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sports:
track and field
Durham looking
to top last year
By Mike Haubrich
On-line Forty-Niner
Aaron Durham wants
more.
Durham, a 6-foot-1,
145-pound Long Beach State sophomore, is looking to improve
on a 14th-place finish in the Big West Conference Cross Country
Championships.
"I'm hoping
to come back and finish in the top five [this year],"
said Durham, who was the top freshman finisher at the meet.
The lofty goal
will depend on Durham's ability to return from a stress fracture
in his left tibia, an injury that forced him to redshirt for
the 49er track & field squad last year.
"I've been
running solid for the last three weeks," Durham said.
"I'm pushing myself to get into shape and help the team.
"I'll be ready
to race."
The races start
Sept. 15 at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego. Although
Durham will be counted on to be one of the team's big horses,
he's looking to be cog in a successful machine.
"We're looking
better than the past," Durham said of this year's 49er
squad. "Our returners and freshman class are strong.
This is our best freshman class."
Durham pointed
out that freshmen Arturo Garcia and Brian Robles, along with
sophomore Brian Stehmeier, could be considered No. 1.
"Any of them
could be our top runner," Durham said.
LBSU Coach Andy
Sythe is predicting great things for the 49ers, not only this
year but in the future, and Durham thinks the coach is right.
"Were going
to be solid this year," Durham said, "and the next
couple of years look really good."
Sythe said the
injury will be a factor in Durham's performance this year,
but will still be looking for a solid contribution from the
sophomore.
"He's a talented
guy," Sythe said of Durham. "We're thinking he's
getting over [the injury], but he's hasn't had as much training
as he had last year at this time. We'll see how he progresses,
but we know his ability level and running with this group
of guys, he, and our team, should do well."
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