Photo courtesy of Emma Grace Hurley
Twenty minutes to warm up before a cross country race is not exactly ideal, but Fellowship Christian School senior Emma Grace Hurley is a veteran at this point. She overcame the short window for preparation to win her season opener by 52 seconds in 18:01.95, a course PR by 15 seconds compared to last year.
Bad traffic on the way to Fairburn, Ga. caused the delay, but Hurley did her best to put the circumstances out of her mind. The 2014 Foot Locker finalist (24th in San Diego) took the first mile out in about 5:30 before cruising through two miles in 11:35.
"I could feel the lack of warm-up there," she said. "In the last mile, I actually felt the most comfortable."
After a track season that saw her clock personal bests of 10:38.01 for 3200m and 4:55.56 for 1600m, the defending Georgia state cross country champion says she feels good about her fitness at this point in the season.
"I took [summer training] a little slower than last year to make sure I peak in December - if I make I that far again," she said.