TRACK & FIELD: GRANT STAR FEELS THE PAIN.

Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News

Words could not express Alexis Weatherspoon's feelings after winning the 100 and 200 meters for the second year in a row in the Valley Pac-8 Conference track and field championships Thursday at Birmingham High.

But the pained expression in her face told everything. The Grant High sophomore is competing despite a hernia in her right side that could require surgery if she overextends herself.

Weatherspoon finished second in the 100 and sixth in the 200 in the 1998 City championships. Making it through the Valley Pac-8 championships, however, was the only motivation for Weatherspoon, who is running on a day-to-day basis.

``It feels like there is a knife in your stomach,'' Weatherspoon said. ``I am in a daze. Should I be running or should I be in a wheelchair? If I am hurting in the City finals, I am still going to run. If I am hurting now, I am going to be hurting in the City meet. I want to get used to it now. It is just my luck. I have to tough it out.''

Weatherspoon had other obstacles than a hernia to deal with on Thursday. She also suffers from asthma and is recovering from a lengthy bout with the flu. Weatherspoon also lost a week of training because of sore knees in making the transition from basketball.

Weatherspoon won the 100 in 12.3 by eight-tenths of a second over Rasheeda Gray Hasan of Monroe. In the 200, Weatherspoon timed 24.0 to win by nearly three seconds over North Hollywood's Angelle Hill. Despite the landslide victories, Weatherspoon said she had to hold back.

``Everyone is telling me, `Get good times, don't slow down,' '' Weatherspoon said. ``They don't understand. Right now, I am just trying to save my energy. I am just trying to get by these races. I don't want to blow my chances and pull a muscle.''

Weatherspoon had surgery for a congenital hernia at age 4 and was forced to wear orthopedic leg braces during rehabilitation. Her present condition is unrelated. She first noticed a knot in her side a year ago. Weatherspoon and her mother, however, ignored it until Weatherspoon felt discomfort after winning the 100 in the San Fernando Invitational last month and had difficulty walking.

Despite the risks, Weatherspoon's mother, Loretta, has left the decision to continue to compete to her daughter.

``We were all shocked when we found out,'' Loretta said. ``Alexis has a tendency to overexaggerate. She tends to panic when she has an asthma attack instead of waiting to see how things turn out. She is a strong girl and there is no need to convalesce her.''

Nicholas Demetrion of Monroe continued his steady improvement in the pole vault, winning in a conference-record 14 feet. The senior has raised his personal best by 20 inches over his mark of 12-3 in winning last year's conference championships. On Thursday, Demetrion, competing with flaming red-dyed hair, made his first three heights, 12-6, 13-0 and 13-6, on his first attempt.

North Hollywood sophomore Natalie Stein, the 1997 City cross country champion, had a hand in four victories. Stein won the 800 in 2:21.9, the 1,600 in 5:30.5 and 3,200 in 11:46.3. Stein also teamed with Daisy Del Rio, Nancy Rodriguez and Erin Wade on the Huskies' victorious 1,600 relay team, which timed 4:22.9.