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Tuesday, November 26, 1996

CROSS COUNTRY:

Star freshman learns tough lessons in missed NCAAsBy Vytas Mazeika

Daily Bruin Contributor

Many people don't know this, but Kim Mortensen did not qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships that took place Monday in Tucson, Ariz.

UCLA's freshman sensation, who did not return phone calls and could not be reached for comment, ran a horrible race by her standards at the District VIII qualifying meet two weeks ago in Fresno State.

Her disappointment was obvious to UCLA's women's cross country coach Eric Peterson.

"She was devastated. No question about it," he said. "When she finished the race, I think the shock and the reality of ... not qualifying for nationals (the NCAA Championship) hit her hard."

Mortensen had been one of the most dominating collegiate runners in America all season long before her collapse. This may be evident in the wide gap between Mortensen and Githa Hampson, UCLA's second-best runner.

Hampson never finished within 40 seconds of Mortensen in any meet this season until defeating Mortensen by three seconds in the District VIII meet. Hampson, accustomed to seeing Mortensen run away from her in every race, never got into a groove. Her rhythm was affected by the irregularity in seeing Mortensen running near her.

"It was really weird for me, because I don't usually see her," Hampson said.

Peterson believes that Mortensen's disappointing race had a ripple effect that caused doubt in the remaining Bruin runners. Both Peterson and Hampson believe that Hampson should have passed Mortensen much earlier in the race.

Peterson attributes Mortensen's bad performance to one factor.

"Her problem is related to her rattled confidence," Peterson explained. "Her youth ... and lack of experience in huge races affected her in a negative way. As a senior (in high school) she ran tremendously fast and had a lot of success. (But) prior to her senior year though, she did not have that same sort of success at a high level."

Peterson believes the hamstring injury that Mortensen incurred a month before the race affected not only Mortensen's practices, but also her aggressiveness in Fresno.

"(The hamstring) affected (her aggressiveness) and it also affected her confidence," Petersen said. "Great workouts equal great races in her mind (and the injury) has interrupted her ability to string together days of good, high quality training in a row."

With no more training scheduled for the next couple of weeks, Mortensen can muse over the lessons to be learned in her disappointing performance.

"It was very disappointing and she hasn't had that feeling in a long time, ... (but) I hope that she learns ... that it is a rare occasion that everything is perfect going into any competition," Petersen said. "She's carried the burden for this team all season long and unfortunately she didn't have it on that day that she needed it."

But no matter how many lessons there are to be learned, nothing is tougher than dealing with disappointment.

"The mark of a true champion is how well you handle pain and disappointment," Peterson explained. "(Mortensen) will have her day again. It's not the end of her career."

It's also not the last football game that USC played against UCLA, but that doesn't make it any easier on them.

SCOTT QUINTARD/ASUCLA

Kim Mortensen