CRUZ-ING BACK FROM THE DEAD.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

Strange how a simple twist of fate can sometimes redirect a person's life course.

Marathon runner Alejandro Cruz of Mexico can offer a doozy.

Once a dazzling young racer with limitless prospects, Cruz had stumbled into such a desperate career slump that last year he wasn't even invited to a race in his homeland, the Cancun Marathon. But then his wife, distance runner Marta Jimenez, won a 15K race in Mexico City and claimed a first prize that included two tickets - and two entries - to Cancun.

For a lark, Cruz joined her . . . and won. Just like that, his career was in full rebound.

``It gave me a lot of confidence,'' said Cruz, one of the elite runners entered in Sunday's Los Angeles Marathon. ``There (at Cancun) I saw that I had a lot of endurance, to be with the lead group and still be strong at the end.''

It was a feeling he hadn't known in some time. Cruz, in fact, had gone back to the University of Mexico to earn a master's degree in finance (to go with his undergraduate degree in civil engineering) precisely because he wasn't making enough money racing.

Now there is fresh life in those 30-year-old legs. Cruz last month finished third at the San Blas half-marathon in Puerto Rico, which has served as an important springboard for such past L.A. Marathon winners as Costa Rica's Jose Luis Molina in 1996, Ecuador's Rolando Vera in '95 and Mexico's Martin Mondragon in '88.

Cruz should be forgiven if his body experiences a shudder of emotion Sunday as he dashes away from the starting line at Figueroa and 6th Street. It was in Los Angeles 10 years ago, at the tender age of 20, that he burst on the marathon scene with a breakthrough race.

Cruz covered the 26.2-mile course that day in 2 hours, 13 minutes, 14 seconds. It was good enough for sixth place, but the race would later prove to be the most competitive in the 12-year history of the race. The winner, Mondragon, set a course record (2:10:19) that still stands, and Cruz's time, the 22nd-fastest on the all-time L.A. list, would have been good enough to win in '93, '96 and '97.

An appearance in this year's race ``is important, because after 10 years I could come back to the international scene in L.A. again,'' Cruz said from Mexico City through an interpreter. He added that he also looks forward to the race because of the city's vast Mexican population - it includes an uncle and a smattering of cousins - which has been known to roar for countrymen toward the finish of a close race.

Cruz took the marathon community by storm that March day in '88, and he didn't let up - at least at first. He won the Chicago Marathon the same year, running 2:08:57, and in '89 engaged in a thrilling battle with world record-holder Belayneh Densimo of Ethiopia in the Rotterdam Marathon, finishing second by 46 seconds.

``At that time, everybody thought Alejandro had a chance to set the world record in the marathon,'' said Luis Felipe Posso, who represents Cruz in this country.

It was not to be, however. Not even close. After experiencing success in a variety of road races in the early '90s, Cruz's career suffered a fade that was nearly as dramatic as its initial kick. The time he produced in Chicago at age 20 would stand up interminably as his personal best.

By all accounts, Cruz simply took on too much in an attempt to live up to the dizzying expectations that the marathon community held for him.

``He was pretty young when he won Chicago,'' said Marty Post of Runner's World magazine. ``I think he might have gotten a little too ambitious and run too many races. The prize money was coming into vogue then. It's tempting to go out and run more races than you should.''

``Yes, I agree,'' Cruz says today. ``But I don't have any regrets, because that's what I wanted to do at the time.''

Posso says that most runners will use the shorter road races - 10Ks, 15Ks, half-marathons - solely for training purposes, reserving their competitive grit for the marathons.

Not Cruz. His father had died early in his life and Cruz was second in a family that included four brothers and a sister. This racing prodigy emerged as the primary breadwinner for his mother and siblings. Besides, he was an impetuous young runner; it was not in his nature to approach any event with measured objectives.

``He was too hyper,'' said Posso. ``He was focusing too much. He was trying to win every race, not just marathons. He took the lead from the beginning. He was killing himself.''

A career expired in the wake.

As is often the case, though, these experiences tempered Cruz's outlook, as did the maturity of years, his marriage to Jimenez and such pursuits as his master's degree.

``It's been frustrating,'' Cruz said. ``After you get used to winning, not winning is tough. . . . I don't think I'm there yet. It is difficult to assess. I had those bad years, but I always kept working hard, hoping that one day, in one race, things would change.''

It wound up happening in Cancun.

Even though he wasn't supposed to be there.

MEMORABLE RACE

The Los Angeles Marathon this week will mark the 10th anniversary of the most competitive race in the event's 12-year history. In 1988, seven runners cracked the 2-hour, 14-minute mark, and the winner set a course record that still stands. In two other years, '93 and '97, the race winner didn't get under 2:14. The finish in '88:

1. Martin Mondragon, Mexico, 2:10:19

2. Jesus Herrera, Mexico, 2:10:40

3. Mark Plaatjes, S. Africa, 2:10:41

4. Carlos Retiz, Mexico, 2:11:30

5. Manuel Vera Canelo, Mexico, 2:13:12

6. Alejandro Cruz, Mexico, 2:13:14

7. Gianni Poli, Italy, 2:13:55

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: MEMORABLE RACE (see text)