MADISON, Wis. — Over the past two years, the Women's Endurance title has passed back and forth between Peg Engasser and Sheree Taylor — two titans of the ESPN Great Outdoor Games. The cycle continued this year when the two faced each other in the gold medal round of the hotly contested event.

	Resilient New Zealand lumberjack Sheree Taylor took the title in Women's Endurance.

This time the momentum swung in the favor of Taylor, the 2002 gold medalist, who defeated defending champion Engasser with a time of 1.29.72. Engasser settled for the silver with a time of 1.43.64.

In the consolation round, it was ESPN Great Outdoor Games rookie Erin Lavoie who defeated Women's Endurance veteran Penny Halvorson, 1.28.62 to 1.43.07.

The prophetic irony of it all is the fact that Taylor has been nominated for a 2004 ESPY Award following her inspiring comeback in winning the 2002 gold medal.

In 2001, the New Zealand chicken farmer endured four painful surgeries and a doctor's prognosis that she would never compete again.

And, now, she has proven her dominance in the sport once again.

"Peg is such a perfectionist that I never get overly confident when facing her," said Taylor, who dedicated the medal win to her ill mother in New Zealand. Her mother's illness nearly forced Taylor to forfeit the trip to this year's competition. "I think I'll be calling her tonight."

	Defending champion Peg Engasser had to settle for silver this time around.

Taylor jumped ahead of Cortland, N.Y., forester Engasser in the Stock Saw element of the competition, when Engasser committed a bobble move with her chainsaw.

"I knew it was a bad move but, honestly, I thought I could catch her," said Engasser.

But that never happened. Taylor had sawed six times through the 16-inch diameter pine log by the time Engasser had gripped the bucksaw.

The bronze medal turned into a medal round of its own for Lavoie, the 22-year-old aspiring lumberjack athlete from Spokane, Wash. At 5-feet, 8-inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, Lavoie is overshadowed in size by the veterans of the sport. That includes the likes of Halvorson, the 5-foot, 8-inch logging contractor weighing 239 pounds.

"I wanted to prove to myself and everybody else that I could beat her," said Lavoie. "I have respect for all of them but I also want some of it for myself."

Poised with confidence, Lavoie remained focused even though she had 24 hours after advancing through the semifinals to think of the formidable obstacle ahead.

The Underhand Chop, the second stage of the competition, proved the turning point. Lavoie was the first to reverse her stance after chopping through one side of the 11-inch block of Aspen. She soon broke the block, leaving Halvorson behind.

"By then I was in a zone," recalled Lavoie. "I never looked back or at her."

And with that, the bronze was hers to take home along with the passing of a personal initiation into the sport.

Final Standings - Women's Endurance

1. Sheree Taylor, Te Ahora, New Zealand
2. Peg Engasser, Cortland, N.Y.
3. Erin LaVoie, Spokane, Wash.
4. Penny Halvorson, Alma Center
5. Mary Dooley, Waterport, N.Y.
6. Nancy Zalewski, Plymouth, Wis.
7. Brenda Boyko, Viola, Idaho
8. Dany Boulanger, Valley Field, Quebec, Canada

Results (by round)

Final round
Sheree Taylor 1:29.728 def Peg Engasser 1:58.642

Consolation round
Erin Lavoie 1:28.628 def Penny Halvorson 1:43.071

Semifinal round
Peg Engasser 1:38.771 def Erin Lavoie 1:43.633
Sheree Taylor 1:23.814 def Penny Halvorson 1:47.900

Quarterfinal round
Peg Engasser 1:37.228 def Mary Dooley 1:58.828
Erin Lavoie 1:41.266 def Nancy Zalewski 2:00.900
Sheree Taylor 1:37.281 def Brenda Boyko 2:17.350
Penny Halvorson 1:54.071 def Dany Boulanger 4:00.000