Mortensen Pushes Herself Up the National Ladder in 3,200

Who says you need to be pushed to run a fast time?

Certainly not Kim Mortensen of Thousand Oaks High, who moved into the top 10 on another all-time national list Friday in the Ventura County track and field championships at Camarillo High.

On a day when Ronney Jenkins of Hueneme and Sharika Higgins of Channel Islands fell just short in their bids to win four events in the sprints and long jump, Mortensen posted her fourth national-leading mark of the season with a winning time of 10 minutes 7.10 seconds in the 3,200 meters.

The time was nearly 10 seconds faster than Mortensen’s previous national leader of 10:17.0 and moved her into sixth on the all-time national outdoor performer list.

It also broke the region record of 10:11.79 set by Alemany’s Vickie Cook in 1982 and the Ventura County record of 10:15.99 set by Newbury Park’s Denise Ball the same year.

“I don’t really worry about running particular times,” said Mortensen, who won by nearly a full lap of the 400-meter track. “If you get on the right pace and get into a groove, the fast times seem to come. I just try to really focus on the [fifth, sixth and seventh] laps. I guess you could say I try to nail those laps.”

Mortensen hammered them Friday as she ran her second 1,600 in 5:02.9 after opening with a 5:04.2.

“Tonight was her running as fast as she felt like running,” Thousand Oaks distance Coach Jack Farrell said. “I think with the conditions the way they were, she could have broken 10 minutes if that had been her pre-race goal.”

Jenkins and Higgins each won three individual events to raise their career totals to six county titles.

Jenkins won his third county championship in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet 4 1/2 inches, his second championship in the 100 with a wind-aided time of 10.76 and his first 200 crown with a career-best of 21.84. He also anchored Hueneme to a second-place finish in the 400 relay behind Oxnard, 42.99 to 43.24.

Jenkins nearly withdrew from the 200 after suffering cramps in his calves prior to the 100, but an observer wouldn’t have known it as he burned the turn and maintained his form through the finish.

“I’m real happy with [the 200] because it’s my first 200 of the season,” Jenkins said. “I haven’t been focusing on that race this season.”

Higgins won the 100, 200 and 400 for the second consecutive year, and placed second in the long jump behind defending champion Anicia Rimm of Oxnard.

Higgins timed a wind-aided 12.18 in the 100, ran career-bests of 24.81 in the 200 and 58.06 in the 400, and leaped 17-0 1/4 in the long jump to finish second behind Rimm’s 17-3 1/2.

Randy Hurt of Rio Mesa was the only other double winner as he clocked a wind-aided 14.69 in the 100 high hurdles and ran 40.65 in the 300 intermediates.

Stacy Hebert of Buena ran 45.00 in the girls’ 300 low hurdles to repeat her 1993 victory. Hebert placed second behind Cathy Prater of Agoura in 1994 and was second to Bridie Hatch of Nordhoff last year.

Ryan Meuse of Simi Valley won the boys’ 800 in 1:56.47. His 50.40 was third in the 400, won by Matthew Appel of Ventura in 50.11.