As track season came to an end, junior Jack McNabola and senior Lauren Goodman were still standing–or rather running and jumping, respectively.  Both McNabola and Goodman took part in the state meets, McNabola taking 7th place in the state in the mile race with a personal best time of 4 minutes and 26 seconds, 16 seconds faster than his previous personal best, and 10th in the two mile with a time of 9 minutes 42 seconds, one second faster than his run last year. Goodman placed 39th out of 41 competitors in the long jump with a leap of 14 feet 8 inches.

For the first time ever Goodman qualified for the state track meet, at which she competed on May 18. On May 25, McNabola ran in the state meet for the second time, and this year, for the first time, he qualified for the state finals.

“There are eight state finalists,” Laura Gill, Assistant Athletic Director, said. “Goodman was one of 40 people who made it down state. Jack ran at the state meet at Eastern Illinois, and he ran at the preliminary rounds of the one mile and qualified with a personal record of four minutes and 26 seconds in the mile.”  

“I am definitely excited,” Goodman said before her meet. “I am not really that nervous because making state finals is a real long shot. ”

That’s what makes it so remarkable, according to Gill.  “Of hundreds and hundreds of kids,” Gill said, “they qualified in the top in the state, which is super impressive.”

Goodman’s passion for running and jumping started in Lower School at Parker. “I did a Parker Plus class called ‘Girls on the Run,’ starting in third grade,” Goodman said, “but I did not start track until sixth grade.” She then participated in track all through Middle and High School.

McNabola has had a passion for running since Middle School. “I just wanted to start running to stay in shape for basketball season,” McNabola said, “but as the season progressed, I just got better and better.” McNabola participated in Middle School track but did not run seriously until 9th Grade.

        Goodman practices whenever she can. “If the field is open,”  Goodman said, “I practice in the pit.”  She practices box jumps, and with Brett Laoruangroch, the Parker track and field coach, works on refining her skills. “I really love the team,” Goodman said, “and it was an added bonus that I am not terrible at jumping, and this year I went for it because it is the last year to do it.”

            Long-jumping is a precision event.  “For long jumps we have to get our marks down,” Goodman said. “You have to make sure you don’t go over the board, which is the actual thing they measure from for your distance. I normally do one or two practice jumps before the meet actually starts. The jumping events and the other field events go first.”

For McNabola, preparation is about working hard then tapering down.  “If there is a meet on Saturday,” McNabola said, “the preparation gets progressively less hard throughout the week.” Right before the meet begins, the runners do not run so that they have a full tank for competition.

        Goodman also participated in some of the relays: the 4 by 100 and the 4 by 200.  She alternates between the jumping and running events but does not do individual running events.  

        The Parker team had a good time during meets. “We do not take ourselves too seriously,” Goodman said. “We tend to be the loud tent with loud music and having fun.”

And McNabola’s and Goodman’s making it this far was not just a matter of fun.  Gill said, “Goodman and McNabola made a ridiculously cool accomplishment to make it downstate.”