South Hills High Finds Surprising Track Star : Distance Runner Karen Hecox Flashes Talent, Determination and Leadership

Before she enrolled at South Hills High in West Covina as a freshman last year, Karen Hecox did not have a lot of experience as a distance runner.

Her background consisted mostly of a couple of races when she was in junior high.

So it was more than a little surprising to South Hills coaches how Hecox rapidly developed into one of the top distance runners in the CIF Southern Section.

Even more surprising was her 10:31 finish in the 3,200-meter run, good for fourth place, at the CIF state finals last season.

“We didn’t expect her to run at that caliber, especially not that soon,” said Mike Gomez, who coaches South Hills distance runners. “We don’t expect anybody to run that well that quickly. So to say it was a surprise would be an understatement.”

Hecox carried her success into cross-country last season, finishing second in 18:00 at the Southern Section 2-A finals before placing second in 17:48 at the CIF state Division II championship to lead her school to fourth place.

However, the 15-year-old Hecox may have saved her most impressive performance for the Sunkist Invitational Indoor Track Meet last Jan. 22 at the Sports Arena.

That’s when she won the high school 2-mile run in 11:01.2, finishing ahead of top Southern Section runners Tracey Williams of El Monte’s Mountain View and Rayana Cervantes of Montebello.

At 5-3 and 100 pounds, the petite Hecox does not give the appearance of a top distance runner.

But there is more to Hecox than meets the eye.

“She’s a very competitive person,” Gomez said. “She won’t back down to anyone, male or female.”

Gomez said part of the credit goes to her parents. “Her parents are super people,” he said. “They’re happy to have her compete and they encourage her to go 100%.”

“We don’t talk about running a lot at home, but my parents (Frank and Susie) come to almost every meet,” Hecox said. “They’re behind me.”

The coach said Hecox’s competitive nature has rubbed off on the rest of the South Hills team.

“They feel very confident with her out there, and she gives them a lot of support,” Gomez said. “She’s just a very team-motivated person. She always says ‘we’ instead of ‘I.’

“The other kids have started to excel as well and they kind of look up to her.”

Maybe it is not simply because of Hecox’s ability as a runner that teammates look up to her.

She also is an A student and participates in student government and Sisteens, an off-campus public service organization.

“I don’t know when she sleeps,” Gomez said. “She’s a very active and healthy person. She always seems to be doing something. Competing in cross-country and track might be enough sports activity for most people. But not for Hecox.

“She’s an all-purpose person,” Gomez said. “She also plays basketball, and I hear she’s a pretty good softball player, although she hasn’t played it here. About the only thing she’s not inclined to do is swim.”

Hecox made an impact for the Huskies in basketball last season. A point guard, she started and averaged five points and five assists and led the Huskies in three-point shots.

Gomez thinks Hecox can develop into an outstanding basketball player but hopes she continues in track too.

“She’s a very talented athlete and a lot depends on whether she wants to run or not,” he said. “We’re supportive of her here in whatever direction she decides to take, but if she stays in running I think she will be very successful.”

Hecox enjoys both basketball and track, although she admits she is not crazy about cross country. “I’ve always liked track more than cross country,” she said. “Even more so now.”

Perhaps that is one reason why Hecox would eventually like to concentrate more on the mile instead of the 2 mile, although she said it is also for variety.

“I mostly ran the 3,200 meters last year, but I want to try the 1,600 more,” she said. “The 1,600 is shorter and I just want to try something different.”

She has also competed well in shorter races this season, including a good time of 60.5 seconds in the 400-meter dash in a meet in March. “I did some quarters just to get stronger and help me for the longer races,” Hecox said. “I think it’s helped some in my finish and other areas.”

Because Hecox was a freshman last year, Gomez said the coaches wanted her to concentrate more on the 3,200 meters--an event they considered a little less competitive.

“This year she’s been running a competitive mile and not as many 2 miles,” Gomez said. “I think she’s very capable of running shorter distances. She has run a 2:20 in the half and a 60 in the quarter.”

For the moment, Hecox is concentrating on the 1,600 meters. That’s the distance she will run in the 21st annual Arcadia Invitational Track and Field Meet that starts at 4 p.m. Saturday at Arcadia High School.

But whatever distance Hecox decides to concentrate on, Gomez is sold on her ability to succeed.

“She’s such a hard worker and she’s very consistent,” he said. “She works hard when she has to, but she’s not an over-worker, which is why I think she can go far in this sport.”

In less than two years of competing, Hecox has already come a long way.