Freshman runner places eighth first year at cross country

Vanessa King was the only Cross Country runner to place at state this year - and she is a freshman.

King placed eighth place at state, and when she first started running, it was because she was encouraged by her dad who had run cross country. He was placed at state.

King didn’t have an interest in volleyball, so upon the urging of her dad, she ran cross country for the first time this year.

During the season, she shaved off more than five minutes off her time. She ran the three-mile run in 28.33 minutes at the beginning of the season and ran 23.29 minutes at state.

She really didn’t think abou...