PARKERSBURG - Madison Sury has been preparing for a transition to Ohio University's cross country program.
On Saturday, during the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Two-Mile Race, Sury showed some positive signs that the conversion is going well. The former Waterford High School volleyball and track standout took the top spot in the women's race with a time of 11:37.
"I've been training by running 60 miles a week to get ready for cross country," said Sury, who is majoring in Strategic Communications at Ohio. "This felt super relevant today and I'm happy with how I ran the race."
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Photo by Jeff Baughan
Parkersburg News and Sentinel intern Maddy Sury captured the women’s 2-mile race Saturday.
While Sury was already putting a little pressure on herself because she wanted to see how much progress she had made this summer - and to send a message to her coaches in Athens.
However, Sury's summer internship was with the Parkersburg News & Sentinel helping Online Manager and Half Marathon organizer Art Smith.
"My co-workers we're putting a lot of pressure on me to win the race," said a laughing Sury. "I'm excited that I was able to do this, but it may be the last time I run it. I'll go out on top."
Ohio University recruited Sury to compete in jumps after she finished second in the long jump at the Ohio Division III state meet in 2014 with a leap of 17 feet, 6.5 inches.
Now the 2015 Waterford co-valedictorian is excited about the new possibilities.
"I've been working hard to get ready for the season," she said. "I was optimistic about how I would run today. There are a couple of curves or turns and that got me out of my rhythm a bit, but overall it was a good race."
Coming in second was Olivia Collett, 15, of Parkersburg with a time of 11:50.
She also finished first in the 15-19 female category. Fellow Parkersburg native Madison Trippett, 15, was a close third in 11:59.
Rounding out the top 10 was Jessica Cantrell of Singers Glen, Va., (12:19); Ella Hesson of Williamstown (12:39); Abigail Herring of Parkersburg (12:47); Ellie Dario of Parkersburg (13:07); Kasey McNamara of Williamstown (13:09); Casey Brague of Marietta (13:11) and Devanne Reynolds of Vincent, Ohio, (13:12).
Hesson claimed the top spot in the 10-14 female division.
Other group winners from the 388 females were:
Frances Tracewell of Vienna in 13:43 (30-34)
Holly Martin of Vienna in 14:23 (40-44)
Stacy Houser of Washington in 14:30 (25-29)
Diane McAtee of Parkersburg in 15:19 (45-49)
Michelle Carr of Belpre in 16:53 (50-54)
Allison Lauderman of Parkersburg in 17:50 (35-39)
Janie Marks of Mineral Wells in 18:24 (60-64)
Julia Gwin of Alexandria, Va., in 18:55 (1-9)
Pamela Addis of Mineral Wells in 18:57 (55-59)
Peggy Grimm of Marietta in 21:59 (70+)
Sue Cantwell of Mineral Wells in 23:33 (65-69)