FINISHING KICK: Princeton High girls’ cross country runner Annie Walker heads to the finish line at the Mercer County Cross Country Championships last Friday at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. Senior standout Walker finished third individually in the girls’ varsity race, covering the 5,000-meter course in a time of 19:10.08. Her stellar performance helped PHS place second in the team standings behind champion WW/P-S. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Annie Walker has endured a star-crossed career for the Princeton High girls’ cross country team.

“I had an issue with my calf for a good part of a year,” said senior Walker. “Injuries carried from my sophomore year into my junior year. It was last year in spring track when I was finally at full speed.”

Last Friday at the Mercer County Cross Country Championships at Thompson Park in Jamesburg, Walker emerged as a star for the Little Tigers, taking third individually to help PHS place second in the team standings behind winner WW/P-S.

In taking third, Walker posted a time of 19:10.08 over the 5,000-meter course with junior Chloe Taylor taking fifth in 19:29.99 and senior Izzy Trenholm placing eighth in 19:40.47.

Walker was thrilled with her performance, seeing it as a testament to her perseverance.

“I have been working really hard this entire season, getting ready for a race like this where I can really show some of the hard work that I have been putting in with my team,” said Walker.

In making it to the front of the pack at the counties, Walker worked with teammate Taylor, the team’s consistent frontrunner this fall.

“I was hoping to stick with my teammate Chloe, she is usually a huge part of my races,” explained Walker.

“I passed her after the second mile mark going on the downhill. I have been working on the downhills a really long time so I know when I get to that point in a course, that is my shot to open up and let my stride take me.”

In reflecting on her breakthrough race, Walker credited her teammates with helping her getting to that point.

“My team is my support system,” said Walker. “If someone isn’t doing well or racing well, we bring them along with us. It is all about the team and the workouts.”

PHS head coach Jim Smirk was proud to see Walker run so well at the county meet.

“Annie is a kid who just couldn’t get healthy; we knew she was talented,” said Smirk.

“She has been such a part of our team in terms of our culture and drive for success. She has always been there, practicing hard every day.”

While noting that Taylor had a hard day, Smirk believes she has better races ahead.

“The hills got Chloe today a little bit,” said Smirk. “She has been racing great, she will put it together. It was working on 150 meters. If that is the downside to your county race that you have 150 meters to work on, that is fine.”

Senior Trenholm produced a great effort. “Izzy Trenholm did well, she had a hard time earlier this season,” added Smirk.

“She had a tough race here in the Fall Classic and really improved upon that. She showed who she is and what a competitor she is.”

Smirk is looking forward to seeing his runners compete at the sectional meet this Saturday at Thompson Park.

“We have room to grow, we are going to get better,” said Smirk “That is not as good as we are going to get. We are going to work to get better and that is what we are looking for.”

Walker, for her part, believes she and the team can build on the effort at the county meet.

“I am just really happy and I am really happy with my team, we have been working so hard this season,” said Walker.

“We are excited to see what the rest of the season holds. We are looking toward sectionals, we won it a couple of years ago and we are just going to keep trying.”