them," Fine said.

The Oakridge girls suffered a pair of setbacks this season with the loss of both Sharron Richardson and Kristin Reed, who finished 38th and 52nd, respectively, at state last year. Both had recurring leg injuries that ended their seasons.

Ana Ramirez, Sierra Jensen and Rhea Baines are all back off last year's state team, and junior Amanda Layton has also joined the team.

Oakridge will need a big performance at the district meet Thursday to get back to state.

Although the Warriors are ranked No. 1, Hebert said he considers East Linn Christian to be the favorite and Central Linn to be a top contender.

Bandon, Union and Westside Christian are ranked right behind Oakridge in the state.

With six championships, Oakridge's girls are tied with Union for the most in 2A history.

Meanwhile, the boys will continue to seek that elusive state title during the next two weeks.

CAPTION(S):

The Oakridge boys cross country team has been within points of a state title before, but this may be the season the Warriors take home the trophy. Shalene Fine won the individual title last season, and her Warriors are No. 1 this season. BRIAN DAVIES / The Register-Guard Ron Hebert has six girls state titles in his 35 years as coach at Oakridge, but a boys title has eluded him.