When Keena Carstensen ordered a new plaque recognizing the new school record holder for the girls’ 800-meter run last week, the Thousand Oaks High track coach put a hold on its delivery.
Save the engraving for last, Carstensen requested.
The season was not over for Thousand Oaks sophomore Caitlin Turner. That record may not last long.
Carstensen was right.
Turner broke her week-old record at the CIF Divisional Finals last Saturday at Cerritos College, placing fourth in Division II with a time of 2 minutes, 13.21 seconds, matching the sixth fastest time ever in the event by an area runner.
The sophomore was one of 12 section qualifiers for Friday’s Masters Meet at Cerritos College, where she will be matched against three of the top 800 runners in the nation, including No. 3-ranked Chloe Curtis of Redondo.
If Turner finishes in the top five at Masters or meets the at-large standard of 2:13.96, she will qualify for the CIF State Championships June 4-5 in Clovis.
To Carstensen, there was little doubt that Turner would better the school’s 25-year-old record of 2:14.86 set by Sharon Manship.
“We’ve known for a long time that she could go far,” said Carstensen, who has known Turner since pre-high school days with the Thousand Oaks Flyers program. “We were positive that she would be able to break that record.
“She has great untapped potential.”
Since first stepping onto the track as a fifth-grader, middle-distance running has been Turner’s forte.
By the seventh grade, Turner had run 2:22 for two laps and was drawing considerable attention.
The start of her freshman track season was delayed by a soccer injury. She came on strong at the end of the season, finishing second to senior teammate Ali Lopez in the 800 at the Marmonte League finals and advancing to the CIF Finals in the 4x400 relay.
Thousand Oaks distance coaches encouraged her to try out with the cross country program.
“I thought the training would be terrible,” said Turner. “Once I got into shape, it was no problem. Now I don’t think anything of running eight miles in practice.”
That distance-training background last fall set Turner up for a remarkable track season.
She served notice in a dual meet against Simi Valley with a 800-1,600 double of 2:20.86-5:15.52.
Those times were almost as fulfilling as the chance to be in the same race with Simi Valley’s Liberty Miller.
“Liberty is one of the most experienced runners around and also one of the nicest,” said Turner.
“She’s definitely an idol. She runs so even and flawless. I am hoping that when I am older, I will be like her.”
Turner may be closer to that style of running and personality that she thinks.
“Even when Caitlin is running fast, it seems effortless,” said Carstensen. “There are few flaws in her biomechanics. Her range is from the 400 to the 3,200.”
The high level of success has not changed Turner.
“She’s very humble,” Carstensen said. “If you tell her that she had a good workout, she seems a little embarrassed to hear it.”
If there was a wake-up call for Turner, it was her third-place finish in the 1,600 at the Marmonte League finals behind Miller and Newbury Park’s Shannon Byrne.
“Shannon’s a good competitor and I really wanted to beat her,” said Turner, who used the loss to motivate her to a personal best in the 800.
If it’s any comfort to Turner, Miller qualified for the Masters in the 1,600 and 3,200, while Byrne produced the third fastest 1,600 in Newbury Park history in a Division II fourth-place finish in 5:00.49.
Outside of track, Turner is “definitely a fan of outdoorsy stuff.”
Long hikes with teammates along area canyon trails brings her enjoyment.
