Davis wins title

Steve Virgen

For the past 10 years, Sue Davis has been working toward a goal. She

accomplished it Sunday.

Davis, 40, a Costa Mesa resident and a former Corona del Mar High

volleyball standout, won her age group and the women’s overall title

at the U.S. Duathlon national championships in Alpharetta, Ga.

She finished the 10,000-meter run, 40K bike and 5K run in 2:07.6

to capture the title over a field of roughly 200 women.

“I have been national champion in my age group before,” said

Davis, who graduated from CdM in 1980. “I’ve finished in second place

for women’s overall champion numerous times. This has been a goal of

mine for the past 10 years.

“I am thrilled,” she continued. “I had this belief it would

happen. It’s been a fun journey. That’s what it’s all about. It’s

very gratifying to have it pay off. I’m not the most gifted. I’m just

persistent.”

Davis has been competing in duathlons for the past 14 years. She

remained committed to a workout throughout those years, and kept the

main goal in mind to serve as motivation. She rides 120-130 miles per

week on her bike and runs five days a week, about 30-40 miles

throughout the week.

Among duathletes, she is in the master’s division, which is the

group for ages 40 and older. She said she has never known a master’s

division athlete to win the women’s overall title.

“Apparently getting older is not an advantage,” Davis said. “But

in my case it is.”

Davis, the former Sue Corea, was one of the original members of

the Orange County Volleyball Club in 1976. She starred at CdM before

earning a full-ride scholarship to Arizona State.

“I’m basically a product of Title IX,” she said.

Davis works for the city of Newport Beach, coordinating the

parking at the beach. She has been married to Jeff for the past 17

years.