Sage Hill’s Conlogue still alive

If there’s an essay topic titled, “Things I did this past summer,” Courtney Conlogue will have plenty to write about.

The Sage Hill School sophomore surpassed what she called the most stacked heat she had ever been in and advanced to today’s Round of 24 in the U.S. Open of Surfing women’s division in Huntington Beach.

After a less-than-desirable performance in the Round of 60, Conlogue responded by beating Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore, 16.60-16.33, on Wednesday.

Hawaii’s Keala Kennelly, who was on the X Games team with Conlogue earlier this month, came in third with 11.70.

Conlogue said the last time she faced such a difficult heat was back in December when she defeated defending U.S. Open champion Sofia Mulanovich of Peru in Hawaii.

Mulanovich is also in today’s Round of 24.

That gave Conlogue confidence that she’s been riding ever since.

Now Conlogue’s hoping to score high enough twice today to move on to Saturday, when the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will take place.

Last year, Conlogue reached the Round of 48 before being eliminated, so already she has improved.

“It was fun [Wednesday]; I had a blast,” Conlogue said. “That’s why I went out there: to have fun and to win, too.”

— Steve Virgen