ON THE PREP PATH : Runner Who Allegedly Accepted Money Subject of Controversy

Three years ago, a tiny 10-year-old Fullerton girl made national news by outrunning national-class distance runners twice her age.

If she didn’t burn out, many observed, Carrie Garritson could become one of the best high school runners in Orange County history.

But Michael Garritson, Carrie’s father, had other plans for his daughter’s running--none of which had anything to do with high school competition.

In fact, Michael Garritson allegedly encouraged Carrie to accept prize money--a violation of amateur rules--thereby making her ineligible for high school and college competition.

It didn’t matter, Michael Garritson said. His daughter, whom he said was aiming for a spot on the 1992 U.S. Olympic 10,000-meter team, was too good for high school competition anyway.

“Our high school programs stink, especially in Southern California,” Michael Garritson said in 1987 Times story. “There is just nothing there for Carrie. She’s already beating high school girls.”

However, after moving with her family from Fullerton to Running Springs, Carrie, a freshman, is competing for Rim of the World High School in Lake Arrowhead.

Not only is Garritson the No. 1 runner for Rim of the World, but she has won all four of the races she has entered.

During a dual meet at Yucaipa High last week, Garritson finished more than two minutes ahead of the second-place runner, cruising all the way. Still, she came within five seconds of breaking the course record--a record set three years ago by Mountain View’s Tracey Williams, a six-time Southern Section champion in track and cross-country.

The question is: How is Carrie Garritson eligible?

Dean Crowley, associate commissioner of the Southern Section, said Garritson was cleared to compete because The Athletics Congress, the governing body of track and field in the United States, investigated the Garritson case and found no proof of Carrie accepting prize money.

In this decision, the Southern Section yields to TAC, in accordance with Rule 800 in the Southern Section Blue Book. It states that when a student participates in outside competition, the student is governed by the awards rules of the amateur governing body for that sport.

But this is where many area coaches find fault. The Southern Section, some say, should not let an outside body make decisions for it.

Especially when the decision is being made by TAC, an organization currently in turmoil.

“If this was looked into properly, I think she’d get ripped,” said Jerry Whitaker, Foothill track and cross-country coach. “If anyone wanted to carry the ball and look into it, I feel very confident she’d be ruled ineligible. To me, it’s a joke that she’s running.”

Consider:

--TAC’s investigation was done by one man, Robert Hickey, a member of the board of directors at TAC’s Southern California office. Hickey used to coach Carrie Garritson.

--Hickey said TAC’s national offices in Indianapolis instructed him to investigate the Garritson matter. A spokesman at TAC said no investigation was ordered.

--The prize money in question is $500 that Carrie allegedly won at the Foot Locker 8K race at Playa del Rey in 1987. Hickey said he determined that Carrie never received such money, that “it was her dad who caused all the problems,” by boasting to the press about his daughter’s supposed earnings.

Hickey admitted that Carrie might have won some money, but that any money received would have gone to her club team, the Southern California Roadrunners, to be placed in a team trust administered by TAC.

When asked about this, Roadrunners Coach Dave Japs first said that to his knowledge, Carrie never accepted prize money. Later he added that she might have won “very small amounts, $100 . . . they were piddling things.”

But Jerry Canning, who distributed the prize money allocated to the top three finishers at the Foot Locker race three years ago, said Carrie indeed was awarded $500 for third place.

“I remember it was a big deal,” Canning said. “We couldn’t believe she would take the money.”

Garritson has also won merchandise awards, which when valued over $250, are treated like cash awards under TAC rules.

Fred Salter, a former race director for the South Coast Classic 10K, remembers awarding Garritson a color television for her first place overall finish five years ago. Salter said the set was worth “four or five hundred dollars.”

Tonight at 7, the Orange County Cross-Country Coaches Assn. will meet, along with other Southern Section cross-country coaches, at Diamond Bar High School. Association president Tim Butler of Dana Hills said the Garritson case will be on the agenda.

Although the Southern Section already has shrugged its shoulders at the case, it should take another look. Especially considering that Hickey, the man who ruled Garritson innocent, was once her coach.

Southern California TAC president George Mason said he stands by Hickey’s decision, but welcomes further investigation.

“We’re not a police force. We’re all volunteers,” Mason said. “We’re not paid to investigate people eight hours a day. I think if the (Southern Section) has any reason to suspect she accepted prize money, they should investigate the situation themselves.”

You have to wonder. If Garritson were a standout football or basketball player, would she slide through the eligibility screen so easily?