When Coach Jason Parr took over the Park Hill Girls Cross Country program last year his team set a goal to put themselves on a path towards previously uncharted success. With an extremely young squad and a high number of athletes out for the team, they experienced mixed results in their first year of new leadership. A first place finish in the Rim Rock Classic was followed by a third place finish at the conference meet, but with their true focus always on the state meet they lost momentum going into the final weeks finishing last in the sectional meet and qualifying only one runner for state.
“We ran Rim Rock and won it,” Parr said. “I was proud of them, but we kind of lost some steam there towards the end of the season.”
The good thing for Park Hill is they return nearly all their young varsity runners and will have about 70 teammates, only three of which are seniors, to compete against as they continue to focus on their steady growth as a program. Returning for the Trojans is their sole state qualifier and district title holder sophomore Kim Rau along with classmates Brooke Bischof, Maddie Bischof, Maggie Lanham, Joanna Grauberger, and Maddie Hemphill. Adding to the competition will be some new faces in Mercedes Robinson, Emma Gaiser, Paige Carey, Delaney Stevenson, Abby Muller, and Olivia Muller. Their young fire was evident over the summer and Parr believes it’s been consistent with not only their growth as a team, but as individuals.
“The girls really took initiative this summer to put some miles in. It just comes with maturity and being able to tell themselves, ‘I know in order to get better I’m going to have to train,” Parr said.
One area of importance, the Trojans continue to focus on is the team aspect of the sport. Running together in a pack instead of as seven separate individuals allows for a constant source of motivation.
“They’ve got to know what it’s like for seven girls to be in a pack that are pushing each other. Getting them comfortable knowing that there are six other girls pushing them,” Parr said. “You can’t have your top runner up front with everyone else in the middle. You’ve got to have a group up front, pushing from the beginning.”
While their coach says you’ll find the group full of a variety of free-spirited, fun, and caring girls, fellow competitors shouldn’t expect to hear them passing them from behind.
“They’re the quietest bunch I’ve ever had. You’re not going to hear a lot of hurrah and jumping around,” Parr said. “You’re going to see leadership by example from Kim Rau, Maggie Lanham, and Brooke Bischof. They don’t have to say anything; they just go out there and work hard.”
Park Hill hopes to compete well in the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin against over 100 teams in September. They’ll also be eyeing defending conference champ Lee’s Summit West this season for their own shot at the title, but they want their real success to be measured by what happens after the conference meet in sectionals and state. Experiencing small doses last year, they’ll be looking to take the program another step up this season.
“Our expectations are always the state meet. Some of our girls tasted that last year so they understand what it’s going to take to get there,” Parr said.
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