Woodbridge's Babcock is top girls athlete again

Christine Babcock carried two bags to meets as a senior. One was for her running stuff. The other had a special gift that she hoped would inspire someone else.

In that second bag, the Woodbridge runner kept T-shirts that she designed. The front featured an eagle and a sunset. The back showed a boy and girl running, a sunset and a portion of a Bible passage from Isaiah 40:31.

"Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength … will soar on wings like eagles … will run and not grow weary."

Throughout her historic cross country and track seasons, Babcock gave the shirts to those who asked for her autograph or wanted a picture. She also gave them to teammates.

"They're really cool T-shirts," teammate Sarah Toberty said.

But they also represented something more, Toberty said. The shirts provided a glimpse into the strength inside arguably the greatest female miler in high school history.

"Her faith is a huge part of her life," said Toberty, who has known Babcock since the eighth grade.

Babcock's winning formula included other ingredients, too. And mixed together, they pushed her to more records in 2007-2008 and to a second consecutive honor as the Register's Girls Athlete of the Year.

Babcock set a national high school federation record in the 1,600 meters at the CIF-SS Masters meet on May 23. The Washington-bound senior covered the four-lap race in a sizzling 4 minutes, 36.57 seconds. But just a few days later, she was feeling the weight of her next race, the upcoming state meet.

"I was feeling pressure on Monday and the state meet was Friday and Saturday," Babcock said.

By Wednesday, however, her anxiety was gone.

"Normally, I resolve the pressure I feel before I get to the (starting line)," she said.

The 18 year old found peace in her customary fashion. Babcock, who follows a non-denominational religion, she said she read the Bible and prayed.

"It was helpful," she said of another one her favorite Bible verses. "I knew I shouldn't be afraid of what was going to happen or the outcome because God gives me peace."

At the state meet, Babcock lowered her national record by almost three seconds with a 4:33.82.

"Unbelievable," Woodbridge coach George Varvas said.

Varvas uses words like "gentle," "solid citizen" and "unassuming" to describe Babcock. But there is another side to the runner, one hidden during her mild-mannered interviews.

Make no mistake, Babcock is an intense athlete.

Babcock, for example, has a legendary tolerance for pain, according to those around the Woodbridge program.

Varvas said Babcock pushes herself so hard in training, he has to be careful.

"She might pass out if I keep it going," he said.

Toberty remembers a grueling workout she and Babcock did as juniors. Toberty didn't complete the run, but Babcock battled the heat and finished.

"She's really strong," Toberty said of the 5-foot-10 Babcock, who won her second consecutive state title in cross country in the fall.

Babcock's work ethic certainly paid off, but her trek to the national record was aided by an early mentor: her older sister, Jessie, now a runner at Penn State.

Babcock played soccer growing up but when she got to Woodbridge, she followed Jessie, then a standout junior, into cross country and track at Woodbridge.

Through her sister, Toberty said, Babcock saw the joys of running firsthand and the friends her sister made in the sport.

And if that wasn't enough to make running stick for Babcock, she has strong lineage, too.

The girls' mother, Kelly, competed in the marathon at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials. Kelly and her husband, Dan, also met through a running club. The couple has another daughter, Molly, who will be a freshman at Woodbridge in the fall.

Babcock showed promise as a freshman and by her sophomore year, she was already a CIF champion in track.

"Jessie was really nurturing to Christine's talent," Toberty said. "(Christine) really, really looks up her."

Babcock seems remarkably unchanged for her success.

She keeps her running medals in a box in her room. After the state meet, she called Toberty. Before her friend could mention the record, Babcock wanted to know about prom, which also was held that night.

"I don't put my worth in setting the national record," Babcock said. "For me, I run because I like running and I feel God has blessed me with a gift."

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com