Photo by Chris Auckley http://motrackfanatic.com/
ST. LOUIS – Nerinx Hall junior Sophia Racette ran alone up front for the entire Class 4 District 3 race Saturday.
With a couple strips of kinesio tape stretched across her left knee, Racette appeared more relieved than excited about her 18:15 winning performance at Forest Park.
“I was having a little bit of knee pain,” Racette said. “I think it was from a tight IT band and hamstrings, and we’ve been working it out. It happened after the conference meet last week. It all came together after that race. I don’t think it will pose a problem at the end of the season.”
Trailing close behind was teammate Katie Anderson, who finished second in 18:25.
Anderson is used to chasing after Racette, and Saturday it helped her to a new PR by 15 seconds.
“I try to keep as close to her as I can and keep her in view,” Anderson said. “As long as I can see her it’s a good sign.”
Anderson led a trio of Markers to the finish line as Maddie Hetlage captured third (19:04) and Erin Smith was fourth (19:07). Webster Groves’ Emma Johnson slipped into fifth to break up the perfect scoring effort of Nerinx Hall, who had its fifth scoring runner Madeline Nathe cross the finish in sixth (19:21).
Johnson said she paced off a familiar Marker, and she didn’t think either one was aware they were racing toward a big PR. Johnson’s 19:10 shaved 49 seconds off her previous best, and she joked about returning to the fast Forest Park loop for another stab at even faster times.
“There’s a Nerinx girl that is usually around my pace, and I was just running with her,” Johnson said. “I don’t think either of us realized how fast we were going. It felt good.
“It makes me think breaking 19 is possible. If I could run back here after the season ends or something I could break 19.”
With a sectional race next week back on her home course at Blackburn Park, Johnson is feeling even better about her chance of redeeming herself on the state course after regressing following her freshman appearance.
“I really don’t know about state,” Johnson said. “My freshman year I was around 70th, but last year, I really didn’t like my race last year.”