Mahon Hits the Road When Aid Dries Up

Terrence Mahon figured he had made a significant step toward collegiate success last fall when he gained All-American status in cross-country for the University of Oregon.

Mahon, a walk-on, proved that hard work and tremendous desire could take him much further than he--or anyone else--thought possible.

After finishing an impressive 27th overall as a sophomore at the NCAA cross-country championships last year, helping the Ducks finish second to Iowa State, Mahon was praised by his coaches and teammates, and filled with hope for the future.

But Mahon’s future is no longer at Oregon. The 19-year-old La Habra resident recently transferred to Villanova.

Mahon, The Times’ 1987 Runner of the Year while at La Habra High School, decided to leave Oregon, which has one of the most highly respected distance running programs in the nation, earlier this summer when he learned that the partial scholarship he received in the spring would not be renewed this fall.

For Mahon, who figured to be the No. 1 or 2 returner this year, the certified letter he received this summer from the Oregon athletic department notifying him of his change in financial status came as a shock.

“The big thing wasn’t that I wasn’t going to be getting any money,” Mahon said. “The big thing was not even being (informed) about it first by the coach.”

Oregon Coach Bill Dellinger said Wednesday he regrets Mahon leaving, but that Mahon, who never signed a letter of intent and thus was not guaranteed financial aid, misunderstood the reason his funds were not being renewed.

Dellinger said scholarship money used this past spring for Mahon, along with some of the scholarship money used for distance runner Pat Haller and hammer thrower Scott McGee, was made available when distance runner Colin Dalton decided to return to his native Australia for the 1989-90 school year to train for the Commonwealth Games.

Because Dalton, who has been on full scholarship, is returning to Oregon for his senior year, those funds are no longer available, Dellinger said.

“He (Mahon) knew that money was already allocated (for Dalton),” Dellinger said in a telephone interview from Steamboat Springs, Colo.

“I think I could have done a better job in handling the situation with Terrence. I think I should’ve put it on paper and had him sign it. . . . I think I’ve learned something myself from this. I was trying to help guys out . . . “

Haller, who also earned All-American honors last fall after finishing 17th at the NCAA final, said he too, is considering transferring. He is considering the move not so much because of his reduction in scholarship funds, but because of Dellinger’s unwillingness to communicate with his athletes, according to Haller.

Dellinger, who has coached such former Oregon standouts as Alberto Salazar, Rudy Chapa and the late Steve Prefontaine, admitted communication has been a problem, but that “it takes two--the athlete as well as the coach--to communicate.”

Mahon, who has received a full scholarship to Villanova and will be eligible to compete in the fall, says he doesn’t hold a grudge against Dellinger or anyone at Oregon. He just wants to get on with his career.

“At Villanova, it’s going to be really individualized coaching, which is different than at Oregon,” Mahon said. “I’ll have a lot of input into my training program. At Oregon, it’s like you’re thrown in a bunch.”

Add Mahon: Although the Villanova men’s team has a rich tradition, boasting 31 Olympians, it has been down in recent years. But Marty Stern, who adds the men’s team to his responsibilities after coaching the Villanova women to the NCAA championship last year, said he is ready to change that, and Mahon’s arrival should help.

“We’re really lucky--we need someone like him, and I think Terrence needs somebody like us,” said Stern.

Along with Stern, Mahon will be coached by two of Villanova’s most outstanding alumni: Vicki Huber, an eight-time NCAA champion and 1988 Olympic 3,000-meter finalist, and Sydney Maree, a three-time national champion.

Rollin’ Into A Town Near You:

You’ve seen them whiz by on the street or gliding down the boardwalk as you make your way through another mile. And every once in a while, you say to yourself, “Hey, that looks like fun .”

They’re Rollerbladers, those caught up in the in-line roller skating boom.

Rollerblade, the Minneapolis-based company that invented the in-line roller skate, says it can hardly keep up with the demand for its product. Developed in 1982 as a dry-land training technique for ice hockey players, Rollerblades have gained popularity among runners, speed skaters and, of course, roller skaters.

And now there are Rollerblade competitions, called “Run or Rolls,” coming to Southern California. On Sept. 29, a Run or Roll will be held in Los Angeles (a specific sight has not been announced). There will be a 10K roll for competitive in-line skaters only, a 5K run and a 2K fun roll for beginning skaters.

Entrants are advised to wear a helmet.

Last year, Rollerblade sponsored five competitions. This year, there will be 11. And 20 Run or Rolls are scheduled for 1991.

The world record for the 10K roll, a company spokesperson said, is 16 minutes, 59 seconds, set by Eddy Metzger, a 22-year-old student at California.

Cost for the skates can run from $90 for the beginner version to $330 for the competitive racing model. And if you really want to get into it, you can attend Camp Rollerblade in Santa Rosa.

The top road race this week is America’s Finest City Half-Marathon Sunday in San Diego.

Local entrants include Alfredo Vigueras and former Marina High standout Shanon Winkleman in the men’s division and Kathleen Smith of Costa Mesa, Michelle Conlay of Fountain Valley and Lisa Gonzales of Corona del Mar in the women’s field.

The race begins at 7 a.m. at the Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma. Because no vehicles, not even bicycles, are allowed on the first few miles of the race course, entrants travel to the starting line in buses that will be provided at Balboa Park between 4:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.

For more information, call (619) 297-3901.

Race Schedule

Saturday:

Signal Hill Rotary 5K & 10K. Starts 8 a.m. at 2175 Cherry Ave. Call (213) 437-1279.

Rancho Palos Verdes 10K. Starts 8 a.m. at Long Point (formerly Marineland). Call (213) 541-8114.

Sunday:

America’s Finest City Half-Marathon, Point Loma, 7 a.m. (619) 297-3901.

Bud Light United States Triathlon Series, San Clemente (619) 221-5555.