Chelsey Cortez continues track career at CSUSM
Chelsey Cortez will be continuing her education and her track and field career at Cal State San Marcus next season.
The Division II CIF Champion in the 3200 meters earned a 3.7 grade point average at Ramona High School and plans to major in communications to pursue a career in sports journalism or news broadcasting.
She earned eight varsity letters at Ramona High School, four in track and four in cross country. She also was All Valley League and San Diego Union-Tribune All Academic Team in track and cross country for two years each.
Chelsey will be running for Steve Scott at CSUSM. Scott set the American record in the mile (3:48.68) in 1981 and bettered the time in 1982 by posting a 3:47.69, a record that would stand for over 25 years. He ran sub four minute miles a record 136 times.
After his track career Scott moved to coaching. His coaching helped Azusa Pacific take third in the nation in 1993. Scott moved to CSUSM in 1999. He built the Cougar program into one of the top NAIA programs in the nation. This year they won their first National Championship.
“I believe that Chelsey will have an immediate impact in our program,” said Scott. “She has tremendous potential. Her form and mechanics are as good as I have seen in a woman runner of her age.”
Chelsey states that her best experiences at RHS was “running an 11:14 in the two mile at league and getting to stand at the top of the podium at the CIF.”
The best lessons she learned in sports at RHS are “self-discipline and learning to love what you do brings success.”
Chelsey said that her parents, Joe and Sherri, “have always been there for me even when things did not go well. They always give me positive feedback . I am thankful to have parents as my biggest fans.”
She advises incoming girls to go out for cross country and track.
“Girls have to understand what a beautiful, accomplishing sport that cross country is,” she said. Stick with it. Never give up.”
Chelsey will be a Cougar next year, but she will also be a Bulldog for life.