By
Francisco Merced
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Chaplin captured 1st Pac-10 title last Saturday
The championship season for cross country runners - which includes the Pacific 10 Conference Championships, Regionals and NCAA Championships -always starts with a bang.
The boom went off this past weekend at the Pac-10 Championship, where junior Tara Chaplin captured the women's individual title in a time of 20 minutes and 10 seconds.
From 1995-1998, the women's title was awarded to one person - former Wildcat Amy Skieserz.
After a one year absence the title has returned to UA behind the running of Chaplin.
UA head coach Dave Murray predicted the title wasn't out of reach for his young superstar before the weekend. His prediction was upheld with Chaplin's performance.
"She's one of the finest distance runners we've ever had," Murray said. "She's as hard a worker as we've ever had."
Never was Chaplin's work ethic more evident than last weekend.
En route to breaking the course record at the 6,000-meter Lincoln Park Course in Seattle, Chaplin held off a strong race from Arizona State's Lisa Aguilera, who finished 10 seconds behind the junior.
What made the victory a little sweeter for Chaplin was that she defeated her high school rival - Stanford's Erin Sullivan, the defending Pac-10 champion.
"She beat Erin earlier at the Pre-NCAAs," Murray said. "It's really helped her confidence knowing she can run with the elite (runners) in the country."
For Chaplin, though, the championship has become just another race. She is currently in the process of preparing for her next meet - the regional championships.
"We're going to be working hard this week and have another solid meet in Regionals," Chaplin said. "(The last meet) was a solid race for our team, but we are capable of doing better."
The difference this season for Chaplin has been a combination of two things: a newfound confidence and a less stressful attitude while on the course. Both have allowed the junior to run a more relaxed race.
"It's a lot less stressful than last year, when we were borderline (on making NCAAs)," Chaplin said. "It makes it more fun when you have less to worry about."
The relaxed attitude came through for Chaplin this past weekend, when she managed to take control of the race at the course's midway point.
Distancing herself from the pack allowed Chaplin to build a lead she would not relinquish. Only one competitor - ASU's Aguilera - managed to keep pace with Chaplin, but the Sun Devil faded in the end.
"Lisa just hung on to her like fly on sandpaper," Murray said.
But now bigger championships lie ahead for Chaplin as she prepares for next weekend's meet.
"She'll be one of the favorites to win (Regionals)," Murray said. "She has an excellent shot at finishing top ten, possibly top five (in nationals)."
Murray hasn't been wrong yet.
