Chaplin ahead of the field in young season

Last year, junior Tara Chaplin qualified for her ninth National Championship race in both cross country and track and field, and earned her third All-American award. She also qualified to run in the Olympic Trials.

Then again, that was all last year.

In 2000, Chaplin is sporting both a new focus and different set of goals. The results are showing for the 5-foot junior.

Chaplin has won both of the meets she has raced in this year - the Purdue Invitational and the Roy Griak Invitational last weekend in St. Paul, Minn.

"I'm coming back kind of slowly," Chaplin said. "I'm needing some down time."