Mahon Still in Search of His Best : Runner Hopes It Comes Today at State Meet

Terrence Mahon of La Habra High School is having the cross-country season of which many high school runners can only dream.

Mahon was undefeated in Freeway League dual meets. He recorded the fastest time of the day--14 minutes 55 seconds for three miles--at the Orange County championships.

And, on Nov. 14, Mahon became the only Orange County runner to claim an individual title (3-A) at the Southern Section championships, again clocking the fastest Orange County time (15:26).

But is he happy?

Well, sort of.

“I haven’t felt I’ve found my best race yet,” said Mahon, a senior. “I don’t know if I’ve given it everything I’ve got.”

That should raise a few raised eyebrows among those who have watched Mahon run.

Is this the same Mahon who, at the county championships last month, broke away from the leaders with such a quick, aggressive surge, many left in his wake had no idea he had taken a lead, much less where or when?

Is this the same runner who surged and surged and surged again until he finally broke away from Newbury Park’s Mike Esparza--recognized as one of the Southern Section’s toughest--to win the Sonora Invitational?

Yes.

Mahon and tenacity are one in the same. But take care when suggesting that to Mahon.

“Tenacity? That really sounds too aggressive,” Mahon said. “If it just means that I don’t like to lose, then I guess you’re right.

“It’s an attitude, really. You have to have a racing attitude. One that doesn’t let you give up, that has you trying to find something within your body to keep you going. Especially at the times when you’re hurting the most.”

Mahon faces his greatest challenge today in the state championships at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Mahon is running in the Division I race (schools of more than 1,601 students) at 11 a.m.

The field includes Palos Verdes’ David Scudamore, who recorded the fastest time of the day (15:11.2) at the Southern Section championships; Agoura’s Bryan Dameworth (15:25); Dana Hills’ Mike Tansley (15:29); Corona del Mar’s Eddie Lavelle (15:37), and San Diego Section champion Goshu Tadese of Crawford.

Mahon has yet to meet Scudamore or Dameworth this season. He has not lost to Tansley or Lavelle. But he has met--and lost to--Tadese, a native of Ethiopia.

The loss occurred at the Mt. SAC Invitational, in the prestigious individual sweepstakes division. Mahon stayed at Tadese’s shoulder through the first mile, and up the steep switchbacks.

But when Tadese came down the hill’s back side, Mahon had dropped to fourth place. A mile and a half later, Mahon finished eighth, 36 seconds behind the winner, Tadese.

It was, said Mahon, a major disappointment. But one from which he would learn.

“I went out too hard and didn’t run my own race,” Mahon said after the race. “I let him get by. I couldn’t fight. Next time, I’d run differently.”

Cross-Country Notes

Dana Hills, the Southern Section 4-A champion, qualified with the fastest team time (79:28) for the Division I race. El Monte Arroyo was just one second behind (79:29). Palos Verdes, the 4-A runner-up (79:56), is also competing. Corona del Mar leads the boys’ Division II (801-1,600) race. The Sea Kings are led by Lavelle and Jim Robbins. Also competing in the Division II race are Newport Harbor and Woodbridge. The Sailors are led by Jim Geerlings, who placed third in the Southern Section 4-A race. The Warriors, fourth in the 2-A final, are led by Rich Heppenstal. Maricela Benavides of Santa Ana Valley is the sole Orange County entrant in the girls’ Division I race. Newport Harbor, led by sophomore Kim Robinson, leads the girls’ Division II race. Woodbridge, led by freshman Amy Robles, is the third-seeded Southern Section team in Division II.