Taylor’s Past Playing Role in Her Future

With an abundance of speed, strength and mental tenacity, Shelley Taylor, an Edison High School distance runner, seems to have a sparkling future.

A sophomore who started competing in the sport only 16 months ago, Taylor has established herself as the best female distance runner in Orange County, perhaps one of the best in the nation.

With so much waiting ahead, one might think Taylor would look to the future as her prime source of motivation.

Not really.

Whenever she needs inspiration to continue, be it in training or in competition, Taylor says she thinks about the past, particularly the state 1,600-meter final in June.

In that race, Taylor and Karen Hecox of South Hills were running shoulder to shoulder down the stretch, battling for second place. But 10 meters from the finish, the two collided and fell, Hecox onto the track, Taylor onto the rock-lined gutter inside.

Although bruised and bloodied, both got up quickly and crossed the finish line, seemingly at the same instant. But moments later, as Taylor stood by the awards stand awaiting the referee’s decision on whether she had placed second or third, she was told she had been disqualified for interference.

To this day, Taylor insists she was not at fault, nor does she believe Hecox was to blame.

Like many who witnessed the crash, Taylor says it was just an unfortunate--and no doubt unavoidable--incident between two exhausted athletes, and she takes a philosophical approach to the incident.

“I don’t think it was my fault . . . but I don’t blame her at all,” Taylor said. “There’s a reason for it. I’m just waiting to see what it is.”

As it turns out, Taylor uses the incident to boost her motivation this season.

“Whenever I feel like I’m not running that great, I watch the tape,” she said. “Sometimes after I watch it, I just want to get down on myself. I get real bummed for about a half-hour. But then I realize it wasn’t my fault. Then I feel motivated again.”

Last Saturday, Taylor, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, appeared especially motivated as she finished in 17 minutes 3 seconds, the fastest girls’ time at the Dana Hills Invitational. Her time over the flat three-mile course was more than a minute faster than her closest competitor and broke the record for sophomore girls by nine seconds.

Her time also was a 1-minute 43-second improvement over her clocking on the Dana Hills course last year.

Last Thursday, Taylor led Edison to a 23-32 dual meet victory over Ocean View with a time of 17:53 at Huntington Beach Central Park. In that race, Taylor beat Ocean View’s Christy Engesser, who, as a freshman, has been quickly gaining recognition as one of the county’s best. Unlike Taylor, though, Engesser has had several years of experience in age-group competition.

“I was pretty nervous about her,” Taylor said. “I’m not used to people running up with me like that.” Engesser kept with Taylor for the first mile, but gradually dropped back as Taylor went on to win by 48 seconds.

TOP PERFORMERS

Susannah Thrasher of Villa Park won the medium-schools’ junior/senior race at the Dana Hills Invitational Saturday in 17:32, the second-fastest girls’ time.

Julie Williams of Valencia swept her sets at 6-0 to lead the Tigers to a 12-6 tennis victory over Western Tuesday.

Maureen McLaren of Newport Harbor had 20 kills to lead the Sailors to a 3-15, 15-9, 7-15, 15-5, 16-14 volleyball victory over Woodbridge Wednesday.

Mandy Gomez, a Rosary freshman, swept her sets, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0, Tuesday in a 16-2 tennis victory over Valley Christian.

Wendy Herb, a 6-foot junior middle hitter, led Rosary’s volleyball team to the Bassett tournament championship Saturday at Cal State Los Angeles. Herb, who was voted to the all-tournament team, had 43 kills, 31 blocks and 11 aces in 12 games.

Shelley Taylor

Edison High School

Position: Cross-country runner.

Height, Class: 5-5, Sophomore.

Last Week: Taylor had the girls’ fastest time at the Dana Hills Invitational Saturday. Her time of 17 minutes 3 seconds broke the course record for sophomore girls by nine seconds.

Season: Taylor is undefeated through two invitationals and one dual meet.