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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1987)
Hand and Graves: different styles, same results By Andrew LaMar Of the Emerald The Oregon women’s cross country team is a favorite to take the conference crown this year and has a shot at a national championship. The two biggest reasons are Annette Hand and Penny Graves, the team’s two top runners. Hand and Graves are about evenly matched — timewise. Hand, a senior who transfer red to Oregon a year and a half ago and attended high school in Spokane. Wash., began com peting as a Duck last April. She won the Pacific 10 Conference track championship in both 3.000 and 5.000 meters last spr ing and finished fourth and se cond at those distances, respec tively, at the NCAA champion ships with times of 9:00.5 and 15:47.74. Graves, a junior from Port Angeles, Wash., took first place in the Pac-10 cross country championships last fall with a 16:51.7 for the 5.000-meter course. Then she finished 13th at the NCAA cross country championships with a 17:23.32 for the same distance, and in the spring she took the Pac-10 1,500 title and finished sixth in the 5.000 at the NCAA track cham pionships with a personal record of 15:56.01. Although similar in their ac complishments and rapid im provement, Hand and Graves have two entirely different styles. Hand doesn't like to train a lot and in fact, doesn't like to do any unnecessary, extra work. She prefers to compete in front of crowds — the bigger, the bet ter — and prefers track to cross country. "I guess you could say I'm a performer," Hand said. "I love to hear the crowd scream and yell, and that just makes me more fired up about the race." Graves, on the other hand, cherishes a training program that involves activities, such as weight lifting and swimming, that are just for fun or to ’’balance" her body, she said. She prefers cross country to track because it offers more variety in training and races (every course is different). “Annette thinks that when she gets on the track she can just go. and I think when I get on the trails 1 can just go." Craves said. “I don't know. It's hard to explain." Their personalities are also distinctly different. Hand is sprightly, affable and a self-described people person who is studying elementary education. Craves is more reserved and serious, studies physical education and hopes to coach one day. But they share a vivid intensi ty and a good friendship. Kver since Hand arrived in FIW Photo Annette Hand waves to a Hayward Field crowd after winning the 5.000 meters in 16:05.24 at the Pepsi Invita tional track and Field meet April 18. It was her second meet after recovering from a stress fracture. Eugene. the two have been training together, and both have said the training relationship has pushed them to better per formances As Graves improved last year, she dosed the gap bet ween herself and Hand, who was much quicker. Oregon Volleyball SERVING UP EXCITEMENT OREGON VS UCLA Sat., Sept. 26 7:30 pm OREGON VS use Sun., Sept. 27 2:00 pm McArthur Court Kach will In* the other's big gest challenge in many of the races they run together, which could cause friction between the two. Mead coach Tom Heinonen said it presents a nice dilemna like choosing bet ween Babe Kuth and Uni Colt rig to bat cleanup. As for obsessive competition between Hand and Craves. Heinonen doesn't see it happen ing "The thing to rememlier here is that we re talking about some awfully nice people," he said The two are very supportive of each other and the rest of the team, he added Their drive and friendship has led them over formidable obstacles to success. Maud tiegan her college track career at Montana State, but during her junior year state budget cuts eliminated all the school's women's track scholar ships except hers, and she felt it was unfair and decided to transfer to Oregon on advice from her coach. In spring 1‘lMli she arrived in Eugene and, forc ed to miss the track and cross country season to regain her eligibility, began training with the team. The toughest setback was still to come — injury. Hand sustain ed a stress fracture in her right thigh last February and was limited to crutches and exercis ing in water. "It was really hard for me because I've never been hurt before to that extent.” Hand said. "When I had to start train ing in the water. I didn't think it was going to work. In the back of my mind. I was thinking my season is probably over.” The thought of missing another season was very depressing, she said. And when she watcher! Craves qualify for the NCAA championships on March 2! in the 3,000 while she was still on crutches, she couldn't help being envious ”1 admit I was really jealous of her |then)," Hand said. Hut soon after. Hand made an amazing comeback. Unsure of the effectiveness of her rehabilitation training, Hand began running on hard ground again March 24 and computing I ilr PHoiii Penny (inires (left) nips Annie Schweitzer to win the 3.000 meters and rei.ord a personal ret:ortl of 9:13.13 at the Pepsi In vitational track and field meet April 18. again April 11 "Her determination to come back was really impressive," Craves said. Any doubts Hand might have had were erused in her second meet of the spring. April 18, when she blew her competitors off the course by recording a 16:05.24 in the 5.000 and thrill ed a large Hayward Field crowd as she contributed to Oregon's track and field victory over three top rivals. She reduced her PK by nearly 25 seconds that afternoon. Hand eventually shaved 42 seconds off her preseason PR for the 5.000. improving from Hi:29.50 to 15:47 74 In the 3.000. she cut 44 seconds off her first spring performance (0:44.40) and broke the nine minute barrier when she ran un 8:59.90 at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Durham. N.C., on Ju ly 24 The only Oregon womun ever to run the 3.000 faster is the legendary Kathy Hayes, who recorded an 8:50.79 in 1983. and Hand is closing in on that. She only has one track season to do it. 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