Drossin Looking for Middle Ground in Next Endeavor : Cross-country: After miscalculating pace in first two World Junior championships, Agoura senior hopes to find happy medium in Boston in 1992.

By JOHN ORTEGA

March 28, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Deena Drossin hopes that the third time will be a charm when the World Junior (age 19 and under) cross-country championships are held in Boston next year.

After going out too slowly and finishing 72nd in the World meet in France last year, the Agoura High senior went out too fast and placed 4Oth Sunday in this year’s championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

“I had no idea what to expect last year,” said Drossin, who was the No. 4 runner on the U. S. team that placed fifth. “I was under complete shock when the other runners went out as fast as they did. But this year, I went out a lot faster than I should have.

“Somewhere in between should be just about right. Hopefully, I’ll get another chance next year.”

Drossin’s reaction to the European and African style of cross-country running is understandable.

Last year, she went out at a pace that was adequate by U. S. standards but inferior to the world’s elite. After being swallowed up by the field at the start, she spent the remainder of the race trying to work her way up through the pack.

“It was a struggle,” said Drossin, 18, the three-time state Division I cross-country champion. “But having run in (the Worlds) twice should really help next year.”

This does not mean that Drossin, who timed 15 minutes 24 seconds over the 4,435-meter (2 3/4 miles) course, ran poorly. She was very pleased with her effort, particularly the mental part of it.

“Last year, I looked at this race as a learning experience,” said Drossin, who has made a commitment to attend the University of Arkansas. “I was kind of overwhelmed by the whole thing, but this year I thought of it more as a race. I managed to stay focused on it all week long.”

Although Drossin and her teammates did some extensive sightseeing in the Belgian capital of Brussels and other cities in the days before the meet, she was all business Sunday.

“Some of the other girls were asking me what to expect because I had run last year, and that helped,” Drossin said. “It made me feel like people were counting on me, and I run better when I’m in that position.”

With her high school cross-country career concluded, Drossin will turn her attention back to track. She is the defending state champion in the 3,200 meters and leads this year’s state list with a time of 10:40.2 in that event.

“I feel great physically,” she said. “I’m looking forward to running some fast times.”

Drossin, who has personal bests of 4:54.71 in the 1,600 and 10:29.60 in the 3,200, has goals of 4:45 in the former race and 10:10 in the latter this season.

“They might seem a little fast, especially the 1,600 time,” Drossin said. “But I figure if I can get close to my goal in the 1,600, then the 3,200 will be easier.”

Although the 3,200 is Drossin’s track specialty, she has not ruled out a 1,600/3,200 double in the state championships at Cerritos College, May 31-June 1.

“A lot will depend on what my chances are in each race, and how I feel then,” Drossin said. “If I feel as strong, physically, then as I do now, I’ll be tempted to try it.”