ON PACE: Princeton High girls’ cross country runner Mary Sutton competes in the Mercer County cross country championship meet last Friday at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. Senior star Sutton took seventh individually in the race to help PHS place second in the team standings behind champion WW/P-S. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Mary Sutton didn’t have to look far for inspiration as she competed in the Mercer County cross country championship meet last Friday at Thompson Park in Jamesburg.

The Princeton High star had her course record of 19:49 written in ink on her wrist with the message “crush it” and a smiley face next to it. On her ankle, she transcribed a passage from Isaiah 40:31, stating, in part, that “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.”

Sutton succeeded on both counts, clocking a time of 19:46 as she soared to seventh place individually, helping PHS take second in the team standings behind champion WW/P-S.

“I knew there were six girls in front of me,” said Sutton. “On the second turn, I could still see Grace [Dwyer of Nottingham], Christina [Rancan of WW/P-DS] and Deirdre [Casey of WW/P-S] and I was like oh my gosh, this is awesome, I am staying up with them. I wasn’t right next to them but I was close. It was just momentum and motivation to stay up with them. I needed to do it for my team.”

The strength of the PHS team helped spur Sutton to her solid finish as senior Paige Metzheiser placed eighth with junior Emma Eikelberner taking ninth and junior Lou Mialhe placing 11th.

“Our game plan today was to run as a pack and run together,” said Sutton. “In cross country, the closer you are together, the more points you can score. When I turned around, Paige and Emma were right behind me and then Lou wasn’t much farther behind.”

Sutton has worked hard to improve her running. “I have gone to a cross country camp in Colorado the past two summers,” said Sutton, noting that she averaged 45-50 miles running per week last summer with a high of 62.

“We have motivational speakers come and talk to us, we have coaches from all over the nation come talk to us. We have nutritionists come to help us have a better body inside. We work on the leg muscles and the mental aspect of running. That has helped me. I think I have better lungs. I can charge up those hills because there were some tough hills there in Colorado.”

Sutton is determined to make a final charge as she wraps up her PHS cross country career.

“It is squeezing every drop you can as a senior,” said Sutton, who plans to run in college.

“It is sad but I wouldn’t want to end my career with any other group of girls, they are so sweet and kind. They are motivating and helpful when you need it. I am truly blessed to be part of the Princeton team.”

PHS head coach Jim Smirk liked the way his runners ran as a team in the county meet. “We stayed true to our goal which was to trust our pack,” said Smirk.

“We talk a lot about the idea that you have to race within yourself and what’s within your control and we did that. I think that has been a hallmark of our team for a long time. We talk about the ability to hold each other’s hands across the line, which we know would actually be a disqualification but that is our goal. We want to look like one finishing. There were a few people who squeezed in the pack today but we did a nice job.”

Smirk was not surprised that Sutton emerged at the front of the PHS pack. “Mary ran really well,” said Smirk. “A year ago or two years ago when push would come to shove you could see Mary having a hard time finding success there. We really rely on her to be that kid who steps up in that moment over and over again.”

Outside of the top pack, PHS had two runners who also stepped up in senior Julie Bond, who fought through injury to take 26th and sophomore Izzy Trentholm, the 16th-place finisher.

“I think there were two things today that impressed me beyond the overall race,” added Smirk.

“One thing was Julie Bond, she is dealing with a hip injury. She gutted it out, she knew she wasn’t going to have her best day but she felt she should be there for her team. Izzy Trentholm, stepped right into the slot and really did a tremendous job. She literally left it all out here so we are thrilled with how that worked. She really stepped up to the challenge today.”

With the Central Jersey Group 3 sectional meet taking place on November 8 at Thompson Park, Smirk believes his team is up for the challenge of succeeding at the state level “We ran this course very fast and effectively,” said Smirk.

“We had made some mistakes at the Fall Classic and we corrected those. We ran effectively and mistake free. Now we have to risk more and that is what our plan is going to be going forward. There is going to be some really good racing going on and I am excited for that. I think we will get a last good race here at our sectional. We need to improve on what we know we can do and push beyond our perceived limitations and see if we can break out and give it a run at it.”

In Sutton’s view, the Little Tigers are primed for a big title run. “I think if we run as a pack, we are unstoppable,” said Sutton. “If we fix up some of the little injuries and hiccups that we have, the sky is the limit.”