Growing into champion

Growth spurts aren’t always welcomed by distance runners.

Strides become more awkward and techniques have to be relearned. And for a while, times get slower.

Such was the case for Karina Haymore this summer.

A four-inch growth spurt had the Foothill sophomore searching for answers on how to quicken her pace and decrease her time. She found those answers in time for an impressive stretch drive that has her leading the Falcons into Saturday’s Division I state cross country meet.

Haymore, who won the individual Sunrise Region title and helped the Falcons to the team title, will compete for a state crown at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sunset Park.

Haymore captured the Sunrise race at Sunset Park last Thursday, finishing the 3.1-mile course in 20 minutes, 10 seconds, shaving almost three minutes off the time she ran on the same course in September.

“I didn’t train all summer because I grew four inches, and I couldn’t run,” said Haymore, who finished 50th in 23:05.3 in the Las Vegas Invitational at Sunset Park on Sept. 6. “At the beginning of the season, I was just really slow. I made a commitment to just work hard throughout the season and not let that get to me.”

By the end of September, Haymore had won her first race, taking the top spot in a cluster meet at Sonata Park. She placed second in the Bud O’Dea Freshman-Sophomore race on Oct. 14 and won the Southeast League finals on Oct. 25.

“Karina has been a huge asset to the team,” Foothill coach Natalie Thomas said. “She works hard every day, has goals every day. She has been a team leader as far as dedication and work ethic.”

Haymore’s rise has coincided with the Falcons improving as a team.

Stuck behind Coronado for much of the season, Foothill came within 10 points of the Cougars on Sept. 30, lost by just one point to their rivals a week later in another cluster meet, then finished five points behind Coronado at the Southeast meet before finally breaking through last week in the region meet.

The Falcons had five of the top 11 runners in the Sunrise meet and won with 35 points. Green Valley was second with 48, and Coronado took third with 61.

“We’ve just been working hard all season,” Thomas said. “Out of my 19 years of coaching, this has been the closest, most family-oriented group. This group has been the most deserving. They buy into the coaching philosophies, they work well as a team. They’re sweethearts. They go above and beyond in every aspect.”

And they’ll need another huge effort Saturday when they’ll face a field that includes Sunset Region champion Centennial and Northern Region winner Douglas and runner-up Galena.

Centennial boasts a strong one-two punch in freshman Alexis Gourrier and sophomore Kayla Roberts. Gourrier won the region race at Sunset Park in 19:10.3 with Roberts taking second in 19:23.

The Bulldogs, who had four of the top eight runners in the Sunset race, also are improving.

“My one, two, three and four are all dealing with some (injury) issues,” said Centennial coach Roy Sessions. “We can definitely do some things a little bit different. We’re getting healthier. If we’re healthy, we can compete with anyone. I’m excited about state.”

Reno sophomore Kyra Hunsberger also is a threat to win the individual title after capturing the Northern Region race in 19:28 last week. The Huskies finished third in the region.

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.