By: Nathan Bloechl —sports@kilj.com
Des Moines — Neck and neck until the final salvo, Danville senior Addison Parrott gave it everything she had.
Parrott ran 10:33.21 finishing as runner up in the Class 1A 3000m run on a rain-soaked, waterlogged Blue Oval.
Running in front of, or just behind, Tri-Center’s Peyton Pogge for the entirety of the race, Parrott was narrowly edged out over the final 100 meters.
“I am so happy, this weather, it’s a little iffy” said Parrott.
“I gave it everything I got, it’s a twenty-second PR and it was a great battle in the end.”
Parrott, who was the state runner-up in the Class 1A cross country field earlier this fall, said the kick over the race’s final 400 meters was mostly adrenaline as Drake Stadium roared for both Parrott and Pogge.
“At the beginning I was a little nervous, it was all adrenaline, I said to myself I need to save it for the end and I’m really happy with it turned out.”
Unsurprisingly, Parrott was gracious despite the runner-up finish, as she embraced and smiled with the champion as they crossed the finish line.
Afterall, she’s just happy to get back on the track after last year’s hiatus.
Training most every day during quarantine, Parrott was just ready to showcase to the state what she is capable of.
“It was hard not having last year, it motivated me more, I just wanted to get better” she said with a smile.
“It definitely paid off here, I’d say.”