St. Catherine’s has dominated VISAA outdoor track and field over the last decade. The Saints won five consecutive state titles from 2002 to 2006.
After watching three different schools win the next three titles, St. Catherine’s has won the past three state crowns.
Sophomores Bri Miller and Libby Parrish play integral roles for St. Catherine’s.
“They’re still young, but they do what they’re supposed to do,” first-year head coach Sherry Edwards said.
“I think they are keeping the winning tradition here at St. Catherine’s alive.”
Miller and Parrish participated in other sports before focusing on track.
Miller used to play basketball, but her dad used to run track, and that sparked her interest.
“He was a state record holder in the triple jump, which got me started with the triple jump,” she said. “And so I figured since he was good at it, I would give it a shot.”
Miller is the reigning VISAA champion in the long and triple jumps and is attempting to improve her performances in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. She finished third in the 100 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles last year. Early prosperity is pleasant for her when it comes to following in her father’s footsteps.
“For him to see me succeed and try to live up to what he’s done, that’s really fun,” she said. “He’s very supportive.”
Parrish got involved with the team during the indoor season her eighth-grade year. She had played lacrosse and still plays for the Saints’ field hockey team in the fall. But once her friends convinced her to stick with running in her freshman year, lacrosse became an afterthought.
“I don’t regret giving up lacrosse,” she said. “I like running track both indoor and outdoor. I think it was good for me to do it in ninth grade as well.”
Parrish is a key piece of St. Catherine’s’ distance program. She won the state title in the 1,600 last year, was second in the 800, and ran the anchor leg of the second-place 3,200 relay team.
“It feels good to do this well so early,” she said. “I hope I can stay on the path that I’m on.”
Distance coach and St. Catherine’s grad Ann Tripp sees a lot of qualities in Parrish that a former teammate had when she competed.
“Libby is very similar to Katie Doswell,” she said. “She has a lot of determination and will not back down. She’s just a gifted runner, and reminds me so much of Katie.”
Miller and Parrish make an impact on the St. Catherine’s program, and will have two more years to continue to do so. Their performances continue to build upon a foundation of excellence laid out by student-athletes before them.
“They work extremely hard,” Edwards said. “Their success just keeps breeding that tradition of good runners coming out of St. Catherine’s.”
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