TRACK AND FIELD: CHEERING FOR DEENA AGOURA'S DROSSIN READIES FOR 10,000.

Byline: Kirby Lee Staff Writer

Deena Drossin will be carrying the support of more than just her hometown of Agoura Hills in the Olympics.

Family friends Margot and Erica Moss assembled a memory book from contributions from relatives and acquaintances throughout the country. The album was presented to Drossin during a two-day layoff in Agoura before she headed to Sydney.

The album contains a collage of notes of encouragement, photographs and newspaper articles chronicling Drossin's high school, collegiate and professional running career. Several blank pages were left at the end of the album for Drossin to add after running the 10,000 meters in Sydney. Drossin, who now lives in Alamosa, Colo., said she was brought to tears and it took nearly two hours to get through the album.

``Every page was sentimental,'' she said. ``My main thought going to Australia is that I represent more than Deena Drossin, my family and Agoura Hills and Alamosa. I feel so many people have been a part of it.''

None more so than Bill Duley, her high school coach at Agoura, and her current coach, Joe Vigil.

Drossin credits Duley for laying the foundation at Agoura, where she was a five-time state champion. After an injury-plagued career at the University of Arkansas, Drossin rediscovered her zeal for running in the solitude and 7,000-foot altitude of Alamosa, under the tutelage of Virgil.

Two years ago, Drossin presented Duley with a glass-framed singlet of the jersey she wore to win the 1997 national cross country title, the first of three consecutive championships. Below, Drossin wrote: ``Bill Duley, Thank you for molding me into this sport that has given me so much in return.'' The jersey is prominently displayed in Duley's running shop in Agoura Hills.

``What I wrote sums it all up,'' Drossin said. ``He's an amazing man. He was definitely lucky to have a handful of talent, but it is no coincidence that he has all those state champion teams. He taught us to believe in his philosophy and all of us have carried it into life. All of us have gone on to success whether it is athletics or business.''

It was during the early years at Agoura when Drossin first demonstrated not only her running ability but her competitiveness, which propelled her to the 1990 and 1991 state 3,200-meter championships and a record three state cross country titles.

``She was amazing the way she handled pressure,'' Duley said. ``She needs the pressure and loves the pressure. It just blew my mind. Back in high school, most kids shy away and down play it but she thrived on it and handled it well.''

Her mother Heleana helped instill a positive attitude in high school by decorating Deena's hotel room the day before the state cross country meet with balloons and banners of encouragement. It is a tradition that was repeated this February in the national cross country championships as well at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento.

This time, Heleana, unable to arrive early enough to decorate the hotel room before her daughter arrived, coerced Deena's boyfriend, marathoner Jeff Campbell, to do the interior decorating with red, white and blue balloons, streamers, confetti and a banner that read: ``Go Deena Go, Road to Sydney.''

``It is something I know they are going to do, but it still surprises me every time,'' Drossin said.

She was a surprise third-place finisher in the 10,000 in the 1997 national championships but has steadily progressed into the top U.S. runner in the 6.2-mile, 25-lap event under Vigil.

``There are a lot of girls as talented as Deena but there aren't many as disciplined and dedicated,'' said Vigil, 70, who led Adams State to 25 NAIA or NCAA Division II cross country titles in 28 years before retiring in 1993. ``She places things in perspective and doesn't worry about the competition. She's confident in her abilities.''

In the 1999 world championships, Drossin placed 11th for the top finish by any U.S. runner. This season, Drossin set an Olympic Trials record of 31:50.05 to move into ninth on the all-time U.S. list. Competing in Europe this summer, Drossin lowered her personal 5,000 best to 14:51.62 for the No. 2 time by an American and ran lifetime bests in the 1,500 (4:07.82) and 3,000 (8:42.59).

Drossin will have been on the road for five months when she finally returns to Alamosa from the Olympics in October. Her mother and father Paul and sister Lesley, 22, have traveled to Sydney to watch Deena compete for the first time overseas. A family vacation in New Zealand is planned after the Olympics.

A medal may be a longshot, but Drossin is confident of notching another 10,000 personal best in the anticipated cool temperature and fast pace. Drossin said she was mentally burned out in the world championships last summer. In Sacramento, she was just running for the win.

``Placing as high as I can will be my main incentive,'' Drossin said. ``I want to try to stay up with the leaders and be in that company to get pulled to a fast time. The ultimate dream of any track athlete is be in the Olympics. To finally evolve from a dream to an expectation to a reality is just amazing.''

DROOSIN FILE

Name: Deena Drossin

Age: 27

Height: 5-4

Weight: 105

Sport: Track and field

Current residence: Alamosa, Colo.

High school: Agoura, 1991

College: Arkansas, 1996

Career highlights: 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000 champion. . . . Three-time defending U.S. cross country champion. . . . 1999 world championship 10,000 finalist. . . . 1997 World University Games champion. . . . American record-holder 5,000 (road).

Personal bests: 1,500 - 4:07.82 (2000); 3,000 - 8:42.59 (2000); 5,000 - 14:51.62 (2000); 10,000 31:50.05.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Deena Drossin is a longshot in the 10,000-meter run, but she has plenty of supporters.

Doug Mills/Associated Press

Box: DROSSIN FILE (See text)