Sea Hawks Again Finish One-Two in 1,600 Meters

The magic just goes on and on.

Another week, another meet, but the results remain the same. Redondo Union High's Chloe Curtis and Lindsey Mull finished one-two in the 1,600-meters on Friday at Cerritos College in the Masters Meet.

Curtis, in keeping her undefeated streak alive, finished first in 4 minutes 48.97 seconds. Mull fought off a challenge from Templeton's Savannah Camacho to place second in a lifetime-best of 4:49.65.

"That last 100 meters was the longest of my life,'' Mull said. "I didn't turn around but I could see the shadow of (Camacho's) head on the ground. ''

Can the magic continue yet another week at the California State Track and Field Championships June 4-5 in Fresno?

"She thinks so. I know so,'' an ecstatic Mull said, following Friday's personal record performance.

Redondo Union coach Bob Leetch said the race was very sound tactically. "They have one thing in common,'' he said. "They both have a real burning desire. Chloe likes to do it from the front.''

The tactics of Friday's race changed slightly. Because it was another windy day at Cerritos College, Curtis tucked in behind Arcadia's Catrina McAlister, who not only provided a nice early pace but also a wind shield for Curtis. But it did not last.

"I got a little antsy and took off on the third lap,'' Curtis said.  

But while Curtis was running away from the field, a string of runners closed down on Mull.

"I was scared on that last lap,'' Mull said. "Four girls passed me.''

Whether she was running on fear, pride or self-preservation, the sophomore Mull methodically reeled in each of those runners and resumed what she believes is her rightful place, tucked not very far behind her senior teammate.

"Usually I know where (Mull) is but this time I didn't know,'' Curtis said. "But I knew that she'd be in that next pack, fighting for second place. When I crossed the finish line, I turned around and there she was. It's awesome. I feel this will propel us at the state meet.''

Curtis will be able to focus solely on winning the state 1,600-meter title.

Half an hour before the start of her scheduled second race Friday, the 800-meters, Curtis decided to scratch. Despite the fact that Curtis won the race at the CIF Division Finals the previous week and has run one of the nation's fastest times this year of 2:09.07, Leetch hoped she would drop that race to concentrate on the 1,600.

"We aren't going to be going for a state team title, so I was hoping that she'd drop (the 800),'' Leetch said. "Getting through those qualifying rounds, in high heat and humidity, would have been asking a little too much.''

Leetch plans to lighten the workout load heading into the state meet. "They had a really, really hard week of practice (for the Masters Meet) and that wasn't my intent,'' he said.

Palos Verdes track coach Jeff Atkinson said there are three traits that are factors in the success that Curtis and Mull have enjoyed.

"They're talented, well trained and motivated,'' Atkinson said. "You get those three things together and things are going to go your way.''