Parry gains experience at state meet

Fallbrook High School freshman Kristin Parry finished 134th among the 198 runners at the state CIF Division I girls cross-country meet November 24 in Fresno.

“She did her best out there. It’s kind of an overwhelming experience to be in your first state meet as a freshman,” said Fallbrook coach Troy Hamlin.

Parry fell during the initial start, which caused a restart of the race. “I think she was a little bit rattled from that, and she also had a little bit of a cold,” Hamlin said.

Parry had a time of 20:15 on the 5,000-meter (3.1-mile) course. “The first time there, it’s a learning experience for them,” Hamlin said.

Parry qualified for the state meet by finishing 13th among Division I runners at the CIF San Diego Section meet November 17 at San Diego’s Morley Field.

The top five runners from each division not on one of the top three

teams earn an invitation to the state meet as individuals. The top three teams in each division advance to the state meet as a team.

Parry had a time of 17:03 on the 2.75-mile course at the CIF meet.

During the CIF meet, Parry completed the first mile in 5:51. At the state meet she had a first-mile time of 5:44. “She was right in there,” Hamlin said.

At the state meet Parry was in the top ten after the first quarter-mile. “She was out awfully hard,” Hamlin said. “That’s going to take its toll.”

On the other hand, Hamlin acknowledged, the fast starting pace allowed Parry to be clear with so large a field.

One accomplishment for Parry was learning what it was like to run at that level.

“That’s what she did,” Hamlin said. “They just have to get used to running against the best people in the state of California.”

Hamlin noted that the state meet will give Parry a basis for the 2008 state meet. “It’s a great, great experience for her to have under her belt,” Hamlin said.