WAHOO, Neb. — A special cross country sorority exists among the Curran women of Wahoo, and the youngest member will try to one-up the others this fall.

Michaela Curran became a state champion last season when she captured the Class C crown — like her sister Erin and their mother, Karla.

Their mother, the former Karla Christensen, won Class C in 1982 at Wahoo during her only high school cross country season. Erin was state champion in 2008.

“I thought it was really cool,” Michaela said. “It's just amazing to me that all three (won state titles). It's a humbling experience, I'd say.”

Michaela, who was runner-up to her older sister in 2008, hopes to defend her state title despite going eight weeks without running in the spring because of a stress fracture in her femur.

“It's wait and see,” she said. “I'll just run my best and God will do the rest. Working hard and doing your best — that's all you can do.”

Running runs in the family.

Karla went on to earn all-America honors at Midland, where she set school track records. Her husband Craig was fourth in the 1981 state cross country meet for Class A Omaha South. Erin owns fourth-place state medals from 2005 and 2007, while her twin brother, Eric, was a three-time state qualifier.

Michaela started running at age 5. “I just wanted to,” she said.

The family often goes together on runs, but the order of finish has changed through the years.

“We just all go out to run,” Michaela said, “but we all have our own pace.”

Erin made it easier for Michaela during her freshman year, and she still serves as a source of motivation. Erin currently runs at Black Hills State.

“She was always like a role model, I wanted to be like her,” Michaela said. “I tried to follow in her footsteps.”

Michaela has a 4.0 grade-point average, and like her siblings, she ranks No. 1 in her class.

She runs for her parents. Literally. Karla serves as cross country coach, while Craig acts as “student manager” and a sounding board for his wife.

“It's mostly all good,” Michaela said about having mom as coach. “I'm confident that she knows what she's doing.”

The youngest Curran admits to having a temper, being a perfectionist and competing at everything she does. She attempts to match target times at races, and her breathing pattern starts to go with the song in her head.

Michaela leads by example, not so much through words.

“Her work ethic is phenomenal,” Karla said. “She's a very strong leader, and the other girls just follow. The girls this year have a focus I've never seen before. My hope is we get back to the state meet.”

Contact the writer:

444-1201, sports@owh.com

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