Photos by Steven Pisano
Foot Locker Nationals Girls' Preview
While for the first time in three years, the Foot Locker Northeast champion didn't come from Pennsylvania, the Keystone State is still sending two girls to Foot Locker Nationals. Taryn Parks and Alison Willingmyre both hail from District 3 and will look to close out their XC seasons on high notes this Saturday.
Taryn Parks (Greencastle-Antrim)
Foot Locker Northeast: 7th place in 18:05
PIAA State Championships: 1st place in 18:56 (AA)
Her Resume: We knew Parks was good, but maybe we didn't know she was this good. Parks, just a freshman, started his high school career off with three straight wins coming at Enos Yeager, the Rebel Invite in Maryland, and the Ben Bloser Bulldog Invite. She took fourth in a loaded Carlisle field, and then claimed wins at Don Stoner in Maryland, Mid-Penns, District 3 and the PIAA State Championships as the Class-AA champ. Her best race, however, came at Foot Locker Northeast, where Parks ran a PR of 18:05 on the challenging Van Cortlandt Park course. She was conservative in her start and it paid off as she moved up to take seventh in the region and book a trip to San Diego.
Her Nationals Outlook: Parks is the only freshman in the field and the first ninth grader to qualify out of the Northeast Region since 2013. It would be easy to say that the big lights might be too much for a freshman, but Parks has shown to be wise beyond her years this season, exhibited the poise of a wily veteran. She's never seen a field this talented, though. TullyRunners speed ratings have her at 25 in the 40 runner field. But the top 20 and the top half of the field seems realistic for Parks.
Alison Willingmyre (Wilson)
Foot Locker Northeast: 8th in 18:05
PIAA State Championships: 4th in 18:23 (AAA)
Her Resume: Willingmyre has been the model of steady improvement in her four year XC career. She went from 41st to 11th to fifth and finally fourth at the PIAA State Championships in AAA. Now the senior, who was 18th at FLNE as a junior, took eighth as a senior, earning her a trip to Nationals. This year, Willingymyre started her season off taking second at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invite, the site of her future college, Penn State. She was then third at Carlisle (a place ahead of Parks), first at the Berk County Champs, and third at District 3.
Her Nationals Outlook: Willingmyre appears to be in great shape, running an 18:05 at Van Cortlandt Park, which is just a few ticks off her PR of 18:01 from Carlisle earlier this season. The fitness is still there for Willingymre even after a long XC season. She's been well tested all season, coming from a talented district and a loaded PIAA Class-AAA. She has that senior experience and that should all bode well for her heading into Saturday. TullyRunners has her right behind Parks in speed ratings (26th), so like the freshman, Willingymyre has the ability to improve upon that and shoot for the top 20 in the nation.
Watch the Foot Locker Northeast Regional girls' race below: