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Big Reds’ Trippett tops 34-year-old track record

PARKERSBURG — Records are made to be broken.

Sometimes it takes one, two, three decades or more coupled with a lot of hard work for the hallowed marks to fall.

When it comes to the Parkersburg High girls’ track record time in the 800 meter run, 34 years of blood, sweat, and tears compiled before Dawn Nease’s 1983 mark of 2:20.74 was toppled by freshman Madison Trippett this past Saturday during the Kim Nutter Classic.

Trippett demolished Nease’s time by six seconds (2:14.57) and checked off a goal she had set for herself at the beginning of the season.

“It kind of seemed surreal,” said Trippett, after she crossed the finish line and looked at her time. “I didn’t expect to get it at all.”

“I would like to say I am surprised … but I am not,” said PHS head track coach Lia Fleak, whom Trippett had a successful track career at Hamilton. “I got goosebumps. I was like ‘Oh my gosh.’ I am very excited and she works very hard. She is very dedicated and is very humble. You could tell she was excited but it was more of a personal accomplishment for her.”

PHS’ first year runner’s goal was to stay close to Ripley’s Tori Starcher through as much of the run as she could. Trippett was confident if she was near Starcher she could get close to the record.

“She (Tori) would have had it last meet,” said Trippett. “So I knew I had to pace off of her.”

Every record-breaking performance features a reach down low moment where a person had to muster everything they can to breakthrough the final hurdle, Trippett’s run was no different.

“I was exhausted the last few laps,” said the Big Red distance runner. “It was like I was dying ….. It was a struggle.

“It is really exciting.”

So exciting in fact, Fleak forgot to look at her stopwatch to get Trippett’s 400/600 split.

“The first thing I saw was the clock,” said Fleak. “I knew the clock wasn’t attached to the gun but it is manuel. Then I stopped my watch and I was like “Oh my gosh …. It was a 2:14 so it was pretty impressive.”

Trippett will be honored on the record board in the fieldhouse at the end of the year Nease’s name is replaced with her own. However, the time may not be the one she ran Saturday. Fleak doesn’t think her runner has reached her fullest potential.

“She is just one of those kids who is a hard worker,” said the coach. “I can’t explain it. She wants to be the very best that she can.”

With her record breaking performance, there is no doubt Trippett is now among the best at Parkersburg High.

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