USD’s Chen Stays a Step Ahead of Her Age (37) and Her Rivals

Like so many others, Sue Chen got into running because she wanted to shed a few pounds.

That was 1977. She could not have foreseen, even in her wildest fantasies, that 12 years later she would be challenging for the West Coast Conference cross-country championship.

When Chen began, she was 25 years old, and “running” a mile was a 10-minute nightmare.

Now 37, Chen has improved considerably. She is the top distance runner for the University of San Diego and on Oct. 28 will be going for the WCC title in Belmont.

Chen, a registered nurse in the Navy for 16 years and a lieutenant commander, became a competitive runner last year when the Navy sent her to USD for a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

Chen, who had run in seven marathons, checked into her eligibility and found she could compete for the Toreras.

“Surprising” and “amazing” would be mild ways to describe what she has accomplished.

Last year, Chen finished second in the WCC finals. Her time of 18 minutes 31 seconds over the three-mile course was bettered only by Pepperdine senior Kari Baerg.

This year, Chen has won the Loyola Lion Invitational and finished second in both the Aztec and Riverside invitationals.

“Last year was a real surprise to me,” Chen said. “This year, I’m running consistently faster. I’m trying to refine my skill. One of my goals is to win the conference.”

Chen added, “I’ve had a great time. I have a lot of fun running and I have a lot of fun competing.”

At 5-feet-5, 117 pounds, people tell her she looks 10 years younger than she is, and competitors have a hard time believing she is 37.

“I sometimes tell them,” she said, “but they never believe me.”

Chen said that being around younger teammates, and in a college environment, has been rejuvenating. Because she is also a nurse, she also does some teaching.

“I find myself doing different health teaching,” she said. “But only when (teammates) come to me and ask questions. I have to be careful not to mother them. I don’t want to become a motherly figure to them. I only teach what they want to hear.”

After this year, her last at USD, Chen said she would like to remain competitive.

“I think I have only a few years left,” she said. “Biologically, that clock is going to run out sometime.”

The Point Loma Nazarene women’s volleyball team is enjoying its first winning season since 1984.

The Crusaders are 12-5 overall and 5-3 in the Golden State Athletic Conference, and listed as honorable mention in the NAIA Top 20. PLNC was 12-20 in 1988, 11-15 in ’87 and 10-17 in ‘86, the year the GSAC was formed.

Area community college football teams have not fared well this season, but last week was particularly bad.

San Diego Mesa (2-3) was routed by Orange Coast, 34-7. Grossmont (1-4) was beaten by Fullerton, 30-17. Southwestern (1-4) lost to El Camino, 52-20. Palomar (1-4) was defeated by Orange Coast, 24-14. And San Diego City (0-6) lost to Mt. San Antonio, 35-14.

Former Torrey Pines quarterback John Lynch played in Stanford’s 31-13 loss to Washington State. Lynch, a freshman, completed six of 12 passes for 38 yards and gained 17 yards on two carries.

Two USD men’s tennis players were presented this week with 1989 Volvo awards as voted on by the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Assn.

Jose Luis Noriega was named the rookie of the year. After a battle with the NCAA over his eligibility, Noriega, a native of Peru, posted a 13-2 regular season singles record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament in Gainesville, Fla.

Dan Mattera, 31-8 as USD’s No. 2 singles player, was named one of 21 scholar-athletes of the year.