Karlie Lema said she likes to compete at everything. And when she says everything, the Live Oak High freshman means it.
“Even in P.E. (class), I want to win and do the best I can,” she said. “I’ve always been that way—I think I was born with a competitive attitude.”
Lema’s willingness to compete has been evident in the current track and field season. Entering the week, the freshman sensation was ranked in the Central Coast Section’s top five in three different events: the 100-meter dash, 100 hurdles and long jump. Perhaps no other athlete in the entire section has a resume that shows such a wide range of skills and talent.
Lema’s personal-records (PRs) in her events are impressive: 12.35 seconds in the 100, 15.02 in the 100 hurdles and 18 feet in the long jump. No doubt, Lema has inherited raw talent (her mom, Annie, earned a track and field scholarship to a Division I program in Colorado). But Lema’s extraordinary accomplishments—she also had a spectacular soccer season last fall—can’t be chalked up to great genes alone.
Lema’s indefatigable work ethic—during the track and field season from Tuesday through Thursday, Lema has double practices going from track and field to club soccer workouts—and competitive drive and willingness to take constructive criticism and make adjustments have all been key to her development.
Lema also has a humble attitude, something that will serve her well in the years ahead.
“I’m surprised (to be ranked high in three events) because I didn’t think it would come in my freshman year,” she said.
Lema set records in a handful of events at Martin Murphy Middle School, so the success she’s having this season shouldn’t come as a surprise. Although soccer is her favorite sport—she’s made a verbal commitment to play at Cal—Lema loves the challenge of track and field, particularly the hurdles event.
“The hurdles are hard to master,” she said. “One of my problems is I’m jumping too high (instead of narrowly clearing the hurdles), so I have to get my form and technique down and fix that. I love doing hurdles because I get to jump over something rather than just going straight.”
Lema’s season highlight came when she made the 100 hurdles final in the prestigious Stanford Invitational on March 30.
“Competing at Stanford was nerve-wracking,” she said. “I didn’t think I would make it to the finals, but I did.”
When Lema gets on the track, her mindset is straightforward enough: to get a PR and beat her competitors. Lema credits the Live Oak coaches for helping in her development, along with her mom for constantly giving her advice. Lema has always been racing at a level above others in her age group.
When Lema started competing in junior track meets in Los Gatos at age 7, she was often placed with athletes 2 or 3 years older than her because of her immense ability. Over the years, Lema has combined that talent with a strong work ethic, resulting in some impressive achievements in the athletic arena.
