Gray's return helps South run with the lead pack

0 Comments | Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), May, 2003

Byline: Jeff Smith The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - Take away running from Erin Gray's life and look at the results.

"I almost literally became neurotic," said Gray, a South Eugene sophomore who has been forced to take some time off due to a stress fracture in her leg. "This is my eighth year of running, and to all of a sudden not run is really hard."

The 2002 state cross country champion's frustrating spring began in early March when she started feeling pain. Then a bone scan revealed the stress fracture, which took her out of competitive running for all of April.

But there she was Wednesday, taking first place in the 3,000-meter final with a time of 10 minutes, 46.80 seconds during the opening day of the Midwestern League girls track...