Nellum’s in Running Now

Just before he turned 2, Bryshon Nellum underwent surgery for a blockage in his intestines.

Afterward, he became the boy who couldn’t sit still. Nurses from all over the hospital floor came to his room to watch in amazement.

“He had this burst of energy,” his mother, LeShon, recalled. “The nurse let him run up and down the hallway with the IV in his arm.”

Nellum hasn’t stopped running since. At 15, he’s the fastest in the world for his age in the 400 meters.

He’s a relative unknown on the high school sports scene because he didn’t compete last year as a freshman when he attended the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies, a magnet school without a track program.

He transferred to Long Beach Poly, and track fans can’t wait to see whether he’ll be able to offer competition to two-time state 400-meter champion David Gettis of Los Angeles Dorsey.

“I’m looking forward to beating him,” Nellum says.

Nellum ran the 400 in 47.27 seconds to win at the USATF National Junior Olympic track and field championships in August in Eugene, Ore. That time makes him the fifth-fastest returning high school runner in the nation, according to Track & Field News magazine. Gettis has run 46.39, tops in the nation.

The fact Nellum has improved his 400 time by two seconds each of the last two years makes the 5-foot-10, 150-pounder confident that he can be running in the 45s by the end of this season.

His coach at Poly, Don Norford, said the high expectations for Nellum are warranted.

“He’s quite an athlete,” Norford said. “He could be one of the best to come out of Poly. He understands how to run the 400 and the psyche involved. The key is speed, strength, endurance and knowing how to put it together at the right time of the race.”

Whatever the challenge, Nellum isn’t afraid to take it on. He enjoys listening to music, dancing, studying math, wearing trendy clothes and most of all, running.

“I love the competition,” he said.

The 400 is recognized as one of the most grueling races in track, and Nellum understands what is required to succeed.

“It’s a mentality thing,” he said. “When you’re on the track, you have to go and run your own race. You have to make sure there are no distractions.

“It’s all about the last stretch. It’s a struggle to get to the finish line. Your legs tighten up. Your arms get stiff. It’s a mental thing you have to get through.”

Nellum has been competing for the Southern California Running Cougars youth track program in Los Angeles. He also played football for Poly’s junior varsity team last season.

Getting the chance to represent his high school in track is something Nellum has always wanted to do.

“They’re going to see a good show,” he said.

Nellum is ambitious. He said he wants to run in the 2008 Olympics. That means he would be 19 and a college freshman.

No one knows whether that goal is attainable, but once he puts his mind to something, watch out.

“This is what I love doing, and when I love something, I do it,” he said. “I want to go straight to the top.”

First up, though, is a likely meeting with Gettis, whether that’s in an invitational meet or the state championships.

“I respect him,” Nellum said.

Gettis has already shown he could be ready for his best year yet, running a 10.5 100 meters this month.

But Nellum makes it clear that he’s using Gettis as a measuring stick as to how fast he needs to go.

“I just love to be the best,” he said.

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