Running, Cycling Down Different Paths : Biathlon: Sue Davis and Kristi Kidwell, former students at Corona del Mar High, don’t have much else in common, besides success.

In high school, they’d pass each other in the halls without saying so much as hello. Two grades apart and from two different sports, Sue Davis and Kristi Kidwell weren’t exactly best buddies at Corona del Mar High School in the mid- to late-1970s.

But today they are the Sea King Sisters of the biathlon world, running and cycling their way to fitness and fame.

Sunday, Kidwell finished first and Davis second at the Irvine X-Isle Dualathlon. (“Dualathlon” is sometimes used so as not to confuse the event with the Olympic sport of biathlon--cross-country skiing and rifle shooting).

Kidwell, 30, beat Davis, 28, by more than four minutes, which wasn’t a surprise to either of them.

Kidwell, formerly Kris Hamasaki, is one of the top biathletes in the nation. After a successful cross-country and track career at Corona del Mar, she went to Weber State on a track scholarship. She left after her junior year, though, to concentrate on becoming a professional triathlete.

Davis, formerly Sue Corea, was a standout volleyball player in high school, helping the Sea Kings to four consecutive Southern Section 4-A title matches from 1976-79. (They won the 4-A championship in 1977-78).

Davis attended Arizona State on a volleyball scholarship, and started running nine years ago for extra conditioning. She didn’t compete in her first biathlon until last August.

After Sunday’s race, the two laughed about their different backgrounds and how they didn’t associate with one another in high school.

“I knew of Sue in high school, but it wasn’t like we talked or anything,” Kidwell said.

Said Davis: “I didn’t even know what cross-country was. How would I? I was always in the gym.”

Besides their love of competition, the two have little in common. Davis, who lives in Costa Mesa, is conservative. Kidwell, of Vista, is anything but.

Davis trains methodically, spending two hours a day running, cycling, weightlifting and/or playing volleyball. Kidwell is more sporadic. Her workouts range from full-speed race walking to two-hour aerobic sessions where she dances like Pee Wee Herman after 20 cups of coffee.

“It’s like, hammering ,” Kidwell said of her intense aerobic style. “I go as hard as I can--especially if it’s a good song. I have to put a towel down so I don’t wear out the carpet. I just love to dance. I dance before every race. . . . “

At this, Davis rolls her eyes.

“I’ve never even done aerobics,” she said.

Actually, Davis’ training regimen falls far short of Kidwell’s, whose training exploits are legendary. At one time, she adhered to the more-is-better philosophy, riding her bike hundreds of miles a week and running extra workouts at 3 a.m.

Now, she just sticks to a less-is-more attitude--as long as less is very intense. That way, she says, even the toughest race conditions won’t bother her.

Last week, Davis and Kidwell raced at a biathlon in Palm Desert where hot, 40 m.p.h. winds were the major drawback.

Davis talked about the conditions with disgust. Kidwell’s attitude was--surprise--quite the opposite.

“I like adversity,” said Kidwell, who won the Palm Desert race. “If the course is too easy you tend to get lazy.”

Said Davis: “Oh, God.”

Davis has a dry wit. Kidwell, nicknamed “Tasmanian Devil” in high school, seems to have a laughing fit often.

“I’m sort of like a heat-seeking missile looking for fun,” Kidwell said. “I spend a lot of energy keeping other people’s spirits up.”

Maybe the greatest difference between the two is in their choice of fashion. While Davis wears running shorts and a T-shirt during competition, Kidwell wears provocative styles, such as the all-black, high-cut, lace-trimmed bodysuit she wore during Sunday’s race.

“Some people might say I have a little bit of exhibitionist in me,” she said.

Davis (laughing): “You could say that.”

Kidwell: “Hey, I’m just having fun.”

Now that they agree on.