And you thought what Crystal Ortiz did during the cross country season was remarkable and outstanding?
Sure, how many times does a Hudson County girl get to win an NJSIAA state cross country championship? It’s very rare. It hadn’t happened in over 30 years, before Ortiz, just a freshman at Hudson Catholic, won the NJSIAA Non-Public B state title last November.
Well, Ortiz has now taken her talents to the track and she’s already reaching similar – if not even better – success.
Last Saturday, at the NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship indoor track meet at the Bennett Center in Toms River, Ortiz achieved the unthinkable. She won three gold medals, winning the 800-meter, the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs.
Ortiz became the first Hudson County girl to ever win three gold medals at the state championships.
And remember, she’s just a 14-year-old freshman.
Ortiz first won the 1,600-meter run in 5:13.88, winning the race by a full six seconds. She then ran the 800-meter run in 2:20.58, winning by eight seconds – a larger margin in a shorter race.
With only 10 minutes of rest, Ortiz then went out and blistered the 3,200-meter run in 11:32.25, outdistancing the rest of the field by an astounding 43 seconds. It was almost like she was running by herself.
“I just wanted to see how I could do in all three,” Ortiz said. “I really wasn’t bothered by the rest time. It seemed like it was enough and I was fine. But the 800 and two-mile [3,200] were right next to each other. I felt fresh and was ready to go.”
For her efforts, Ortiz has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Hudson Catholic head coach Jerry McCann thought that Ortiz could handle running all three events with no problem.
“The interesting thing is that she ran her fastest 800 [meter run] ever, then had to come back and run the 3,200,” McCann said. “That in itself is a major accomplishment. But to win all three races is incredible. I mean, in the 3,200, she lapped the entire field. The 800 was right before the 3,200 and she goes out and then laps the field. I tried to tell her to pace herself, but she just goes. As soon as they shoot the gun, she’s just another person.”
Added McCann, “I tried to impress on her to pace herself, that she goes out way too fast. I figured that she might get tired in the middle of the race. I’ve been working with her to slow down, but she’s so enthusiastic about running that she just keeps going.”
McCann is also astounded at Ortiz’s achievements, because she stands only 5-foot-1 and weighs less than 100 pounds, so she’s just a slight, diminutive and demure young lady.
“You see the size of her,” McCann said. “She wins the 1,600, then goes out and runs a 2:20 in the 800 after the 1,600 and the next event is the 3,200 and she laps the field. She’s just a phenomenal runner, a phenomenal athlete. She’s definitely not your ordinary 14-year-old girl.”
Ortiz said that she had no problem running the three events.
“I just keep going,” Ortiz said. “That’s how I am. I wanted to do well to help our team.”
Ortiz collected 30 team points with the three wins. Hudson Catholic had 43 points to finish third as a team, but it was Ortiz who did the yeoman’s work.
“I’m just putting my name out there a little more, winning three races in one day,” Ortiz said. “I still run just as fast as I can. It’s not really any different than what I did in cross country. It’s just now on a flat surface and it’s indoors.”
Ortiz was asked what was tougher for her to win – cross country or indoors.
“It’s tough, but I have to say cross country,” Ortiz said. “Because in cross country, you don’t get to see the same place and same course. You can go out and explore more.”
Ortiz is a little shocked with her success indoors.
“I am surprised, especially in the two-mile [3,200-meter run], because this is the first year I’ve ever did that distance,” Ortiz said. “I never expected to be doing all of this so soon. It definitely gives me a lot of confidence going further.”
Ortiz will compete at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions this Saturday again at the Bennett Center. She has qualified to compete in all three events, but she’s unsure if she will run all three races. The time between races is even shorter this weekend.
“I’m ready for it,” Ortiz said. “I’ve trained hard for it. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel [Saturday] and the schedule. I have to see what happens.”
McCann believes that Ortiz is just scratching the surface. McCann did the research and found that the record for state championships for one female athlete is 21 over a four-year career. Ortiz is already at four and still has the outdoor track campaign this spring ahead of her, so she’s well on her way to challenging that impressive state record.
“I think she’s only going to get faster as she matures,” McCann said. “This is just the tip of the iceberg to where her potential really is. I think she’s well ahead of herself.”
That says a lot when you consider she’s gone where no other Hudson County girl has ever gone – in just six months’ time.
“I like it,” Ortiz says quietly. “It’s a privilege to be the first. I really want to give the county a good name for running. I’m excited for the outdoor season. I think a lot more people pay attention to outdoor track more, so that gets me excited for it.”
Ortiz said that she’s not sure what her favorite event to run is, but she’s most comfortable running the 3,200-meter run.
“I guess I’ll find out what my strongest event is,” Ortiz said. “Maybe I’ll find out during the outdoor season. Who knows?”
One thing is for sure: Crystal Ortiz has already gone where no other female runner has gone in Hudson County history – and she’s just a 14-year-old freshman. It’s truly incredible. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.