Marshall Senior Allyson Sample Sets School Record in 3200-Meter Run at State Championships
ST. MICHAEL — Marshall senior Allyson Sample made school history at the Class AA track and field championships at St. Michael-Albertville High School on Friday. Sample set the girls school record in the 3200-meter run while also earning a fourth-place finish and a medal.
Sample expressed her nerves before the race but was excited to see what she could accomplish. She faced tough competition from Isabelle Schmitz and Isabel Mahoney, who set the Class AA record and finished second, respectively. In a close battle for third place, Sample narrowly missed out to Macy Hanson by a fraction of a second.
Marshall girls head coach Marie Sample praised Allyson’s performance, noting her dedication and emotional investment in her final race as a Tiger. Allyson was aiming to break 10:50 in the race and came close with a time of 10:53.36.
In addition to Allyson’s success, Marshall eighth grader Brooklyn Purrington competed in the high jump, finishing 22nd out of 32 participants. Sophomore Taleigha Bigler also had a strong showing, qualifying for the finals in the 800 meters and anchoring the 4×400-meter relay.
The Tigers showcased their versatility with athletes competing in various events, from sprints to distance races. Coach Sample attributed the team’s success to their hard work and dedication, as well as the support of the coaching staff.
The Class AA finals will continue on Saturday, with Marshall athletes looking to build on their impressive performances from the first day of competition. The team is aiming for a repeat of last year’s success, where they claimed the state championship despite facing tough competition.