An Orange County record, two CIF-SS titles, and a state championship. There was one key that unlocked the ability to win all those for Northwood’s Bethan Knights.
The key didn’t turn during one of her dominating victories, though. Those doors opened when Knights finished in a tie.
“Her confidence went through the roof when she took on (Simi Valley’s) Sarah Baxter,” Timberwolves coach Louie Muniz said. “Then she felt she could run with anybody. That was the key race.”
At the Mt. Carmel Invitational in March, Knights and Baxter crossed the finish line for the 3,200 meters in an identical 10:07.52. Baxter was the three-time defending state champion and also undefeated in the event entering the race. The tie was the only blemish on her record.
Knights’ confidence from the race carried her to an unprecedented distance season and the Register’s girls track athlete of the year award for 2014. She also was the girls cross country runner of the year.
To recap, Knights set a new county record in the 3,200 with a 9:54.89 – the best time in the country this season.
She won CIF-SS titles in the 1,600, in which she ran a 4:42.29, the country’s third-best time this season, and the 3,200. Those were the first individual CIF-SS titles for Northwood’s program.
Knights also won county championships in both events.
“It’s just been more than I could have ever imagined or asked for,” Knights said. “It’s going to be the highlight of my high school career. I think it’ll be something I’ll never forget.
“It was kind of unreal to have finally reached my goals, and something I’ve been so focused on and training so hard for all season. To just make it a reality was such an incredible time for me.”
Baxter sat out the season after her CIF-SS prelims because of a stress reaction in her leg, which left Knights running against the clock – and history – more than the competition.
For the most part, the wins came in dominating fashion. In her state title victory, Knights finished 12 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. At CIF-SS Masters, it was a nearly 20-second separation between Knights and the next best.
“It was pretty aweing, my jaw just kind of dropped,” Muniz said of Knights’ excellence. “She took on all challengers. She had a 100-meter lead (at state finals). She was in a league of her own.”
The previous county record in the 3,200 was 10:04.03, which was set by Woodbridge’s Christina Babcock in 2008.
Knights, who is headed to Cal, bested that four times with a 10:00.19 in the state finals, a 9:59.20 at the county championships, a 9:58.42 at CIF-SS Finals, and the aforementioned 9:54.89, which came at Masters.
Those performances – and this season – truly proved Knights was running in a class all by herself.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
