DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:CdM’s Cummings moves to front of pack

Sometimes just living up to expectations can be quite an accomplishment.

Corona del Mar High’s Sarah Cummings had expectations higher than most. The senior cross country runner spent her junior year as the No. 2 runner on the Sea Kings behind Annie St. Geme. Cummings finished second in the CIF Southern Section Division III finals behind St. Geme.

So when St. Geme graduated in the spring, it was logical who the heir apparent would be. On a Sea Kings team packed with talent, though, it is easier said than done.

But in the first meet of the year, the Laguna Hills Invitational Sept. 9, Cummings staked her claim as not only the team’s top runner, but a force to be reckoned with.

Cummings won the Division III senior race and had the second fastest female time of the day in 17 minutes, 48 seconds, earning her Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week honors.

Corona del Mar Coach Bill Sumner said Cummings’ impact is not only felt when she crosses the finish line.

“She did a great job for us,” Sumner said. “The program is what it is because of girls like Sarah. She sets the example for Corona del Mar kids. She works really, really hard and it shows.”

And Sept. 9 was just a workout for the Sea Kings, literally. The CdM girls ran with heavier training shoes and Sumner had them keep a slower, steady pace early on before letting them loose after the one-mile mark.

“It felt really good,” Cummings said of her performance at the race. “Our coach wants us to go out and have a controlled pace and stay behind the first runner. He saw at the mile we were doing well, so he let us go. It’s really nice to have a plan. Having a plan gives you something to think about.”

Cross country was not on Cummings’ mind into her sophomore year at Corona del Mar. She was much more involved with ice skating. But one Saturday, she figured she’d run in a five-kilometer race for fun. Lo and behold, Sumner was in attendance and took notice.

“She was a skater, then she came out and worked hard,” Sumner said. “You can see the results. She’s turned into quite a runner.”

It did not take any prodding from Sumner for Cummings to join the team.

“He didn’t have to convince me,” Cummings said. “After I ran, we talked and I came out for cross country. I’ve been running ever since.”

Cummings enjoys all the hard work and dedication that goes into being a cross country runner at CdM. During the summer, she said, the team ran hills and went on long runs.

The Sea Kings also performed tempo runs, which were Cummings’ favorite. The tempo runs include a focused pace for six or three mile increments.

The pain that comes with competing in cross country is something that Cummings has become accustomed to.

“It definitely takes a special type of person,” she said. “You have to be extremely competitive and pain tolerant. Sometimes when you first start running, it takes a little more.

“Hills hurt a little more when you go up, a little less when you go down. I always think about the other girls. Do it for them. They’re hurting too. I stick it out for the team.”

Cummings enjoys the pressure of running for the defending section and state Division III champions.

“If there wasn’t so much pressure, we wouldn’t be so good,” she said.

SARAH CUMMINGS

Born: Jan. 3, 1989

Hometown: Newport Coast

Height: 5-foot-3

Weight: 107

Sport: Cross country

Coach: Bill Sumner

Favorite food: Carne asada tacos

Favorite movie: “Bring it on”

Favorite athletic moment: “The Nike Outdoor Nationals [June 17, where she finished 14th in the final of the 3,200 meters] after being out most of the year with a stress fracture.”

Week in review: Cummings won the Laguna Hills Invitational Division III senior race in a time of 17 minutes, 48 seconds which was the second fastest finish overall.