Parsons, Kipp Grab Records, First-Team Honors

In the early stages of the Colonial Conference Cross Country All-Star meet,  sophomore Ray Parsons and junior Millie Kipp set out to get a quick start and keep up with the front of their respective packs.

By the time both neared the finish line, neither had realized just how fast they had been going.

Parsons set a West Deptford school record for Pennypacker Park with a time of 16 minutes, 11 seconds, while Kipp recorded a personal-best time by finishing in 18:49. Parsons finished seventh in the boys’ race and Kipp was third in the girls’ race, both earning First-Team All Colonial Conference honors. Samantha Budd placed fifth, also earning First-Team status.

“(The course) was really flat, but I was just trying to stay up with everyone,“ said Parsons. “The first mile I wanted to run hard and pass the Haddon Township kid. I didn’t know I was going that fast, but I just kept pushing.”

Parsons said he learned something about himself in notching the record time.

“Now my body knows that it can work harder and now my mental toughness is a lot stronger, and I know I can push through a lot of pain,” Parsons said.

West Deptford boys' head coach Mark Drummond said after the meet that he wasn’t sure if Parsons' time was fast enough for an overall school record, but he couldn’t recall a better time.

Drummond added that he is not only happy with Parsons' continued improvement, but the improvement of the whole team.

“We are heading in the right direction,” Drummond said. “It's always good to look at one guy, but come sectional time, it is about having five, six, or seven guys. As much as Ray is improving, is how much the rest of the team is improving. Ray is leading the pack and doing everything he can do to lead out front, and the guys are doing a great job of keep up behind him.”

Kipp took the same approach as Parsons, trying to get out to a fast pace and stay near the front.

“I started out first mile really fast, and with kind of weather we were having I knew today would be a great time,” Kipp said. “Around mile two I kept it up and by the end of the race my coach was just telling me to go because he knew I could break 19 minutes. I was aiming to break 19 minutes and I definitely succeeded in doing so.”

Kipp said she didn’t know she was on pace for a PR until the final stages when she heard head coach Bob Cooper urging her on near the finish.

“I didn’t know I was going that fast until my coach was telling me at the end to sprint,“ Kipp said. “My dad was at sideline and when I came across I gave him a big hug because I was so excited.”

Cooper praised Kipp’s effort.

“She had an unbelievable performance today,” said Cooper. “She ran the way she wanted and was pumped up.”

The Eagles now turn their focus to the sectional championships, which arrive in a little over two weeks. Parsons has a chance to qualify into the state tournament with a good performance, but he is hoping he qualifies as part of a team–the entire team scored personal bests Thursday, making that goal look more attainable.

“Most of all I want the team to make the states,” he said. “We want to show everyone that we deserve to be there. As far as personally, I want to prove that I can be top 10 and show what I am capable of doing.”

The girls also have a strong chance of qualifying for states as a team. Cooper said the girls could finish as high as second or third in Group 2, a notion that would have been quite bold in the preseason.

“It tickles me to death,” said Cooper of his team’s improvement. “That’s what we work for, and to get four freshmen and two sophomores into that kind of shape shows that the girls are working hard, doing what they are supposed to do and progressing.”