Heat Takes Toll on Redondo Runners at Nike Meet

The weather helped accomplish what California foes were unable to do this season — it stymied Redondo Union High star runner Chloe Curtis.

Competing under the banner of the Redondo Union Track Club, Curtis finished 11th in the 800-meter run at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

Curtis crossed the finish line in a time of 2 minutes 10.18 seconds, well off the time of 2:03 that Curtis had set as a goal last month in the midst of dominating the Southern California high school circuit in the 800 and 1,600-meter events.

However, the sweltering 80-degree temperatures and stifling humidity last weekend on the campus of North Carolina A&T, sapped the energy reservoir of Curtis, who earlier this month won the 1,600 at the California State CIF Track and Field Championships in Clovis.

The scorching conditions also factored into the results by Curtis and teammates Lyndsey Mull, Rachel Bush and Laura O'Neill, in the 4xmile relay. The Redondo foursome was intent on breaking the national high school record of 19:56.80 set in 2006, by Suffern, N.Y. Based on their performances this year, the quartet believed that the record well was within reach.

So, when Curtis and her teammates finished second in 20:18.72, a whopping 14 seconds behind the Kenitek Saratoga Springs Track Club, the Redondo girls were down. That was until their coach, Bob Leetch, pointed out that they achieved All-American status.

"They were a little disappointed,'' Leetch said. "Their goal was to win the nationals and to break the national record. But it went away during the awards presentation.''

The long season, that included intense training and top-caliber competition, surely factored in the Redondo Union runners falling short of their target.

"All of them (ran splits) dramatically off their (personal bests),'' Leetch said. "We're a much better team than we ran. But it's a nice capper to the season to earn a second place in nationals. That's quite an honor.''

Mull made dramatic improvement this year as a sophomore to finish third at the state meet in the 1,600. The week prior to that, she ran a personal-best 4:49.65 to finish second to Curtis in the Masters Meet. Mull ran the 1,500-meter run last weekend but her time of 4:44.98 significantly was below her capabilities under more ideal conditions.

The weather was the sole reason Bush scratched from her individual event, the 3,200-meter run.

"The heat and the travel took its toll,'' Leetch said.

So now, the well-decorated Curtis has ended her high school career and will prepare to continue her running career at the next level. Beginning this fall, Curtis will compete for the University of Washington's cross country team. Meanwhile, Redondo Union mainstays Mull, O'Neil and Bush will take some well-deserved time off before resuming cross country training August 1, at the high-altitude Big Bear camp.