San Diego Player of the Week : Lincoln’s Outlaw Sweeps Her Events

Irene Outlaw, Lincoln High School girls’ track and field coach, paused to consider a question.

Has her daughter, Michelle, reached her potential?

“I don’t even think she’s reached her ability,” Outlaw said. “She tends to play to her opponent’s level. In a challenging position, she’ll pull down and surprise you.”

Michelle, a 16-year-old junior at Lincoln, won all four of her events last Friday at the City Central League track championships at University City High. She is The Times’ Athlete of the Week.

Outlaw set personal records in three of the four events, but her victory in the 100 meters was her most surprising. It was only the third time she has run the event.

“I had no choice,” she said. “My mom told me she was entering me in the event. I was very enthused with my performance.”

Michelle ran the 100 in 12.3 seconds, the 100-meter low hurdles in 14.1 and the 330-meter low hurdles in 45.7. She jumped 17-feet 7-inches in the long jump. All were personal bests except the 330-meter low hurdles.

“When I came across the line (in the 100-meter low hurdles) the first official yelled 13.9,” Outlaw said. “I was happy, but the next thing I knew only two or three of them (officials) had a 13.9. A couple others had 14.0s and one had a 14.1. They said they would give me a 14.1.”

Having a mother who is also her track coach has its advantages. If she is doing something wrong, the coach is always handy.

“And if I need someone to cry to,” Michelle said, “she’s right there.”

Outlaw thrives on competition in track as well as other sports.

She has played on the varsity basketball team since her freshman year, averaging 12 points a game as a point guard last season. She also runs cross-country and plays softball.

“I’d like to play soccer,” Outlaw said, “but Lincoln doesn’t have a girls’ team.”

Michelle’s favorite sport?

“I know I am best at track, but I like playing basketball better,” she said. “My parents said the way to get better at basketball is to play with the boys. I can hang with them sometimes, they just outjump and outrun me.”

But Michelle Outlaw will not be competing against boys Saturday in the CIF preliminaries at Mount Carmel High. She is doing just fine against the girls.

Michelle Outlaw

Lincoln High School

Position: sprinter.

Height, Weight, Class: 5-6, Junior.

Last Week: Won the 100 meters (12.3 seconds), the 100-meter low hurdles (14.1), the 300-meter low hurdles (45.7) and the long jump (17 feet 7 inches) at the City Central League track finals.

Season: Is the San Diego County leader in the 300-meter hurdles and is second in county in the 100-meter hurdles.