Added distance feels just right to Jeralyn Poe
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor
NEBRASKA STATE MEET
When Nebraska's state association moved to increase the girls cross country race distance to 5,000 meters this fall – and make it equal with the boys – Jeralyn Poe of Lincoln North Star celebrated the decision.
"I'm pretty excited that they changed it from 4,000 to the 5,000," said Poe, a junior who will be going for her unprecedented third straight state championship on Friday in Kearney. "I like the switch. I know a (some) people don't like it, but I'm built for longer distances."
While Poe has won a pair of state titles in the fall she has never won one on the track, though she has been close.
The new distance allows her to more fully express her talent.
At the Nebraska state meet, the performances from all the class races are taken into account to determine the "all-class gold medalist." Poe has two of those, as well, and is hoping to win four by the time she graduates.
She was raised with a running background. Her mom competed in high school cross country in Helena, Mont. Her dad was a bit more of a track star, sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 titles at the Wyoming state meet in 1985 for Kelly Walsh (Casper). He went on to run at Montana State and later, in marathons.
Poe grew up playing soccer first but the followed her older sister into running. She started doing age-group track and cross country in the sixth grade. Her talent was readily evident as she made several national finals.
"We sat down with her as a freshman and (discussed that) this is going to be a long-term thing," North Star coach Matt Musiel said. "She's improving every year, which is what you want. She has a lot of big goals."
Poe, who ran 50-70 miles per week over the summer and trains with the boys at her school, has not lost this season and has wins at the Nike Heartland Preview in South Dakota and the Heartland Classic in Iowa.
Her goal is to go back to the NXN Heartland course and qualify for nationals in Portland.
The fact that she trains for the 5,000-meter races while girls in many of the other Heartland states top out at 4,000 meters feels like a slight edge. It's added confidence.
"I like to think so," Poe said. "We like to think that regionals is (going to) work in my favor. Five thousand meters is what we've been training for all season."
Last year, Poe was 37th at the NXN Heartland race and she's eager to show how much she has improved.
"She's a wonderful girl," Musiel said. "She's a little like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She's a very nice person but when the gun goes off, it's on."
Poe is also just the right person to bridge the gap between the 4,000-meter era and the start to the 5,000 meters for girls in Nebraska – to show just how beneficial that change is.
She is the best female cross country runner in Nebraska since Emily Sisson, who made two Foot Locker appearances as a freshman and sophomore at Millard North before moving to Missouri for her final two years. For Poe, a few state titles in track would help her resume.
"In track she has to earn her spurs yet," Musiel said. "In cross country, if you can win four (state titles) and four all-class golds, what more is there?"
