Prep Review : Sandoval Is Hampered by Injuries : Southwest Runner Doesn’t Want to Run Too Fast Too Soon

Watching the finishers go by in the Chula Vista Relays’ individual mile on Saturday the question arose: What ever happened to Southwest’s Shawn Sandoval?

Sandoval, the 1984 San Diego Section 3-A cross-country champion, failed to place in the mile at the Michelob Invitational last month or at the Canada Dry/Mustang Relays last Saturday. This was the owner of a time of 9:15.2 in the 3,200 meters last season.

Sandoval was scheduled to participate in the mile on Saturday, but decided not to run just prior to the race. He has been hampered by nagging leg injuries, and wanted to avoid the pressure of trying to run against San Diego’s best milers.

Sandoval’s coming to terms with his injuries may be the beginning of salvaging his senior track and field season.

“I was training 45 miles a week for my first three years,” he said. “But I had to increase that to 60 miles a week to keep up with my competition.”

That increase resulted in pain in his right Achilles tendon 10 days before the Mustang Relays. On Tuesday, Sandoval began experiencing pain in his left shin.

“These aren’t major injuries,” he said. “These are three-day injuries. But they’re just enough to throw off my training schedule.”

Sandoval said his training was another reason for a poor start this season. He had been doing speed work on the track every other day with distance runs in between. Sandoval said he neglected, however, to use those distance days to let his body recuperate from the tiring speed workouts, and thus, injured himself.

But Sandoval is in good spirits once again. Having opted not to enter the mile on Saturday, he ran the opening leg of Southwest’s 4 x 880 relay team and the anchor leg of the mile relay.

Sandoval explained why he decided to run the shorter distances Saturday.

“When you run the two mile,” Sandoval said, “you have to cross the mile at 4:30 and say ‘OK, let’s start racing.’ You have to forget you ran the first mile. You can’t go by and say, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s my PR (personal record).’

“And on the last lap you have to be able to run 60 or 59. Before that mile relay, my best quarter was a 57.”

Sandoval beamed when he announced his 880 split of 2:01 and 440 split of 54.0

Sandoval is hoping to be ready for the Arcadia Invitational on April 13. Arcadia is where he ran is best 3,200 last season. He said he wants to be in top form for the Mt. San Antonio College relays on April 27.

“It gets real frustrating as an athlete getting injured,” Sandoval said. “With the Lord’s help, I hope they’re all behind me.”

Add Southwest: Things have changed for Southwest football standout Vernon Williams.

Williams made headlines in The Times on letter of intent day, Feb. 14, when he was overlooked by the nation’s colleges.

Carl Parrick, Southwest coach, said he was contacted by recruiters from Eastern Washington University, who read the article, and were surprised Williams still was available. Parrick said he sent films to the school, which impressed the Eastern Washington coaches.

Williams, the county’s leading rusher in 1984, gained 1,455 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. He also is one of the county’s leading sprinters, having run 100 yards in 9.9 this season.

Size, however, is Williams’ drawback. He’s only 5-feet 8-inches and 160 pounds. But that apparently is no longer an issue. Williams said he’ll be visiting the school in Cheney, Wash. on April 9.

“It’s pretty much up to me now,” Williams said. “They’ve offered me a five-year scholarship, full ride. So, they can redshirt me a season if they want to.”

Williams said he was encouraged about his chances at Eastern Washington because it had a starting freshman running back who was only 5-6. And that running back just completed his senior season.