SANTA ANA Years ago, Bob Arboit learned about a psychological method called writing affirmation. Since then, he’s shared the positive-thinking technique with his grandson – Mater Dei sprinter Curtis Godin.
Recently, Arboit told Godin to write down his goals and to follow it with “because,” as in, “I’m the Trinity League sprint champion, because …”
“Then two or three times a day when you’re by yourself, pull them out and read them,” Arboit said. “Close your eyes and visualize what you’re saying you have to do to be that good. If you do that, who knows what’ll happen?”
Godin is following this advice as he continues his journey through one of the most succesful sprint seasons in Orange County history at the CIF-SS Track and Field Finals on Saturday at Cerritos College.
The Monarchs senior has set the county record in the 100 meters with a time of 10.36 He is third all-time in Orange County in the 200 with a 21.03. Both of those marks lead the state this year, and there’s a possibility he’ll have three chances – CIF Finals, Masters and the CIF State meet – to improve upon them.
Those affirmations are about track now, but as a freshman, they would have been about baseball. But during his sophomore year, Godin had what he thought was an infection in his left ear. It turned out his body was building scar tissue on his eardrum, according to his mother, Kim.
It lowered the hearing in his ear to 15 percent, threw off his equilibrium, required five surgeries and took a noticeable effect on his bat and glove skills.
“We aren’t sure that if this bump in the road didn’t occur, what sport he would be participating in, (or if) if would we have even thought about suggesting track to him,” Kim said.
The surgeries and some general burnout from the sport he had played since he was in kindergarten, caused Godin to leave baseball behind as a junior and turn to track.
“I’m happier for him that it didn’t work out for him (in baseball),” Mater Dei track coach Rick Martinez said.
Martinez had confidence that Godin would excel at track right away. Godin’s natural speed led to a solid first foray into the sport. His personal best as a junior was a 10.79. He was a CIF finalist and won the 100 at the Orange County Championships.
Those early successes were like crumbs. Enough to keep Godin satisfied, but little enough to leave him hungry. So he entered the summer with a mindset of trying to be the best he could.
“I describe it as the hardest I’ve ever worked to achieve anything,” Godin said. “I think after last year, I noticed track was my sport … I put in a ton of time in the weight room.”
When he mentions how he made such a leap, Godin always credits Mater Dei’s coaches — and his gym. Since eighth grade, he’s weight-trained with Casey Garrison, a professional conditioning coach and former San Francisco State baseball player.
Godin, who estimates his height at 5-feet, 11 inches and his current weight between 167-170 pounds, improved his strength and nutrition regimen with Garrison. That was apparent early this season when he ran a 10.50 in the 100 and a 21.29 at the South County Classic on March 14.
“I promised him when I first started training with him, I saw the athleticism,” Garrison said. “And I said, you’re going play in college. I don’t know what you’re going to do yet, but you’re definitely going to be a college athlete.”
By early in the track season, it became clear that Godin was going to be competing in track in college. Where he would be going to college wasn’t clear.
Godin had been in contact with Wake Forest’s coaches, gave the school his commitment and was set to sign there in February. However, there was miscommunication regarding the scholarship offer, and the national letter of intent never arrived from Wake Forest on the day Godin was supposed to sign, according to Martinez.
So Godin and his family felt it was in their best interest to re-open his commitment, which is when UCLA came calling. Godin visited the campus in mid-March and the school offered him a scholarship.
“If I’d gone to Wake Forest, I would have been the best sprinter,” Godin said. “Now that I’m going to UCLA, there are other people to push me and we’re all on the same level, which is nice.”
Added Mike Maynard, UCLA director of track and field and cross-country: “The coaches and I are excited to add Curtis Godin to the Bruin sprint squad, and the team as a whole. The levels of his sprint performances, achieved as a newcomer to our sport, we believe indicate a huge potential for growth.”
Godin’s potential was on full display in a dual meet against St. John Bosco on April 3. He broke the county record in the 100 with a 10.42, besting the county record (10.45), set by Trabuco Hills’ Matt Bruno in 2002.
Nine days later, Godin improved his own record with a 10.36 at the Arcadia Invitational.
“It’s about time,” Bruno said of Godin breaking his mark. “I think it’s good for the sport. It’s good my record was broken … I think Curtis has a good chance to beat the 200 (record) also. He’s definitely fast enough.”
In 2002, Bruno won state titles in the 100 and 200 – something Godin is trying to accomplish.
Until then, Al Britt, former Esperanza track coach and former longtime director of the Orange County Championships, will reserve judgment on where Godin’s season ranks all-time.
“We still have to see about the state meet,” Britt said. “Matt Bruno won both the 100 and 200 at the state, so you have to be impressed with that. We’ll see how this goes.”
Godin is also gunning for two other marks: the state record in the 100, which was set in 1985 by Hawthorne’s Henry Thomas, who ran a wind-legal 10.25; and Bruno’s county record of 20.82 in the 200.
It seemed like Godin was warming up for something big last week when he ran wind-aided times of 10.29 (100) and 20.93 (200) at the CIF-SS Division 2 prelims.
Ambitious goals for sure, but Godin’s methods – on the track and on paper – are proving to be a succesful combination for him.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
