JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Russellville senior Miranda Hill felt fortunate just to be running in the Class 1 state meet Saturday, and winning the race was almost unfathomable even a month ago.
With her apparent medical issues behind her, Hill charged over the Oak Hills Golf Center course and claimed the Class 1 title in 20:15.95 – which was more than a minute faster than she had run during her short season.
“I had a month off at the beginning of season because I had iron problems and a heart monitor,” Hill said. “I just got (the monitor) off the day after districts. I had not run faster than 21:25. That was my best time this year. Running a 20:15 today is like the best feeling ever.
“It pushed me to do more. I knew not doing well at the beginning of the season I wanted to do my best. This is my last year and my last race for high school, and I was going to do as best as I could.”
While Hill was battling her iron deficiency, she was still trying to pitch for the softball team. Once softball ended, she turned her attention to cross country and finally began her training in October.
Hill said her iron level was a seven, and her doctor told her it should register around 160. Because he had discovered heart disease in other patients with similar symptoms, her doctor fitted her with a heart monitor to attempt to rule out any serious issues. Even though the monitor was removed, Hill said she ran at state without knowing what the results are yet.
Hill had run at Oak Hills the previous three years, but she had never gotten around the course under 21 minutes. She finished fourth last year in 21:46, and Saturday’s race was a new PR by nearly 30 seconds.
This year Hill had some help getting around the course with teammate Grace Young near her side. Hill said Young’s presence was a big boost to her performance.
“Me and Grace were together most of the race. It was a little before the 2-mile marker I got ahead of her and kept going,” Hill said. “When I first started off, I felt tired and didn’t think I could do it. When I got to the mile and a half I felt pretty good, and I was right there with Grace and I knew I could stay with her.
“She pushed me. She really helped. It was nice having her with me. I felt her going with me, and she’s had problems this week too so I knew if she couldn’t stay with me she’d be right behind me.”
Young finished third in 20:37 despite missing training all week because of an ailing knee.
“I haven’t run much this past week because Sunday night my knee started hurting. It didn’t hurt today on the race, but I didn’t feel like I should have,” Young said. “I was just a little exhausted from not running this week.”
Hill said the team, which won the Class 1 title, was planning on celebrating with a party at her house, which was surely enough to remove any lingering aches or pains at least for one night.
Watch Miranda Hill's Post Race Interview