DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:Sea Kings’ Damon more than cheerleader
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Allison Damon had two notable cross country gifts when she started at Corona del Mar High: team and talent.
Damon has never taken either of the two for granted.
The Sea Kings junior has been a part of three consecutive CIF Southern Section Division III champions and is now part of a CdM team favored to repeat as state champions.
Even though winning has been a constant, Damon makes sure the team takes time to celebrate after key victories and contemplate after defeats, none of which have come this year.
“She is our barometer,” CdM Coach Bill Sumner said. “If things are going good, you know it. If things are going bad, you know it. If it’s a good day, it’s ‘How come everyone isn’t celebrating?’ ”
But Damon is more than a cheerleader. She came in second place, in 18 minutes, 13 seconds, to help the Sea Kings win Division III.
With one runner unable to complete the race due to a foot injury and another battling illness, Damon took control of the situation.
“She came through for us,” Sumner said. “Shelby Buckley had the flu and Laura Bilder drops out and Allison is in third. She asks me ‘What can I do?’ I said ‘Well go catch ‘em.’ And she did.”
Damon came to CdM with the intentions of playing on the soccer team. She entered a summer workout program with Sumner to prepare for the winter soccer season. It quickly became apparent that Damon had a talent for long-distance running. She was called up to the varsity team at the start of the season — the only freshman in the seven-runner lineup.
“It was really intense,” Damon said. “The coaches said ‘Just stay back and let the other runners set the pace.’ The whole team was really nice. They were really accepting of me.”
It did not take long for it to go from accepting to recruiting with the team hoping Damon would give up soccer to train for the track and field season. It was an easy decision.
“I’m a cross country girl now,” Damon said. “I realized my life was going in the direction of running.”
Competing on a team with runners like Annie St. Geme, who is now at Stanford, senior Sarah Cummings, who won the individual section title, and junior Shelby Buckley, who won a Division III individual state title as a freshman, Damon has stayed out of the individual limelight, but it has been worth it she said.
“Being on a team with those three has made me a better runner,” Damon said. “I’d rather be on a team where there is something to shoot for than always being on the top. When I look at Annie and Sarah they are pure muscle and they are mentally tough. Nothing breaks them mentally. I’m working on that, being mentally tough where nothing can hurt you.”
Damon has steadily improved her running during her three years with the Sea Kings, but the most drastic change has come vocally. After being shy as a freshman, Damon grew into helping shape the team’s post-race habits.
“When you do well you need to have fun,” Damon said. “For the most part, I make sure everyone celebrates. We go get ice cream. I make sure everyone gets a dessert.”
Sumner said Damon is a spark for CdM, on and off the course.
“She can put fun into a six-mile run,” Sumner said. “Every team should be lucky enough to have an Allison Damon. She remembers when things are going well don’t let it pass. She doesn’t let a celebration go by.”
Damon’s post-race demeanor is not why she has the nickname “Killer.” The nickname is in reference to Damon’s instincts while running.
“I’m kind of a perfectionist,” Damon said. “I really push myself in workouts. In the race I just think push yourself now because you never know how you’ll feel later. You might feel better or get your second wind. You just have to finish the race strong.”
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