MALLORY KREIDER of Edgewood and coach Steve Hill confer after Kreider finished 23rd in the Division II race Saturday in Columbus. BOB ETTINGER / Star Beacon
Published November 08, 2009 04:27 am - COLUMBUS — Everything seemed to be aligned just perfectly. It was a bright, sunny day, with temperatures at a reasonable level, at least for November, and conditions that seemed to lend themselves to good performances.
Kreider: ‘It just wasn’t my day’ Edgewood senior finishes 23rd; earns 2nd-team All-Ohio recognition
KARL PEARSON Star Beacon
COLUMBUS — Everything seemed to be aligned just perfectly. It was a bright, sunny day, with temperatures at a reasonable level, at least for November, and conditions that seemed to lend themselves to good performances.
It seemed that everything was about as perfect as it could be for Edgewood senior Mallory Kreider to turn in the performance she had dreamed of Saturday morning in the Division II state cross country meet at Scioto Downs Race Track. But, just because things seem to be perfect doesn’t always mean they’re going to work out that way.
For the second straight week, the daughter of Alan and Kim Kreider looked to be in good shape through the first 4,000 meters of the 3.1-mile race. But the last 1,000 meters didn’t work out for the Warrior veteran as she faded over the final stretch and barely made it to the finish line to finish 23rd in 19:48.66. She had to be helped to the medical van near the finish line and spent extensive time in the recovery area with coach Steve Hills.
That was an improvement of two places over her finish in 2008. It was good enough for placement as a second-team All-Ohioan for the second straight year.
But Kreider was looking for much more, so Saturday’s finish was a severe disappointment.
“I worked harder than that this year,” she said. “It just wasn’t my day today.”
Both she and Hill said Kreider was not sick or complained of being sick in the days leading up to the state meet.
“Mallory’s workouts have been really good all week,” Hill said. “She didn’t give any sign that she was sick.”
It seemed that Kreider and Hill had come up with a good plan to try and maximize her performance at the state meet. Through much of the race, it was executed perfectly, with Kreider staying in the front pack in fifth place most of the way. Race winner Christina Blair of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy ran away to victory for the second straight week, finishing in 18:39.71 to defeat Taylor Hatfield of Chillicothe Zane Trace, who finished in 18:49.28.
“She ran the race just the way we had planned it,” Hill said. “Mallory was right where she needed to be for most of the race.”
“I was right where I wanted to be,” Kreider said in agreement. “The last half mile really did hurt, though.”
When she awoke Saturday morning, Kreider was greeted by conditions that pumped her up for the race.
“I was really excited when I woke up this morning,” she said.
About the only negative element was a rather stiff wind that blew across the open spaces inside the track and also took a toll when the runners were outside the confines of the track.
“We actually planned for the winning time to be slower today,” Hill said. “Mallory was right on pace. I think the wind did hurt a little.”
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