by John Dye

BEAVERTON OR 11/10/01 -- The BorderClash tally is even after 2 years -- each state sweeping once -- and there is no clear favorite for the third edition tomorrow. The meet scores the top 10 runners from each state, so depth counts as much as quality. Eight runners will be competing in their third BorderClash.

Boys

Oregon won the inaugural BorderClash, 69-103, with Ian Dobson, and Washington evened the score last year 104-109 behind Michael Kiter.

Each state has blue chip quality at the top this year.

Washington is led by the trio who were 1-2-3 in the Washington 4A state meet last Saturday: Mead sr Jesse Fayant, Auburn sr Chris Lukezic, and Mt. Spokane sr Cameron Schwer. They were followed closely by Auburn sr Tyler Campbell and Shadle Park jr Richie Nelson. All five finished within 10 seconds, so the northerners have the makings of a very solid front pack. Lukezic was 5th at the Great American Festival and has won every other race except the state meet; he has the fastest 3-mile time in the field (14:45) and second fastest 5k time (15:11).

Oregon leads with Klamath Union's dynamic duo, jr Lauren Jesperson and sr Jacob Gomez, who were 1-2 in the Oregon 4A championship a week ago in a near dead heat. Sunset sr David Axel and Grant jr Alec Wall followed 3 and 9 seconds later, Oregon has a strong 4-pack to throw at Washington's 5-pack. Wall's 15:07 win at Clackamas September 15 is the fastest in the field this season and ranks him in the top 10 nationally on DyeStat's XC Leader List. Jesperson won the big Lava Bear Classic in October.

Girls

Oregon won 2 years ago, 95-117, behind Paris Edwards, and Washington last year, 87-130, behind Jodee Adams-Moore.

The injury to Alison Tubbs, winner of the Great American Festival in the fastest 5k time in the nation this year, hurts Washington, so the leadership role falls on the three state champions: Olympia sr Jessie McLaughlin (18:20 5k in 4A), Eastmont soph Amanda Miller (18:29 in 3A), and Mount Baker sr Bobeya Krishnek (18:22 in 2A). Also strong contenders are Seattle Prep sr Ray Rogers, whose 17:35 5k at the Bellevue Inv in September is the only time not belonging to Tubbs in the top 4 seasonal times by Washington and Oregon girls; Davis srMeredith Crane, 2nd to McLaughlin in 4A in 18:29; and North Central sr Laura Hodgson, 3rd in 4A in 18:32.

Hood River Valley jr Christy Paul (17:56) is the only Oregon girl in the top 10 times for the season by Oregon and Washington girls, and she won the Oregon 4A title last Saturday. Other contenders for Oregon are Philomath soph Brianna Anderson-Gregg, 3A champion; Tualatin soph Meghan Armstrong, runner-up in 4A; Mountain View jr Emily McMahon, winner of the Lava Bear Classic; and McKay sr Dawn Morgan, a disappointing 15th in the state meet but a strong runner the last 2 years.

And of course there will be surprises which I can't identify now, or they wouldn't be surprises.