Low-tech edition (About)

Home > Sports > Running Blog

Running Home | Weather Forecast | What is Redwood Empire
Track All-Time | Cross Country All-Time
Schedule | Archives | Links


Curtin can run with the best of them

By ERIC BRANCH
PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Tuesday, December 2, 2008 
 
Maria Carrillo junior Lauren Curtin has finished among the top 20 at the state cross country 
championships the past two years.

Last year, she qualified for the state track and field championships in the 1,600 meters.

Impressive? Yes. Now just imagine if Curtin was, you know, really into running.

A longtime soccer player who hasn’t given up the sport, Curtin finished a team-best 19th at 
the state cross country championships in Fresno to lead the Pumas to a third-place finish in 
the Division III race, their fourth top-four finish in the past five years.

In headlining such a perennially powerful squad, Curtin has flashed some of her ability. 

But Carrillo coach Greg Fogg believes she’s just scratched the surface.

Fogg thinks Curtin has talent comparable to former Pumas star Jenny Aldridge, a state champion 
in the 1,600 meters.

“If she commits herself more to the sport, she has enormous potential,” said Fogg, who later 
added, “There’s work ethic and then there’s talent. When those two meet it’s very, very 
dangerous.”

For her part, Curtin, who plays Class B soccer for a Rincon Valley team, admits that she’s 
yet to fall in love with running. She says she probably could have logged more mileage this 
summer in preparation for the cross-country season.

But she’s beginning to see a brighter future in the sport she began taking seriously two years 
ago.

“I like soccer, but I think I can probably go farther in running,” Curtin said. “ (Coach Fogg) 
has said that I don’t know how good I can be.”

Email story | Print story | Subscribe to paper