News
Student-Athletes Show Up Big at Illinois Top Times
By Coach Mercy Garriga
Two of Parker’s finest Upper School Track and Field student-athletes, sophomore Dal Harrell and senior Sam Forst, competed at Illinois Top Times, hosted by Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Illinois, on Friday, March 22. In order to compete, student-athletes must go through a rigorous qualification process besting other track and field student-athletes in Illinois. Forst qualified for the Shot-Put Throw in the third-place spot, and Harrell qualified for the 200m, 400m and 800m races but decided to run the 400m/800m combination.
Although Forst was set to get third place in the shot put, he exceeded our expectations by setting a personal record and a new Indoor Track and Field school record with a throw of 15.56m, placing second overall in the field of the top 12 student-athletes. Fortunately for Parker, Forst wasn’t the only Colonel to place and break records because Harrell rose to the occasion, placing 6th in the 400m in a field of 21 student-athletes and 6th in the 800m in a field of 18 student-athletes, and she also broke personal and Indoor Track and Field school records with her times of 1:01.09 and 2:23.62, respectively.
To say that we are proud of these student-athletes is an understatement. They have shown that dedication and hard work pay off, and they are the kinds of student-athletes we hope to build this program around. With the continued leadership and zeal for Track and Field that Harrell and Forst have shown, we hope to continue to develop all our student-athletes and compete with the best for years to come.
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.