HARRIS REBOUNDS FROM ILLNESS; CANYON SENIOR RETURNS AFTER LONG LAYOFF TO WIN 1,600-METER TITLE.

Byline: Dave Desmond Daily News Staff Writer

Teen-agers call it the kissing disease, which may be appropriate in Julie Harris' case.

When she was diagnosed with mononucleosis earlier this year, it meant she could just about kiss off her senior season as the Santa Clarita Valley's premier high school distance runner.

Bed-ridden with the energy-sapping affliction, the 17-year-old Canyon High senior missed five weeks of school, her daily three-mile workouts and the opportunity to continue her climb toward the state's elite.

``This has been a very tough year,'' said Harris, who captured the Foothill League 1,600-meter championship last Friday despite running in only two late-season dual meets.

Her time of 5 minutes, 22 seconds at College of the Canyons was good enough to outdistance Saugus' Breanne Schwietzer, but it was off the 5:04 the three-time Foothill champion ran in last year's league meet.

Unless she can trim almost 15 seconds off her time, however, this Saturday's Southern Section preliminaries at Long Beach City College may mark her last high school meet.

``If it can be done, she's the one who can do it,'' Canyon coach Dave DeLong said.

Harris' resume appears to back that up.

She was named the Santa Clarita Valley's Female Athlete of the Year as a junior after leading the Cowboys to the state cross country title, earning All-Southern Section honors in track and breaking the Foothill record in the 1,600 and school mark in the 3,200.

Teammate Lauren Fleshman broke both records last week, running the 1,600 in 5:00.4 at Tuesday's league prelims and the 3,200 in 11:00.3 at the finals.

Fleshman, however, sat out the 1,600 at Friday's finals, leaving the door open for Harris to claim one last crown.

When Harris returned to training less than four weeks ago, she struggled to run a mile in less than nine minutes.

``My confidence was real low,'' she said. ``You start wondering if you can do it.''

Harris' problems began in the fall.

After winning league cross-country titles as a sophomore and junior, Harris had difficulties hitting her stride as a senior.

Believing she had the flu, Harris felt sluggish throughout the season and was unable to defend her crown.

It wasn't until after January recruiting trips to Idaho and Arizona - she eventually committed to Idaho - that Harris checked into a hospital where it was determined that she had liver problems connected to a case of mononucleosis.

``It was almost a relief to find out that it was mono,'' she said. ``I didn't know what it was. I was coming home after school and passing out for 10 hours. I was scared.''

While away from Canyon, Harris undertook a home-study program, keeping up with her school work while sleeping as much as 16 hours a day.

Few figured that Harris would return to the track this season, much less win the 1,600 by almost nine seconds.

``She's always thrived on pressure,'' DeLong said. ``There was a feeling of excitement and relief. After the race, I gave her a big hug and asked her if it was worth it. She said, `Yeah, coach, it was.' ''

Sometimes, it's tougher to reach the summit a second time.

``I just really wanted to surprise myself and everyone else,'' Harris said. ``I think I did that.''