Blue far removed from running green

Chris Yemma

A year ago at this time, it was Newport Harbor High girls track and

field coach Eric Tweit’s goal to have Whitney Blue be the best long

distance runner on the team.

Little did he know that one year later, Cal, UC Santa Barbara,

UCLA, UC Davis, Colgate, Columbia and the University of Texas would

be seeking Blue to continue her running career at their institutions,

all with her senior season still left.

In just one year, Blue has gone from a good distance runner to the

best cross country and 3,200-meter runner in Orange County, as well

as the state’s fourth-best three-miler.

And Blue is somewhat green in the sport, being only a junior and

picking up the sport as a freshman.

“When the cross country season started, it was our goal to have

her our No. 1 distance runner,” Tweit said. “But second in the state

[in CIF Division II] and Orange County’s best, that’s way beyond what

I envisioned.”

Now things have changed. Tweit knows what to expect and Blue knows

what she’s capable of. The bar has been raised. And the next rung

lies in this summer’s state 3,200 race.

Entering the past fall’s cross country season, Blue’s capabilities

were not fully known. But she plowed ahead and finished with the

fourth fastest time in all divisions at the CIF State cross country

meet. This was already after she had dominated the Orange County

field.

Entering track season, the expectations were a little higher. So

far, the critics have been silenced, as the 5-foot-4, 95-pound jogger

cruised to a meet-record 10:44.74 for a first-place finish in the

3,200 at the Orange County track and field championships Saturday at

Trabuco Hills High.

At the Arcadia invitational April 9, among the best high school

talent in the nation, Blue finished the two-mile race (a little

longer than the 3,200) in 10:39.35 for seventh, beating out state

cross country champion Alma Escobar of Corona.

“Last year I wasn’t anywhere near where I am now,” said Blue, who

is a heavy favorite to win the 3,200 Sea View League title on Friday.

“I never would have thought last year that I would be where I am now.

I think it’s exciting, getting both [Orange County] titles for this

season.”

But Blue keeps it all in perspective.

“She keeps a nice balance,” Tweit said. “She practices and wants

to be very good at it, but at the same time, the sport doesn’t

dominate everything she does. She always has a smile and she never

gets down in the dumps.”

Blue stumbled upon the track and cross country scene her freshman

year and has improved ever since. Oddly enough, Blue only joined the

cross country team to avoid taking a physical education class.

Her progression has been steady every year.

“I go back to her freshman year and saw her potential,” Tweit

said. “I thought she could be a varsity runner, so the great thing

for me is the progression each season. Now she is just so much more

consistent.”

And with one more year to improve, it’s a good thing Tweit and

Blue have a good relationship.

“I really get a kick out of her -- I really enjoy coaching her,”

Tweit said.