Runner Is Facing a Watershed Moment

After crossing the finish line far ahead of his cross-country competitors, City Section title favorite Mehdi Taieb-Brahim of Lake Balboa Birmingham knelt in pain from stomach cramps, then walked over to a drinking fountain to cool off.

It was a simple procedure to help restore his body functions to normal, but starting Oct. 26 and lasting a month, Taieb-Brahim will face the challenge of running long distances without water before and after his races as he observes Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month.

From sunrise to sundown, he’ll be fasting. That means no water and no food while running 55 miles a week in training. He’ll be participating in several important meets, including the City Championships on Nov. 22, forcing Taieb-Brahim to come up with some innovative ways to stay safe and productive while following his religious faith.

“He’s kind of like Sandy Koufax,” Birmingham Coach Scott King said, referring to the Dodger Hall of Fame pitcher who skipped his Game 1 start in the 1965 World Series because of the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur. “I’m not sure if he’s that spiritual, but when it comes to Ramadan, the family goes by the letter of the law.”

Taieb-Brahim isn’t the only top cross-country runner scrambling to come up with a training strategy for Ramadan. The state’s top-ranked runner, Mohamed Trafeh of Duarte, also observes Ramadan.

Last year as a junior, Taieb-Brahim would eat breakfast at 5 a.m., then go back to sleep to build up energy for the day ahead. And he brought a bottle of mouthwash to school to deal with his thirst.

“It’s more the practices that make it hard,” he said. “I don’t try to bring it up with people because most feel sorry for me.”

King is responsible for the safety of his runners and makes it clear that he’ll be watching Taieb-Brahim closely.

“We could run into some really bad weather at that time of the year,” King said. “If it comes to the point where there’s danger, I’m going to step in and pour [water] down his throat. When he can eat and drink, he’s going to have to load up.”

Taieb-Brahim said his mother has told him not to risk his health with dehydration.

“If I feel it’s too much, I’m going to have to get something,” he said. “I’m not going to injure myself.”

But Taieb-Brahim believes he should make his best effort to follow his religious faith.

“It’s one of the little things we do for Islam,” he said.

Taieb-Brahim was born in America, but his parents grew up in Algeria. He entered Birmingham believing he would be a basketball player but went out for track as a freshman and has improved his mile time by more than a minute in three years.

“He’s come from a kid who was a 5:30 miler,” King said. “It was hard work, and that’s what cross-country is.”

Taieb-Brahim finished third in the City final last year and has a good chance to become the first Birmingham boys’ runner since 1992 to win the City championship.

“It’s all mental,” he said. “Whomever has the highest threshold for pain is going to win. I’ve beaten people that are faster and stronger than me. There are just some people you can’t beat, but I feel I can run with most people in the state.”

Just don’t look surprised after a race or practice next month if he’s the lone figure not running to a drinking fountain.

“It gets difficult because every day someone asks, ‘Why aren’t you drinking water?’ ” he said. “We feel after it’s done, we’re stronger people for it.”

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There were dozens of high school football prospects trying to enter USC’s locker room after the Trojans’ victory over Stanford on Saturday night at the Coliseum.

“Get past the recruits and the ones who think they are,” one sportswriter advised.

If Coach Pete Carroll could land only a few of the recruits who crowded into the locker room, he’d be a happy man. These were the best of the best, from lineman Jeff Byers of Loveland, Colo., to tight end Dale Thompson of Corona Santiago to Los Angeles Fremont lineman Thomas Herring. Receiver Marty Tadman of Mission Viejo and quarterback Rudy Carpenter of Westlake Village Westlake were also mingling among the masses.

The dedication award goes to junior quarterback Brandis Dew, who was in the locker room past 11 p.m. and didn’t figure to make it home to Hemet until past 2 a.m. Sunday.

Prospects received free tickets to the game, and here’s a bit of advice: Even if you don’t pick USC as your college choice, stay uncommitted until at least late November. That way you’ll have a chance to see the USC-UCLA game Nov. 22 at the Coliseum.

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The first-year football coach at Buckeye High in Phoenix suspended 10 varsity players last month for the rest of the season for using steroids.

Coach Bobby Barnes told the Arizona Republic: “I asked them to take a hard look at the type of character they wanted to have for the rest of their lives. The reaction from players? They were heartbroken because they knew they had made a silly and childish mistake.”

The players apparently got the steroids in Mexico. Barnes deserves credit for having the courage to confront his players and take action.

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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.