Run, Caroline, run.
The Malibu boys and girls cross country teams opened fall camp recently with their sights set on another strong fall season. Under the guidance of two new vibrant coaches, the Sharks are looking to build upon the success of last year, when no one enjoyed a better campaign than rising sophomore sensation Caroline Pietrzyk.
“I’m really excited because we have a lot of incoming freshmen that I think are going to be really fast,” Pietrzyk said, reflecting on the state of the team. “We have returning people who will be strong and we have a new set of coaches.”
Malibu coach Karen Costello, who has more than 23 years of cross country and track experience at the collegiate and high school levels combined, takes over a program that saw the boys finish in second place at the Frontier League championships in 2011 and qualify for the California Interscholastic Federation Division IV prelims. This year’s crop of runners features a strong group of ladies who will look to equal if not surpass the past achievements of the boys.
“It’s a young team with a lot of potential,” Costello said. “We have a really strong group of female runners that I think will make some noise this year. They are physically and mentally strong.”
Costello’s first order of business was to bring a strong assistant on board. She hit a home run when she hired Blue Benadum, co-founder and director of the Malibu International Marathon. Benadum’s charisma, energetic personality and long distance experience compliment Costello’s knowledge of sport psychology and positive coaching.
“Our approach is pretty comprehensive for a high school program,” Benadum explained. “There are a lot of high school coaches that don’t do anything with the form of the runners. So we are focusing on how to run and not just how much to run.”
“We have a different program than they are used to,” Costello added. “Blue has a lot of experience coaching running. He has tremendous strength workouts and it is an all-around fitness program that will benefit them for racing.”
And what better way to start for Costello and Benadum than by inheriting the talents of Pietrzyk. At five-foot-three and 110 pounds, she does not physically strike fear into her opponents. But when the gun sounds, Pietrzyk’s competitiveness takes over. Last year she won the girls’ individual league title and earned the Frontier League most valuable runner award as just a freshman.
After training all summer and working in the Malibu junior lifeguard program, Pietrzyk has prepared herself for an excellent fall campaign.
“I just want to get a personal best,” Pietrzyk said. “My goal for the entire season is to be under 20 minutes. I want to do my best and try my hardest all the time.”
A trip to the CIF finals is a strong possibility, says Costello.
“Caroline is back in incredible shape. I feel she has the potential to go all the way.”
“It would be a really big honor and something I would like to strive for,” said Pietrzyk, who won four meets last season.
Joining Pietrzyk on the girls’ squad is junior Emma London, who received all-league first-team honors last fall, and freshman Caitlin Myers.
“Emma is a tough runner,” Costello said. “Once she has more confidence in herself and her abilities, she won’t be too far behind Caroline. She definitely has everything it takes to be there. She just needs to believe it.
“Caitlin is showing great potential and she isn’t even fit right now. She looks great and has a real good mental attitude.”
While the girls are gearing up for a strong season, the boys are looking forward to repeating their success of a year ago.
Junior Erik Rosenberg captured first-team all-league honors while junior Dyer Pettijohn earned second-team recognition. Senior Scott Wesson and junior Aiden Pasucci are expected to contribute as well.
“I expect us to make it to CIF again this year,” Pettijohn said. “My goal for the entire season is to be under 20 minutes. I want to do my best and try my hardest all the time.”
Pettijohn worked hard all summer focusing on amphitheatre workouts at MHS to improve his uphill running.
“Dyer is a great leader. He encourages everyone else and is wonderful to coach,” Costello said.
With more than 20 athletes in the program, the future looks bright for the Sharks. Costello can’t wait for the team’s first meet at the Seaside Invitational in Ventura on September 7.
“We will be ready. I am real excited about this team.”