Chapel Is Inviting Some Competition : University City Runner Wants to Be Challenged

Laura Chapel knew success in running at an early age.

“I ran the 100-yard dash once when I was in junior high,” the 17-year-old recalled. “I won. I thought I’d be a sprinter.”

She was wrong. She’s certainly not a sprinter, but she is a runner. A good runner.

Last year, as a sophomore at Orange County’s Irvine High School, Chapel finished fourth in the 800-meter run at the State finals after winning the 800 title in the Southern Section. Her best time was 2:10.9 in the State finals.

After her family moved to University City last summer, Chapel quickly established herself as one of the top runners in San Diego County. She was rarely challenged during the cross country season last fall, but fell twice on a muddy track at the San Diego Section 1-A finals and finished a bedraggled fourth.

In February, she won the prep mile at the Michelob Indoor Invitational, zipping across the San Diego Sports Arena boards in 5:09. She equaled that time at a recent outdoor tri-meet; only Grossmont’s Darcy Arreola, at 5:03.05, has done better.

Not bad for a young woman who has spent the past six months getting used to a new, longer specialty and a new hometown at the same time.

Even though Chapel ran the mile--or its near equivalent, the 1,600-meter--in dual meets last year, she freely admits she has yet to decipher its intricacies.

“I’m still getting used to the mile,” said the compactly built, 5-foot 7-inch, 115 pound runner. “I’m still figuring it out. I’m doing a lot of pacework.”

Thus far, Chapel has shunned what formerly was her specialty--the 800.

“Everybody keeps asking me that question: ‘Why?’ ” Chapel said. “I think I have a better chance in the 1,600. I want to be ranked higher than fourth in the state. I think I have more endurance than speed. I think the mile is my race. “

As a freshman, Chapel was the No. 2 runner on Irvine’s varsity team. Come track season, she finished fourth in the 800 at the Southern Section finals, then was dead last at the Southern California regionals.

The following year, a pulled hamstring kept her out of the Southern Section cross country finals, but she made up for that misfortune during track season.

“In my freshman year, I was really surprised I made it as far as I did,” Chapel said. “In my sophomore year, I realized my potential and wanted to do well. I think there’s a big difference there.”

Last summer, Chapel’s family moved south after her father was chosen director of the La Jolla YMCA. The Chapels moved to University City, and Laura wound up at 1,000-student University City High. It was a big change from Irvine, with its 2,000 students.

“Sports-wise, it kind of affected me,” Chapel said. “I wasn’t happy at first, but I got used to it. There wasn’t as much competition (in University City’s 2-A City Western League). It was hard to get used to it. I was used to having someone with me, pushing me when I ran.”

Chapel made an immediate, positive impact on at least one person--Rick Mitchell, who coaches cross country and track at University City.

“She’s an extremely positive person. Things can go wrong, but she’s able to handle it,” Mitchell said, referring to Chapel’s fall at the 1984 cross country finals. “That didn’t destroy her. She didn’t sulk about it. I think to be successful you have to be confident, which she is; you have to have talent, which she definitely has, and you have to enjoy it. She has all the qualifications.”

Mitchell, who has coached track for 15 years in the San Diego city schools, added, “I really think she’s the best athlete I’ve ever had, boy or girl. And keep in mind, she has another year. Amazing.”

Both Chapel and her coach agreed she had a tough time initially adjusting to the prep scene in San Diego. It wasn’t just the new atmosphere that threw her off stride. She was used to running a longer distance at Irvine; in San Diego, unlike the rest of the state, girls run 2.2 miles instead of three.

“I don’t even know what a good 2.2-mile time is,” Chapel said.

Mitchell noted that because of the new distance and the fact that nobody was pushing her, Chapel’s self-confidence faltered a bit early in the cross country season. “But she definitely has her confidence back now,” he said.

Chapel’s confidence will have to be high for her to succeed against the stiff competition she will face in the weeks to come. First up is the elite Arcadia Invitational, set for April 13, which features the state’s top prep track standouts. She was fourth in the 800 at Arcadia last spring.

Following on the schedule are Mt. Carmel’s Sundevil Invitational, and then league, sectional and state meets. Among those who should vie with Chapel in the mile are Arreola, Poway’s Jennifer Sheflo and Vista’s Robin Eager. Sheflo is the defending San Diego Section champion in the event.

As far as Chapel is concerned, the competition is just fine.

“I like to run against the best and compare myself to what they do,” she said with a smile.