Editors Note: From the Tri-Valley Hearld

Ballenger taking own path to success
By Jeff Faraudo
Staff Writer

CHE BALLENGER learned a lot about himself this spring, but perhaps nothing more valuable than to trust his instincts.

Ballenger, 17, graduated last month from Oakland Tech High, which he represented the two previous years at the state track meet.

With a vision beyond his years - and the guts to try something different - Ballenger opted not to run with his high school team this spring. He wasn't convinced the competition he'd get in middle-distance races in the Oakland Athletic League would sufficiently challenge him.

Che Ballenger may not be the revolutionary that Che Guevara was - elite-level high school athletes in other sports have made similar decisions - but his step away from high school track was somewhat bold.

And not altogether understood by others.

"A lot of my friends at school said, 'What are you doing? This is a bad decision.' Other coaches felt it was a bad decision," Ballenger said. "A lot of people thought it was too unorthodox."

But Ballenger thought things out over several months, asked questions, weighed the pros and cons, and made what he believes was an informed decision.

"I was thinking about my situation next year and where I want to be in four years, and what I want to do to prepare for my future in track," he said.

He wants to run beyond high school and college - maybe the Olympics someday - and is convinced he made the right move.

Instead of running OAL dual meets, Ballenger challenged himself against older athletes in a series of invitational meets this spring at Cal , Stanford, UC Davis, San Francisco State and the Modesto Relays.

He attended Modesto as a spectator in 2005 and could only imagine competing at the venerable meet.

"I had dreams about running at the Modesto Relays," Ballenger said. "I went (last year) to watch (Olympians) Jeremy Wariner and Khadevis Robinson, hoping that one day I would be able to run there."

On the day of the state meet, Ballenger stayed home and trained. He said he didn't miss it. A week later, he competed in the prestigious Golden West Invitational and ran a lifetime-best of 1 minute, 53.56 seconds in the 800.

Last weekend, at the Pacific Association's Region 14 meet at Granada High, Ballenger won the 800 in 1:53.87, then the 1,500 in a personal-best of 4:01.14. His time eclipsed an 11-year-old meet record set by former Cal star Bolota Asmerom, who represented his native Eritrea at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Ballenger, who has been running seriously for only four years, is trained by his father, Damon Ballenger, and by Rik Richardson of the Athenian Athletics track club.

Richardson described Ballenger as 17 going on 28, citing his meticulous and dedicated approach to running. "He is going to make a big impact on this sport in a few years," Richardson said.

Ballenger seems most proud of the fact that he took a different path this year and got results. "I feel like I've matured a lot," he said.

"I really looked at it as I know myself better than all these other people. I wanted to go with my gut."

Expecting to run at Merritt College next year, Ballenger has one more big event this summer - the Junior Olympic nationals at Baltimore, July 25-30. He will focus on the 800, although he may run the 1,500, too.

Asked if the competition will serve as his state meet experience, Ballenger said, "I'm looking at it as way more important than the state meet. It's the best runners in the country, and I know that everybody that's going to be there is capable of winning."