Spring Break
The Daily OrangeHursey spurns multi-sport past for running
By Philip George
Posted: 10/28/09, 2:52 AM EST Section: Sports
For Katie Hursey, it was merely a way to stay in shape for another sport.
In high school, when Hursey decided lacrosse wasn't for her, she took up track - running helped her stay in good shape for the upcoming soccer season. But when Hursey made the soccer team as a junior, she declined the opportunity because she preferred running.
During her senior year, she dropped swimming from her repertoire as well.
When all was said and done, track consumed a lifestyle Hursey once populated with a sport for every season. As a senior at North Carroll high school, she settled in on track, indoor track and cross country, which turned out to be the right move. Currently she helps pace the No. 10
Syracuse cross country team during one of the program's best seasons in history.
"She's definitely a huge part of (the team)," Rebekah MacKay, Hursey's teammate said. "Without her, we wouldn't be as good."
So for this season, Hursey has made a name for herself running at her best when it's counted the most.
In addition to a third place finish at the Colgate Invitational early in the season, Hursey has recorded Syracuse's best times in her two most recent events - the Pre-Nationals invitational (21:14, 23rd overall) and the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational (17:26; 7th overall) - against some of the nation's top competition.
"She's done everything we've asked her and more," head coach Chris Fox said.
Fox had known about Hursey's past as a multi-sport athlete, which he knew could produce explosive performances on race day.
As a freshman, Hursey earned Northeast All-Region honors with a 21st-place finish at the regional meet, and placed 23rd at the Big East Championship.
"She kind of showed in her freshman year that she could be that good, but this time last year she was a little off her game," Fox said.
A season later, that explosiveness Hursey showed as a freshman seemed to have vanished. Despite winning the John Reif Memorial Run and finishing second at the Harry Lang Invitational, Hursey's performance in the more prestigious tournaments dropped off.
In high school, when Hursey decided lacrosse wasn't for her, she took up track - running helped her stay in good shape for the upcoming soccer season. But when Hursey made the soccer team as a junior, she declined the opportunity because she preferred running.
During her senior year, she dropped swimming from her repertoire as well.
When all was said and done, track consumed a lifestyle Hursey once populated with a sport for every season. As a senior at North Carroll high school, she settled in on track, indoor track and cross country, which turned out to be the right move. Currently she helps pace the No. 10
Syracuse cross country team during one of the program's best seasons in history.
"She's definitely a huge part of (the team)," Rebekah MacKay, Hursey's teammate said. "Without her, we wouldn't be as good."
So for this season, Hursey has made a name for herself running at her best when it's counted the most.
In addition to a third place finish at the Colgate Invitational early in the season, Hursey has recorded Syracuse's best times in her two most recent events - the Pre-Nationals invitational (21:14, 23rd overall) and the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational (17:26; 7th overall) - against some of the nation's top competition.
"She's done everything we've asked her and more," head coach Chris Fox said.
Fox had known about Hursey's past as a multi-sport athlete, which he knew could produce explosive performances on race day.
As a freshman, Hursey earned Northeast All-Region honors with a 21st-place finish at the regional meet, and placed 23rd at the Big East Championship.
"She kind of showed in her freshman year that she could be that good, but this time last year she was a little off her game," Fox said.
A season later, that explosiveness Hursey showed as a freshman seemed to have vanished. Despite winning the John Reif Memorial Run and finishing second at the Harry Lang Invitational, Hursey's performance in the more prestigious tournaments dropped off.
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